Tips for People Who Have an Insect Venom Allergy

Precautions for Avoiding Allergic Reactions from Stinging Insects

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Feb 21, 2009 Stella Walsh

Insect venom allergy sufferers need to avoid stinging insects. Precautions with food, clothing and scents can help to prevent a nasty or life-threatening encounter.

If an individual has an allergy to insect venom, avoiding stinging insects is top priority. It is complicated simply because the insects are alive, and therefore move about.

Types of Stinging Insects

Know thy enemy. It is helpful to know some information about the kinds of insects to avoid:

  • Yellow jackets are black with yellow markings. Their papery nests are usually in a hole in the ground. They tend to be aggressive.
  • Honeybees are fuzzy and rounded. They have dark brown coloring and yellow markings. While honeybees are not aggressive, Africanized honeybees may attack in swarms. Domestic honeybees live in man-made hives. In the wild, they live in tree cavities or holes in buildings. The Africanized bees will nest in any protected spot.
  • Bumblebees are usually not aggressive. They like to live in underground nests of wax.
  • Paper wasps are black, brown or red, with yellow markings and a slender body. Their papery nests are a comb of cells that opens downward. The nests may be under the eaves of houses, or in shrubs or piles of wood. They can also be aggressive.
  • Hornets, usually larger than yellow jackets, are black or brown with white, orange or yellow markings. Their papery nests are usually found high above the ground. They can also behave aggressively.
  • Fire ants, related to wasps and bees, are reddish brown, dark or black. Their nests are mounds of dirt in the ground, and they can sting without warning. Fire ant venom will usually burn right away.

Tips to Avoid Stinging Insects

There are several precautions that can help an individual to avoid getting stung by a venomous insect:

Clothing

  • It is best to avoid bright or flowery clothing that will attract some insects.
  • Feet should be covered with protective footwear.
  • Loose clothing should be avoided because insects can become trapped in it.
  • Perfumes or scents should be avoided. They can attract insects.

Picnics

  • Insects can crawl inside open beverage cans. It’s better to avoid using them.
  • Food containers should be kept covered.
  • Insects are attracted to food and garbage, so it is wise to avoid garbage bins.

Other

  • The interior of a vehicle should be checked before entering, and the windows kept closed.
  • It is not a good idea to kick at logs or bushes. They may contain nests.
  • Waving arms, yelling, and running can cause insects to become aggressive and sting. It is better to move away slowly and calmly.
  • Squashing an insect may give off an odor that will cause the other insects to become aggressive. It is better to brush it away gently.
  • A bumblebee can only sting once. It leaves the stinger in the victim, then dies. The stinger should be scraped away. If squeezed, it will send more venom into the wound.
  • It is very important to avoid a nest. If one appears near a home, it is a good idea to have a professional deal with it.

While it is difficult to guarantee what a stinging insect will do, following these precautions will increase the odds that an allergic individual can avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical attention and supervision.

Sources:

Hospital for Sick Children: The Complete Kid’s Allergy and Asthma Guide: The Parent’s Handbook for Children of All Ages. Ed. Dr. Milton Gold. Toronto, Canada: Robert Rose Inc., 2003.

Website: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, updated 2005. Visited February 21, 2009.

Website: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 2007. Visited February 21, 2009.

Website: University of Florida – Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2008. Visited February 21, 2009.

For another article on insects and allergies see Cockroaches Produce Asthma-causing Allergens. For other allergy articles concerning the outdoors see Spring is in the Air – And so are Allergies! and Tips to Help Control Ragweed Allergy Symptoms.

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The copyright of the article Tips for People Who Have an Insect Venom Allergy in Allergies is owned by Stella Walsh. Permission to republish Tips for People Who Have an Insect Venom Allergy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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