ASTHMA IN CHILDREN: THE INHALED ALLERGENS – INSECTS AS ALLERGENS – STINGING-INSECT ALLERGY
Stinging insects such as bee, wasp and hornet produce an immediate allergic reaction. This may vary from redness and swelling at the site to redness of the whole part, or even generalized swelling, urticaria, choking, difficulty in breathing, unconsciousness and death. Honey Bee
Those who have hay fever, eczema, asthma and drug reaction are more liable to get different grades of severe reactions to stinging insects. Diagnosis can be made easily from the history of the child.
The best prophylactic is to avoid a situation where one can be stung by insects, and to keep the body well covered while moving outdoors specially in fields and gardens. As soon as a child is stung, the sting should be removed from the site with a pin or needle without rubbing it in. If the sting is on a limb, a tourniquet i.e., an appliance for compressing the blood vessels, should be tied tightly just above the site of the sting. This will prevent the spread of the venom in the whole body. The tourniquet should be loosened a bit at periodic intervals of about five minutes and then removed after about half an hour. If possible and available, an ice-pack should be applied to the area of sting. An antihistamine tablet can also be given.
If a child with history of allergic reaction is bitten by an insect, the child should be rushed to the nearest doctor or hospital, where appropriate treatment would be administered.
Hyposensitization against the sting venom of different insects is practised now-a-days with very good results.
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