Bee Sting: a Day at the Beach Gone Horribly Awry

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Bee Sting a Day at the Beach Gone Horribly Awry

• By Alisa Fay

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Non-allergic bee sting

• A person who is not allergic to bee venom has a
  very different response to someone that is
• The immune system deals with the venom like it
  would do to any antigen
• Causes redness and swelling at injection site
  when white blood cells migrate

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Treatment

• Pull out stinger
• Compress with an ice pack to reduce swelling
• Within minutes pain is gone
• Within a day swelling is gone
• No long-term affect

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• To an allergic individual, this sting can be
  much more severe!

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Stages of an Allergic Reaction
Basophil

• Sensitization
• Activation of mast cells
• Prolonged Immune Activity

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1. Sensitization

• The first time a person is introduced to the
  allergen, like the venom of a bee, there are no
  symptoms

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• The immune system deals with the invaders like it
  would do with any other
• Macrophages engulf them and become
  antigen-presenting cells
• Helper T cells identify antigen and show B cells
• B cells produce plasma and memory cells

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• Plasma cells secrete allergen-specific molecules
  called immunoglobulin (IgE)
• attach to receptors on mast cells in tissues and
  on basophils in blood

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• The first encounter produces no symptoms -it just
  primes the immune system by making the IgE
  antibodies
• They will react with the allergen in the next
  exposure

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2. Activation of Mast Cells

• When the antigen is exposed to the body again, it
  binds to the IgE molecules on the basophils and
  mast cells
• When it engages at least two of them, the
  molecules activate the cell
• The cell releases cytokines, including histamine

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• The histamine released can cause the following
  symptoms, depending on how much is released
• Stimulate the production of mucous which
  constricts the airway
• Smooth muscles to contact, which surround the
  bronchioles
• Dilate small blood vessels and increase their
  permeability (redness and swelling)

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3. Prolonged Immune Activity

• Activated mast cells lure basophils and
  eosinophils from the circulation to the tissues
• These white blood cells release substances that
  prolong the allergy symptoms and may injure the
  tissue

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Anaphylactic Shock

• When a person comes in contact with the allergen
  for the second time, the mast cells release the
  mediator chemicals (histamine, etc.) in large
  amounts
• These chemicals can spread throughout the body,
  causing anaphylaxis (the disturbance of organs
  not directly in contact with the infection)

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Symptoms

• Drop in blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Loss of consciousness
• Heart attack
• Swelling of lips and tongue
• Can affect swallowing and breathing
• Swelling of larynx
• Can cause suffocation
• Constriction of lower airways
• Wheezing
• Nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea
• Skin eruptions
• hives

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Treatment

• Injection of epinephrine
• Inhibits mediator release
• Opens airways
• Stops dilation of blood vessels
• If the person doesnt have an EpiPen, death could
  occur within minutes

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Antihistamines

• Drug that blocks histamine receptor sites
• Stops the allergic symptoms from occurring
• Can come in tablet, chewable tablet, capsule and
  liquid form
• Common antihistamines include Benadryl and
  Claritin