An allergy to insect bites can be more frequent

According to research, allergy to stings occurs in several to even 20 percent of the population. Reactions to insect venom are divided into local (swelling, erythema) and generalized (from urticaria to life -threatening anaphylactic shock). Although the body's violent reaction is very rare, experts are alerting that insects allergies can become more and more common.

The main culprits are climate change manifested, among others, with warmer winters and earlier spring. Such conditions mean that most insects will survive the cooler seasons and appear earlier. Higher temperatures also encourage migration of species from other parts of the world. The worst news is that most people do not know that they are allergic until they are bitten or stound.

Specialists distinguish three main groups of insects that should arouse our anxiety – they are: bees, wasps and ants. The body of allergic people does not necessarily have to respond to the sting of each of them. Sometimes dangerous symptoms can be caused by a specific species. This was the case, among others, in Europe, where the presence of Asian hornets was found in some countries.

– It was reported that even people who were known to be allergic to common wasps and hornets received antiallergic injections, venom immunotherapy, in order to protect (…) but when they were stung by Asian hornets, they again had anaphylactic shock. This is another allergy – says David Golden, allergy researcher and lecturer at the John Hopkins University in Baltimore, the USA.

In the United States, the so -called Fiery ants, i.e. insects of the genus Solenopsis. They began to migrate from the southern and south-eastern regions to the north.

Specialists emphasize that the most important is the awareness of your allergies. For this purpose, you can conduct skin tests (performed under the supervision of a doctor due to the possibility of complications) or a blood test. In the event of an allergy, exposed persons should avoid a situation in which they could be stung.

Among other things, it's about giving up food in the fresh air or going alone to places where there are a lot of insects (e.g. trips to the forests). Allergy sufferers should also have a first aid set containing a tool that allows you to remove the sting, antihistamines (lowering the body's reaction) or a syringe with adrenaline.