Venom Allergy

Venom allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to insect stings from bees, wasps, or other stinging insects. For allergic individuals, the body sees venom as a harmful substance and reacts aggressively, causing symptoms like swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, or even anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Not everyone reacts this way; some may experience only mild swelling. The severity depends on the person's sensitivity. Diagnosis involves allergy testing, and treatment often includes avoiding insect stings, carrying epinephrine auto-injectors, and potentially undergoing immunotherapy (desensitization shots) to reduce allergic responses.