On Mon, 4 Sep 1995, Jay Jones wrote:
 
> I recently was stung by a wasp and my hand swelled to an impressive size.
> Some years back I used to keep bees and would get stung from time to time
> with little reaction.  A few months ago I started another hive and have not
> been stung as yet.  I wonder if the wasp sting is any indication of the
> possible severity of the reaction to future bee stings.  Anyone out there
> know much about the immunological crossreactivity of wasp and bee stings?
 
Venoms from different groups of Hymenoptera apparently are antigenically
different. A few years ago, I discovered to my dismay that I had
developed a severe allergy to honey bee venom (a real bummer since I have
to work with bees). When tested for allergic reaction to various species
of bees and wasps (honey and bumble bees, yellowjackets, paper wasps),
prior to beginning a program of immunotherapy, I reacted only to the honey
bee venom, and at the lowest concentration tested. There seems not to be
any cross-reactivity; if you have an allergic reaction to a wasp sting, you
won't necessarily have one to a honey bee sting.
 
The immunotherapy works like a charm. I now can go out there and get
stung to my heart's content--just like the old days.
 
Tom Culliney
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