> Last year I was stung on both the head and neck with very little swelling
>and itching.  Can someone develop an intolerance to bee venom after time?
> Should I go to the doctor and be tested for bee venom allergies?  Someone I
>know says that he became severely allergic to bee venom over time - first a
>small reaction, then a subsequent sting or stings sent him to the hospital.
> Help, please!
>
>Laura Downey
>([log in to unmask])
>
 
Laura,
 
   PLEASE go to a doctor and get tested. The literature is rife with
reports of beekeepers who originally had minor reactions to mellifera
stings, but who subsequently developed allergies.  In general, they
are treatable with a series of desensitizing shots, plus you will need
to subsequently keep an epi-pen with you at all times. The latter is
no big deal. It is a self-injecting device that you can use to give
yourself a dose of benedryl by pressing it against your thigh, and a
child can use one. If you get a sting, and if you are severely
allergic (as my brother is), you must get an antihistamine into your
bloodstream within about 10 minutes to prevent a serious reaction;
taking benadryl by mouth delivers the dose only after about 20
minutes, which is why the epi-pen is needed.
 
   You may or may not be allergic, but you now CERTAINLY have ample
reason to be concerned. DO NOT rely on fellow beekeepers to diagnose
you...GO TO AN ALLERGIST! You may not like the results, but all of us
on the net would like you to be alive to tell about it. If you're not
allergic, at least you'll know; if you are, you will then be in a
position to do something about it. There are few enough beekeepers
around as it is; don't take chances with something that is so easy to
prevent.
 
   Keep us informed.
 
   Regards,
 
   Jeef