>Are you saying it's more dangerous to be stung a handful of times pe


>Are you saying it's more dangerous to be stung a handful of times per year
>(as far as venom allergies go) than being stung many, many times?
Yes, the irregular and infrequent stinging is more likely to build a sensitivity, and frequent/regular stings are more likely to avoid and/or reduce an existing sensitivity.  Allergic reactions are a kind of immune system over-response to a foreign substance, usually a protein.  Infrequent exposure to proteins that are foreign to the human body are more likely to result in an increasing immune system response, including the histamine response that we know as allergic reactions.  Of course, being stung too many times in a single event can be dangerous to anyone, regardless.  It is probably more the regularity that is key to avoiding allergic reactions.  Thus, frequent stings (daily or weekly) is a de-sensitizing factor to the immune system.  The process that an allergy specialist doctor(MD) puts you through as treatment for an allergy is a frequent (3 to 5 times a week) and progressively stronger dosage of the allergen that the patient is
 sensitive toward.  Starting at low doses and increasing the dosages, patients are injected with the allergen at regular frequency to avoid excessive reaction (anaphylactic shock).
Old time beekeepers are  well known for the practice of giving themselves (and some times family members) routine bee stings to reduce sensitivity.  MD's would worry about this or any self treatment regimine.  But it worked, and I suspect it was relatively safe or word would have gotten out that Joe B. Keeper killed himself or a family member with intentional stings.
>So a commercial beek, who is stung all the time is less at
>risk of developing an allergy than a hobbyist, who is stung occasionally?
Yes.
Eric Simms, Chemical Engineer, Sideline Beekeeper, NOT and MD or immunologist



      

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