Making generalized and/or predictive statements about how one becomes allergic to insect stings is difficult.
When my wife had a "this girl needs a paramedic" reaction to one wasp sting, we were hundreds of miles away from our hives in CT, yet she had worked her hives only a few days before, surely took at least one sting that morning. She did not mention or show any unusual symptoms, and could not even recall the specifics of any one sting when asked.
I asked the allergists "How does this allergy happen after 20+ years of beekeeping?" and the reply was "Allergists don't have theories about this, we just have screenings and treatments."
The good news is that the treatment works great. She sat out an entire year for treatment, but she's back at it.
***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html