Allergy to insects

The main forms of allergy to insects are:

• local skin reactions to insect bites;
• systemic anaphylactic reactions to stinging;
• respiratory allergic reactions to the inhalation of insects and substances released by them.

There are immediate reactions that occur after a few seconds or minutes and last for several hours or days, and delayed allergic reactions that appear 1-2 days after the bite.

Toxic reactions are observed after stinging a large number of insects.

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Causes of allergy to insects

Stinging insects belong to the Hymenoptera. Most often, severe systemic reactions occur on the stings of bees and wasps. Mosquito bites rarely cause severe allergic reactions, because they inject not the poison, but the secret of the salivary glands, which can cause a local allergic reaction. With an abundance of mosquitoes, midges, beetles, butterflies in summer, it is possible to inhale small insects or flake flanks, which can cause respiratory allergies.

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Pathogenesis

An unusual reaction to an insect bite can be mediated by reacting IgE or IgG2. The main allergenic components of the poison are phospholipase A2, hyaluronidase, melittin, a high molecular fraction with activity of acid phosphatase and allergen C. In addition, poisons, saliva of insects can contain histamine, acetylcholine, kinins, other biogenic amines and their liberators, enzymes. In this case, the reaction is pseudoallergic.

Symptoms of an allergy to insects

A pronounced local reaction is manifested by severe edema and erythema (more than 10 cm in diameter) that persist for more than 24 hours. Other signs of an immediate allergic reaction may occur simultaneously - urticaria, angioedema, redness of the face; nausea, vomiting; difficulty breathing caused by swelling of the nasopharynx, vocal cords, larynx, trachea, bronchospasm; abdominal pain, diarrhea; arthralgia.

Anaphylaxis shock is the most severe allergic reaction to insect bites. Anaphylactic shock can develop with a bite in any part of the body, but with damage to the head and neck, its probability increases. In most cases, the symptoms of anaphylactic shock appear within the first 15 minutes, although a later reaction may also occur. The clinical picture of anaphylactic shock is as described below.

The harder the primary reaction to a bite was, the higher the probability of its recurrence.

Within 7-12 days after the bite, reactions resembling serum sickness may occur .

Diagnosis of insect allergy

The diagnosis is usually based on anamnesis data. Skin testing is carried out with an extract of bee venom and wasps. It is possible to determine specific IgE in vitro.

[6], [7]

Treatment of allergies to insects

Conduct non-specific symptomatic therapy. Remains of stiletto stings, local cold compresses, antipruritic and anti-inflammatory ointments, inside antihistamine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are extracted from the skin.

Specific hyposensitization is carried out with strict determination of indications by one allergen or a mixture of several poisons. Duration of treatment is 3-5 years.

Preventing allergies to insects

Prevention of reaction to insect bites in predisposing individuals includes the following basic rules:

• in the summer months to go out into the street in clothes that close the body as much as possible, pick up light, soft colors of clothes;
• Do not make sudden movements when insects appear;
• Do not walk barefoot (especially on grass);
• wearing a headpiece;
• be careful while eating on the street;
• Exclude the use of preparations containing propolis.

Parents should be trained to provide first aid when reacting to insect bites.