Introduction
Insect sting allergies occur in people who have an abnormally high sensitivity to venom, which cause a physical reaction.  Allergic reaction to bee stings occurs when a person becomes sensitized to the venom from a previous sting. Allergic reactions to bee stings can be life threatening.

Who gets it?
Anyone can suffer allergic reactions to bee stings.

Statistics
It is estimated that between one and two million people in the United States are severely allergic to stinging insect venom.

Each year 90 to 100 deaths from sting reactions are reported, but many more deaths may be occurring, mistakenly diagnosed as heart attacks, sunstrokes or attributed to other causes.

Although more people die from severe allergic reactions to bee stings each year than from spider or snake bites, only a small number of people with bee sting allergies suffer these types of fatal reactions.

Causes
Ordinarily, bee venom is not toxic and will only cause local pain and swelling.

The allergic reaction comes when the immune system is over sensitized to the venom and produces antibodies and other disease fighting cells in response to the allergen. The antibodies release chemicals that actually injure the surrounding cells and cause the physical symptoms of an allergic reaction. Histamines and other substances are released into the bloodstream, causing blood vessels to dilate and tissues to swell. These substances can affect the skin, mucous membrane, mucous gland, and smooth muscle cells.
Risk

Life-threatening allergic reactions can occur without any previous symptoms of allergy. In fact, most people with bee sting allergies do not experience a severe reaction with their first sting. Multiple stings increase the risk of an allergic reaction, but just one sting will cause serious symptoms for someone who is severely allergic.

People who are allergic to bee stings should, of course, avoid situations in which they are likely to get stung.

Anaphylactic shock is treated with an injection of epinephrine, a hormone that stimulates the heart and relaxes the airways. This may be combined with an injection of an antihistamine, which counteracts the histamine produced by the immune cells during an allergic reaction. Those who are known to have severe bee sting allergies should carry a self-injection kit, including antihistamine tablets, for emergency treatment. However, they should still seek medical care after any type of reaction to a bee sting.
People who are severely allergic may undergo a desensitization program, in which a series of injections of bee venom are given in increasingly larger doses until the body shows that it can be tolerated. This type of program must be administered by an allergy specialist and it may take anywhere from 15 to 20 weeks to develop an immunity. These are followed up with monthly booster shots.

• Ice
• Baking Soda
• Meat Tenderizer--for people not allergic to bee stings. Use any brand with Papain. Make a paste with a few drops of water to a teaspoon of meat tenderizer and quickly apply to the sting to reduce pain and inflammation (breaks down components of sting fluid).    
• Ammonia Solution--Apply a 1 to 2.5 percent solution no more than three to four times daily.
• Oral Antihistamines--Tablets may be chewed for faster relief, but liquids are more readily absorbed after oral ingestion (Chlortrimeton, Dimetane, Teldrin).     Epinephrine Inhaler (Bronkaid mist, Primatene, Medihaler-Epi)    
• Topical Steroids (Cortaid, Dermolate, Lanacort, etc.)    
• Local Anesthetics (Benzocaine, Bactine, Lanacaine, Solarcaine, etc.)    
• Oral Steroids--Prescription only.

• Spray patio, picnic and garbage areas with permethrin or pyrethrins. A licensed pesticide applicator or pest control operator can apply restricted use pesticides as well.    
• If you destroy the nests (aerial and ground) yourself, use a commercially available stinging insect control aerosol containing Baygon, pyrethrin, permethrin or resmethrin which can shoot a high-volume spray stream 15 to 20 feet, giving excellent quick knockdown and kill of wasps and bees hit. After dark or in the evening, most have returned from foraging to the nest. Thoroughly saturate the nest with spray, contacting as many insects as possible.    
• Do not stand directly under an overhead nest, since some insects receiving some of the spray may fall but retain their ability to sting for some time. Repeat treatment if reinfestation occurs. Note: is always best, if allergic, to hire a professional exterminator to remove a nest. Never try to burn or flood a nest with water since this practice will only make these stinging insects angry and aggressive.    
• When eating outdoors, keep food covered until eaten, especially ripe fruit and soft drinks. Any scent of food, such as outdoor cooking, eating, feeding pets or garbage cans, will attract many bees and wasps (especially yellow jackets).      
• Keep refuse in tightly sealed containers. Dispose of refuse frequently (two times per week or more) during late summer and early autumn when most activity occurs.    
• Be careful not to mow over a nest in the ground nor disturb a nest in a tree or eaves of the home. Any disturbance often will infuriate and provoke stinging.    
• Should a bee or wasp fly near you, slowly raise your arms to protect your face and stand still or move slowly away through bushes or indoors to escape.    
• Never move rapidly, which often provokes attack.    
• Never strike or swing at a wasp or bee against your body since it may be trapped causing it to sting. If crushed, it could incite nearby yellowjackets into a frenzied attack. The wasp venom contains a chemical "alarm pheromone," released into the air, signaling guard wasps to come and sting whomever and whatever gets in their way.    
• If a bee or wasp gets into a moving car, remain calm. The insect wants out of the vehicle as much as you want it out. They usually fly against windows in the car and almost never sting the occupants. Slowly and safely pull over off the road, open the window and allow the bee or wasp to escape. Unfortunately, many serious accidents have resulted when the driver strikes or swings at the insect during operation of the vehicle. A small insecticide aerosol can for control of stinging insects, kept in the car away from children and pets, can be used in an emergency.     
• Pick fruits as soon as they ripen.    
• Pick up and dispose of any fallen fruit rotting on the ground. Keep lawns free of clover and dandelions, which attract honey bees.    
• Avoid close contact with flowering trees, shrubs and flowers when bees and wasps are collecting nectar. Vines, which may conceal nests, should be removed from the house, if practical.    
• Don’t use flowery colognes, soaps, or lotions.    
• Don't wear bright, colored, loose-fitting clothing, which may attract and trap insects. Flowery prints and black especially attract insects.    
• If a bee is near you, move away.    
• Avoid shiny buckles and jewelry.    
• Wear a hat and closed shoes (not sandals).    
• Wear light-colored (white) clothing, preferably cotton (never wool).

Other Tips    

Hypersensitive persons should never be alone when hiking, boating, swimming, golfing, fishing or involved outdoors since help is likely needed in starting prompt emergency treatment measures if stung.    

It is wise for the person to carry a card or to have an identification bracelet or necklace, such as "Medic Alert," identifying the person as hypersensitive to an insect sting. It will alert others to the condition in an emergency when sudden shock-like (anaphylactic) symptoms or unconsciousness (fainting) occurs after one or more stings.