Dr. Chris Steele explains the science behind bee stings

How Bee Stings Effect The Body



The honey bee stings as a defence mechanism. The venom the bee injects into the skin causes redness and swelling of the skin, sometimes leading to blistering. There is also intense irritation that can become very painful.

Bees tend to leave their stingers in the skin, because the sting is barbed and cannot be easily removed. Often a full sac of venom can be seen attached to the sting, and so the sting is best removed by being scraped off the skin with the edge of a knife blade. Removal of the sting with tweezers or fingers will cause further venom to be injected into the skin.

Some people are extremely sensitive to bee stings, and rapidly develop an allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock, comprising of shortness of breath, wheezing, widespread itching, flushing, swelling of the hands, feet and face, followed by pallor, sweating, cold clammy skin, a fast feeble pulse and then collapse.

The bee empties 90% of it's venom within 20 seconds of stinging, and the remainder within one minute. Hence removal of the sting should occur as rapidly as possible.

Allergy can result from repeated exposure to bee stings, and this accounts for the high incidence of bee sting allergy in bee keepers! About 5 people each year are known to die in the UK as result of a bee sting allergy, but the real figure is thought to be much higher. Death results from swelling within the airways (windpipe), acute asthma and a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Symptoms of bee sting allergy indicate a medical emergency. Ring 999 immediately!

Thankfully, those who know that they are are allergic to bee stings, can now inject themselves (virtually painlessly) with a syringe pre-filled with adrenaline which immediately counteracts the dangerous effects of the bee sting. The syringe, called `Epipen Adrenaline', which is about the size of a pen, is obtainable from your GP on what is known as a `named patient basis'. This means that it is not freely available to all and sundry, but it will be supplied to those patients whose GP arranges the supply of the treatment via the local pharmacist and the manufacturers.

IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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