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Summer is nearly upon us, and that means baseball, beaches, barbecues — and bee stings. To be sure, the warm season is time to beware of the Hymenoptera sting, that prickly zap inflicted by bees, as well as wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and some other flying insects. But while the ache and swelling of a sting might spoil an outing for most of us, people who are allergic to insect venom live with a serious — even deadly — threat.

For the average person, a bee sting causes temporary skin inflammation, which can be treated with hydrocortisone cream and a cold compress; if the stinger remains in the skin, it should be scraped away (avoid trying to pluck out a stinger with tweezers, which can squeeze more venom into the wound).

However, those allergic to bee or wasp poison develop a hypersensitivity after the first sting. The immune system reacts to subsequent stings with a massive production of antibodies. Although antibodies are needed to fight off foreign proteins that invade the body — such as bacteria or viruses — the allergic reaction to insect venom is excessive and dangerous. Once you develop those antibodies, you’ll react every time, says Bierman. And with each following sting, the reactions tend to get worse.

In a typical case, the victim will break out in hives, often within minutes of the sting. If left untreated, the symptoms get scarier; the victim might experience anaphylactic shock, which causes a dramatic drop in blood pressure, swollen throat, and difficulty breathing. “Death is always a possibility,” says Bierman, stressing that anyone who experiences these symptoms following an insect sting should report to an emergency room immediately.

Doctors treat the sting victim with adrenaline, intramuscularly and at the site of the sting, which slows the absorption of venom. Patients are sent home with emergency kits which include a syringe preloaded with adrenaline. Because many people are uneasy about giving themselves shots, Bierman favors an EpiPen, a spring-driven device that works with a simple tap against the thigh.

For the most serious cases of venom allergy, immunotherapy is used to build up the patient’s resistance to the poison. By giving the sufferer small doses of the venom over a period of time, the patient’s immune system can become desensitized, reducing the risk of strong allergic reactions. Immunotherapy is an effective treatment, but it takes several years of gradually increased dosing to have its full effect.

Unfortunately, no amount of bug spray will scare away a determined bee or wasp. Bug sprays repel biting insects such as mosquitos, but have little effect on stinging pests, says Bierman. But whether you’re allergic or not, he adds, there’s still plenty you can do to keep from getting stung.

* Avoid wearing bright colors — stinging insects, especially bees, might mistake you for a flower. Perfume can attract their interest, too. If you insist on wearing flowers in your hair, consider yourself warned.
* Food left out in the open attracts stinging insects, too. Keep garbage areas tidy. Children who spill watermelon or other summer foods on their clothes should be changed into clean togs before being allowed to play outside.
* Wear shoes when outdoors (in case you step on an insect, or even a nest).
* If you’re with someone who gets stung, get away. After they strike, bees and yellow jackets give off a chemical that angers other stinging insects, as far as a block away.

It used to be thought that the animal’s fur was the actual allergen, whereas it is mainly the means for transporting the following allergens produced by the animal:

* saliva (dog, cat, horse, etc.)
* urine (cat, dog, small animal, etc.)
* animal serum (=fluid portion of the blood)
* dandruff (particles of dead skin)
* epithelium (=outer skin surface)
* excrement (parrot, pigeon etc.)

The body usually absorbs these animal allergens in the form of dust by inhaling. The highest frequency are the allergens from cats, the allergen with the strongest effect from horses or small rodents.
Cats can be seen frequently licking their fur and spreading their saliva on it, which simultaneously is distributed into the air in the form of minute drops-a real allergen rain.

If you are allergic to a dog, you are not allergic to all dogs. Different breeds cause different reactions.

Allergies to birds are often indirect. It is not the feathers that cause the allergies, but the mites in them.

Allergies to animals mainly show up as asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and, less often, eczema.

Most people develop their over-sensitivity by living in close contact with their own house pets, however infrequent contact with animals can also trigger the illness.

The first treatment for animal allergies is to remove the animal from the patient’s environment, which is extremely difficult because of the emotional attachment to it. One must weigh the importance of the devotion to the beloved pet and the importance of one’s own health.

The most up-to-date studies have shown that by washing a cat once a week the allergens can be significantly lessened.
Even when the allergy-triggering animal is no longer in the home, it can take months or even years (especially in the case of cats) until the allergy spells stop, because the allergens are still present on furniture, carpets, curtains, etc. Only a rigorously thorough cleaning of the household can help.

The following are recommendations for individuals sensitive to fur and feathers:

* If you have pets, try to keep them outside at all times. If you do not have pets at this time, do not get them. Pets can contaminate areas with their dander. If you are moving to a new home, find out if the previous residents owned pets, because specialized cleaning may be required.

* Feathers are another source of sensitivity in the home. Dacron, plastic foam, or synthetic pillows are recommended instead of feathers. Avoid down comforters or feather beds. Pets with feathers should be kept outside. Avoid contact with fowl (chicken coops etc.).

* Horse dander can be carried on clothes. Avoid objects and persons directly connected with the handling of horses. Clothes should be thoroughly cleaned after exposure to horses and kept isolated from other clothes. Products that may contain horse hair include hats, wigs, hair brushes, mattresses, sofa cushions, fishing lines, furniture padding, car seats, gloves, clothes, ropes, furs, and toothbrushes.
* Cow and hog hair can be found in mattresses, automobile cushions, ropes, fur toy animals, insulation, and mixed into mortar or plaster walls. Chenille carpet is made of cow hair. When choosing a pad or mat for under rugs or carpeting be sure to use foam matting instead of cow hair.

* Rabbit hair is used in the manufacture of gloves, house slippers, fur collars, and angora.

* Goat hair is used in many sweaters, and the lining of coats, collars, and gloves. Highly refined wool is not an offender except in highly sensitive individuals. Rayon, nylon, and other synthetic fabrics are recommended instead of wool products.

* Kapok is a plant related to cotton and is found in sofa cushions, mattresses, sleeping bags, life preservers, and stuffed toys. Kapok is frequently used as a substitute for feathers or as a padding in furniture. Kapok crumbles to dust in a few years and should be avoided by allergic individuals.

Allergic reaction to cats can be lessened most successfully by minimizing exposure to the animals. If living with a cat is unavoidable, frequent handwashing and avoiding touching eyes or other sensitive areas is advisable. Minimizing upholstery, rugs and draperies in which the allergen can accumulate in the home is another strategy. Barring the cat from certain rooms (in particular the bedroom or other rooms where much time is spent) or limiting it to the outdoors is also partially successful. Finally, some allergy sufferers find relief in periodic injection therapy designed to stimulate the body’s natural immune responses to the cat allergen. Although this is not usually 100% successful, it can reduce reactions to tolerable levels for many individuals.

Having pets has been shown to be emotionally healthy. However, if having anything other than a mild allergy, the allergies should be addressed.

Allergies are Cumulative

This means that every allergen (e.g. dust, mold, pollen) will add to the reaction. If then adding a cat then the total allergic reaction will be worse than any one allergy on its own. This is because people have a threshold; reducing all allergens will reduce the cumulative total and hence possibly reduce the reaction below the threshold

Desensitizing

Many people originally allergic to cats have, over time, become “immune” to allergic symptoms from their own cats; however, they may still have allergic reactions, of varying intensity, to other cats. This is not reliable when deciding to get a cat as a pet, as allergy may become worse, not better, with time.

Lower Exposure

Allergens are airborne and survive for months or even years by themselves, hence removing anything that can trap and hold the allergens (carpet, rugs, pillows) and cleaning regularly and thoroughly with HEPA filters and Air purifier systems reduces risk. Furthermore, regularly brushing the cat will reduce the amount of loose fur (and its attached saliva) in the air. Regularly bathing will reduce allergens by 85%.

Medications

The most appropriate medication depends on the type and severity of symptoms. Specific illnesses that are caused by allergies (such as asthma and eczema) may require other treatments. Generally, hay fever medication or over-the-counter antihistamines have positive effects on cat allergy.