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Article: Bee stings may cause allergic reaction
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- October 14, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I would like information on bee stings. I had
one on my hand and it swelled. My doctor said I wasn't allergic,
that I only had a reaction. Now that I have been stung, will I be
allergic to bees? E. L.
DEAR E. L. It sounds as though you have a very pronounced
reaction to the sting. That's a local reaction, indicating your
body's overprotective response at the sting site.
The dangerous kind of reaction is truly allergic. Blood
prescure drops, breathing becomes labored and hives break out. If a
person has that kind of response, he should be tested to see if he is
allergic. If so, desensitization to the bee-sting material is in
order. Otherwise, a second exposure to a ...