Article: Bee stings may cause allergic reaction

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 ...

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