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Bee Sting Allergy

The Basics | Symptoms | Detection & Treatment

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms of bee sting allergy and anaphylactic shock include:

  • Rapid swelling around the eyes, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Wheezing or hoarseness.
  • Itching, cramping, or numbness that is severe.
  • Dizziness
  • A reddish rash, or hives.
  • Stomach cramps.
  • Loss of consciousness.
In most cases, a bee or wasp sting causes only minor symptoms at the site of the sting, including:
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Itching or burning

Call Your Doctor If:

  • You are stung and develop any of the symptoms of anaphylactic shock. Get medical help immediately.
  • You are allergic to bee or wasp stings and you are stung.
  • You are at risk of anaphylactic shock, even if your reaction to previous stings was mild; you may need emergency treatment. (See your doctor to determine if you are allergic.)


Medically reviewed by Paul Enright, MD, July 2005.

SOURCES: Johns Hopkins Medicine. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. American Academy of Allergy, The Food and Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. WebMD Medical News: "Kids Don't Always Outgrown Sting Allergies." National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases.

The Basics | Symptoms | Detection & Treatment
© 2005 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
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