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Every summer, many people are stung by bees and other stinging insects. For most, it's a mildly painful experience with little effect. For others, however, a simple bee sting can represent a life-threatening situation. Laurie Knowles, of the Ephrata ( PA) Review, spoke to Dr. Stephen. Lockey, one of the doctors at Allergy & Asthma Center. According to the doctors of Allergy & Asthma Center, a bee sting allergy can occur unexpectedly. Some people may have been stung before, while others may think they have never been stung. That happened to a localwoman several years ago, while she was enjoying a relaxing afternoon at the pool. Stung by a yellow jacket, she thought little of it, until her face and throat began to swell, and she became dizzy. She was rushed to the doctor and treated for a severe bee sting allergy that could have been fatal. Just as important as immediate medical care in this situation is seeing an allergist for follow-up care, according to Dr. Lockey. Often, after the crisis is over, people are sent home, possibly with an EpiPen or allergy kit for allergic reactions, and nothing more. They are left with the fear that next time they are stung, they may go into anaphylactic shock and die. That 's scary. But it's also unnecessary reports Dr. Lockey, as long as proper care is provided after the event. If you suffer from an allergic reaction to bee stings, you can feel reassured to know that there are venom therapy treatments that have been proven to effectively reduce the risk of an allergic bee sting reaction. It's a process that takes time, but it's well worth it. Dr. Lockey explains that the first step for the allergist is to determine what type of sting you are allergic to. Tests are done to determine if hornets, honeybees, wasps, yellow jackets or other insects cause an allergic reaction. It might be just one, several, or all of them. Each week, patients receive an injection of a weakened venom. Later they receive shots about once a month. Therapy may take three to five years. Eventually, almost all patients are no longer allergic to bee stings, and they can live life more comfortably in the warm weather months. It changes the immune system so that it no longer produces antibodies, according to Dr. Lockey. Bee sting therapy is appropriate for patients with severe allergic reactions. The severity of your reaction depends on your sensitivity to the insect venom. While most reactions are mild, causing little more than an annoying itching or stinging sensation and mild swelling that disappears within a day or so, some people have a delayed reaction with fever, painful joints, hives and swollen glands. Severe reactions include facial swelling, difficulty breathing and shock, and require emergency treatment. To find out more about bee sting therapy, contact Allergy & AsthmaCenter at the Lancaster, PA office (717- 393-1365), the Stevens, PA office, near Ephrata, PA (717-336-0329), the York, PA office (717) 751-0090, or the Lebanon, PA office (717-272-2919). In addition to Dr. Lockey, the Allergy & AsthmaCenter staff includes Clark R. Kaufman, M.D., Mark J. Titi , M.D., and Amanda J. Bittner, M.D., all Board Certified allergy and asthma specialists.
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