Insect Allergies Specialist

What kinds of insects cause allergic reactions?

Many different types of insects can cause insect allergies, symptoms, and reactions.

Stinging insects

Wasps, hornets, fire ants, and yellow jackets are among the most common stinging insects that cause allergic reactions. When you’re stung by these insects, they inject a toxic substance called venom.

Biting insects

Kissing bugs, bedbugs, fleas, certain flies, and mosquitos are among the most prevalent insects that cause allergic reactions. When such insects bite you, you typically suffer pain, itching, redness, stinging, and minor swelling in the area around the bite. Insect bites rarely trigger a life-threatening reaction.

Household pests

Non-biting insects and non-stinging insects can also lead to allergic reactions, such as dust mites and cockroaches. These insects can cause year-round allergies and asthma. A dust mite isn’t visible to the naked eye. The cockroach and the waste from the dust mite can cause allergic reactions, asthma symptoms, and asthma attacks.

What are the signs of an allergic reaction to insects?

If you’re stung or bitten by insects, you’ll probably experience redness, itching, and minor swelling in the area around the sting or bite. This should get better within a few hours or days.

If you have an allergic reaction to non-stinging and non-biting insects like dust mites or cockroaches, you might have sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, and an itchy mouth, nose, or throat.

Insect stings can act like a poison in the body and cause severe symptoms that are toxic rather than allergic. Serum sickness is an unusual reaction to a foreign substance, such as a toxin from an insect, that happens hours or days after the sting.

In some cases, you can have a severe and serious allergic reaction to biting or stinging insects. A life-threatening reaction is called anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis).

How are insect allergies treated?

To treat insect allergies, your provider performs a thorough health history and allergy testing. In addition to finding out the insects to which you have an allergy, you can try to avoid contact with stinging insects.

Allergy and Asthma Consultants provides immunotherapy to help your body build up a tolerance to the different types of venoms to which you’re allergic. With immunotherapy, you receive regular injections that contain controlled tiny amounts of the allergen over time.

Allergy and Asthma Consultants also offers sublingual immunotherapy (slit) as an alternative to injections, in which your provider administers small doses of the allergen under your tongue.

At Allergy and Asthma Consultants, your provider can give you helpful information on insect allergies and how to protect yourself. Call the nearest office today, or use the online scheduling system.