I know what to do if my child gets stung by a bee.
But how do I know if he is allergic?

Bee venom contains many toxic components that account for localized burning, itching and pain experienced after a sting. “However, some individuals develop an allergy to venom proteins — pitting their immune system to produce an exaggerated, widespread reaction to a sting,” says Eli Silver, MD, at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Also, even if a child does not exhibit a reaction early in childhood, it is possible to develop an allergy to bee stings at any age.

The sting allergy may manifest as hives, throat swelling, respiratory difficulty, wheezing, vomiting and light-headedness or fainting. These symptoms usually develop within 15 minutes after being stung.

“Practically speaking, if a child develops widespread hives after a bee sting, parents should immediately administer a histamine blocker, like Benadryl,” Dr. Silver says.

If the child develops additional symptoms, as mentioned above, contact 911 or your local emergency number immediately. An epinephrine (Adrenaline™) injection, steroids and other medicines may need to be administered. Children with a serious sting allergy should be evaluated by an allergist and offered venom immunotherapy to desensitize them from venom.