Via practica 3/2010

Allergy to hymenoptera venom – still an actual problem

Taxonomically insects form abundant independent class of the Arthropoda stem. Different insect genera can cause heterogeneous allergic symptoms in susceptible individual – depending up to genetic predispositions, environmental influence and way of exposition to insect allergen. The catch up, adequate diagnosis and therapy of insect sting allergy is crucial – in each year dies in Slovakia on average one patient. After each systemic reaction caused by stinging insects should be done an adequate diagnosis on the basis of which allergen vaccine (immunotherapy) is indicated because it significantly reduces the risk of severe reaction after re-exposition. Every patient with anamnesis of systemic, but also big local reaction is to be provided with an emergency first aid kit.

Keywords: hymenoptera venom, allergy, diagnosis, therapy, prevention