Insect allergy: Symptoms, treatments and how to stay safe
Table of contents:
Table of contents:
De klarify allergie-app
Houd je hooikoorts onder controle met onze geavanceerde app. Het helpt je om je symptomen te volgen, je triggers te begrijpen en vooruit te plannen voor de pollenverwachting.
For most people insect stings and bites are a nuisance and nothing more. But swelling that spreads beyond the usual sore red bump could be a symptom of allergy. Insect stings can also cause a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis so it’s important to know what to do and to do it fast.1
If you do have this allergy, it’s natural to be wary whenever you hear buzzing. Insect stings are the second most common cause of anaphylaxis in the UK outside medical settings, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).2
In this article we’ll talk about the insects that most commonly cause allergic reactions, how and why the allergy develops insect allergy, and what the symptoms are. Discover what to do if you are stung depending how severely you react. The article also talks about whether you can stop the allergic reactions after getting your diagnosis. And there are practical tips on how to avoid your trigger insect.
Which insects cause allergic reactions?
Insect allergy refers to allergic reactions to insect stings mainly in the Hymenoptera order. In the UK, this includes bees, wasps and hornets.3 Insect allergy can also be triggered by insect bites from certain mosquitoes, bed bugs, fleas, flies,4 ants3 and ticks.5
Ticks are technically not insects. They're arachnids like spiders and dust mites.6 But because they bite they're often grouped together with biting insects causing allergies. That's why we're talking about them here.
Why did I suddenly develop insect allergy?7
If you’re allergic to insect venom or saliva your immune system makes Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to combat the toxin. But you usually need to be stung or bitten at least twice before you develop allergy symptoms. The first time your body prepares its defenses by creating the antibodies. The next time you get bitten or stung, those specific IgE antibodies might trigger a reaction. That causes insect allergy symptoms.
Symptoms of insect allergy?1
Pain, redness and slight puffiness less than 10cm in diameter around the sting site are quite normal. With insect allergy, local symptoms tend to be more intense. More importantly, being stung can cause a sudden severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency.
Normal (non-allergic) reactions last a few hours and may not need treatment, while large local reactions can take days to subside.
Local allergic reaction to an insect sting
With allergy, the reaction can be a similar size (10cm) to a normal sting but may be more swollen, painful, itchy and red.1 (On darker skin, the redness or erythema may be harder to see8). A large local reaction spreads further than this and could even make your arm or leg swell up. If you’re stung on your face or neck, the swelling could affect your breathing, in which case dial 999. 1
Depending on the severity, local allergic reactions often respond to the same remedies as a normal insect sting.1
Insect anaphylaxis
Most sudden severe allergic reactions to insect stings develop within 30 minutes1 but it might be several hours later.9 The symptoms could affect any part of your body9 and this is what to look out for:
- Hives rash, itchy, flushed or pale skin9
- Swollen tongue or throat9
- Wheezing and difficulty breathing9
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea9
- Weak or rapid pulse10
- Pale and clammy skin10
- Drop in blood pressure (hypotension) and anaphylactic shock9
- Dizziness or fainting9
- Sense of impending doom10
Who is most at risk of anaphylaxis from insect stings?
Sudden severe allergic reactions to insect stings are less common in kids until they reach school age (which is also when there’s a rise in the overall number of child anaphylaxis cases outdoors).11 Children are about half as likely to experience insect sting anaphylaxis than adults.12
It’s important to say that the UK has one of the lowest fatality rates in Europe from insect sting anaphylaxis. And it’s men who are at highest risk.12
Insect allergy: What to do if you're strung
Mild to moderate allergic reactions usually respond to basic first aid and symptom relief medication. First remove all traces of the insect. If a bee has left its stinger behind, gently scrape it sideways with a fingernail. Don’t pinch it or you may squeeze more venom under the skin.1
Ticks latch on to your skin. Use tweezers or a tick remover to grab the tick as close to your skin as you can. Pull it away without squeezing. Make sure you get the mouth parts out cleanly. Wash the bite with soap and water.13
First aid for insect allergy symptoms
Holding a cold compress or ice pack on the bit for 20 minutes may help to ease pain and reduce swelling.13 If it’s still uncomfortable, ask your pharmacist about short-term relief options:
- An over-the-counter painkiller – oral,13 spray or cream1
- Corticosteroid cream1,13
- Oral or topical antihistamine1,13
An unusually large or painful local reaction may need medical attention and a prescription.1,13
Emergency treatment for severe insect allergy reactions1
Life-threatening allergic reactions can happen fast and need fast treatment. So your GP may prescribe adrenaline in a nasal spray or auto-injector for you to use in a medical emergency. Carry two devices with you at all times because a single dose may not be enough to reverse the reaction.
You may want to carry a medical ID or wear a medical alert bracelet. This lets others know you’re allergic to insect stings and may need immediate treatment if stung. It’s a good idea to teach your family and friends how to use your adrenaline device too, in case you can’t.
It isn’t a replacement for medical attention. Call an ambulance even if you start to feel better in case you have a delayed secondary reaction.
How to find out if you have an insect allergy
Your GP will take your medical history and a detailed account of your worst symptoms after a sting. Having a systemic reaction once makes it more likely to happen again.1 They will also ask if you know what type of insect stung you. Try to note:
- Where you were when you were stung
- What you did to get relief
- Whether the insect left a stinger in your skin or not (honey bees leave a stinger)1
- A picture of the insect or even the insect itself
Some insect venoms, like wasp and hornet, contain similar allergenic proteins. This causes cross-reactions and you may get allergy symptoms from more than just your trigger. Skin testing or blood tests can help make the diagnosis.3
Can you stop the allergic reactions?3
Venom immunotherapy can reduce the risk of severe insect allergy symptoms. The treatment is also known as desensitization and it involves regular tiny doses of your particular insect allergen. The idea is to retrain your immune system so that it reacts differently. A full course takes 3 to 5 years.1,3
Treatment with one form of venom immunotherapy may address allergies to different insects. For example, wasp venom immunotherapy can tackle allergic reactions to hornets too. It’s because of the cross-reactivity we talked about before.
Insect venom immunotherapy is available for adults and children, depending on eligibility. Your GP or allergy specialist will assess and advise you.
11 ways to avoid insect allergy symptoms1
Insect sting allergy is generally not a year-round problem unless you live somewhere tropical. The risk of is highest in the summer as life moves outdoors and you have more skin exposed. Insect repellents may not work on stinging insects so why not try these tips instead:
Don’t…
- walk barefoot or wear open shoes in grass. Bees are attracted to white clover and dandelions.
- wear perfume, brightly-coloured clothing, shiny buckles or jewellery. Looking and smelling like a flower may prove irresistible to a stinging insect.
- drink from open fizzy drink cans. The sweet scent may attract stinging insects that can crawl inside without you noticing.
- leave rubbish uncovered.
- swat a flying insect – especially if it’s trapped in a moving car. This can aggravate them. Remain calm, pull over and open the windows to allow it to fly away.
Do…
- think ahead when planning outdoor activities. Summer hiking is better done with others rather than solo in case you get stung and need help.
- cover up with long sleeves and trousers when the risks of insect allergy symptoms are higher.
- be alert when gardening as insect nests can be in bushes and trees. Wasps set up home in the ground and in walls. Wear closed toe shoes, socks and gloves.
- keep outdoor picnic and BBQ food covered.
- pick fruit in your garden as soon as it ripens and clear away windfalls – just beware of stinging insects that may be hiding inside drawn by the smell.
- leave windows and doors closed during insect allergy season – or cover them with thin netting.
The short version
Insect allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to stings or bites.7 Problem insects include bees, wasps and hornets, and sometimes mosquitos and horse flies.1,4 The swelling, redness and itching will be more intense if you have an allergy, and it could spread beyond the normal 10cms in diameter. The most severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.1
An insect allergy diagnosis relies on looking at your medical history and the results of skin or blood tests.3 If the doctor thinks you’re at risk of anaphylaxis, they’ll ask you to carry two adrenaline nasal sprays or auto-injectors for emergencies. Venom immunotherapy can reduce the risk of anaphylaxis; ask your doctor if you could be eligible for treatment.1
Share your story
If you’ve read all the way to the end of this article about stinging insect allergy, thank you. We’d love to know what you think. Have you tried any of the tips we’ve suggested? Or do you have any of your own that you’d like to share with others? We’re on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us there or email and share your story.
Klarify takes allergy science and makes it simple, and we have rigorous process for doing this. We use up-to-date and authoritative sources of information. Medical experts review our content before we share it with you. They and the klarify editorial team strive to be accurate, thorough, clear and objective at all times. Our editorial policy explains exactly how we do this.
References
1. Allergy UK. Your quick guide to allergy to bee and wasp stings. Geraadpleegd 12 augustus 2025.
https://www.allergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Allergy-to-Wasp-Bee-Stings.pdf
2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). How common are insect bites and stings? Geraadpleegd 12 augustus 2025.
https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/insect-bites-stings/background-information/prevalence/
3. Krishna MT, et al. Diagnosis and management of hymenoptera venom allergy: British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) guidelines. Clin Exp Allergy. 2011;41(9):1201-1220.
https://www.bsaci.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/j.1365-2222.2011.03788.x.pdf
4. Hemmer W, Wantke F. Insect hypersensitivity beyond bee and wasp venom allergy. Allergol Select. 2020;4:97–104.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7709451/
5. Burke G, et al. Hypersensitivity to Ticks and Lyme Disease Risk. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2005;11(1):36-41.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/11/1/04-0303_article#
6. Britannica. Arachnid. Geraadpleegd 12 augustus 2025.
https://www.britannica.com/animal/arachnid
7. British Society for Immunology. Allergy briefing. Geraadpleegd 9 april 2025.
https://www.immunology.org/policy-and-public-affairs/briefings-and-position-statements/allergy
8. British Association of Dermatologists. Skin diversity descriptors guidance for general public document. Geraadpleegd 13 augustus 2025.
https://cdn.bad.org.uk/uploads/2024/07/17092814/Skin-diversity-descriptors-guidance-General-Public-July.pdf
9. World Allergy Organization. Anaphylaxis guidance 2020. Geraadpleegd 13 augustus 2025.
https://www.worldallergyorganizationjournal.org/article/S1939-4551(20)30375-6/fulltext#secsectitle0025
10. Resuscitation Council UK. Emergency treatment of anaphylaxis: Guidelines for healthcare providers. Geraadpleegd 13 augustus 2025.
https://www.resus.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-05/Emergency%20Treatment%20of%20Anaphylaxis%20May%202021_0.pdf
11. Grabenhenrich LB, et al. Anaphylaxis in children and adolescents: The European Anaphylaxis Registry. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137(4):1128-1137.e1.
https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(15)02991-7/pdf
12. Feás X, et al. What We Know about Sting-Related Deaths? Human Fatalities Caused by Hornet, Wasp and Bee Stings in Europe (1994-2016). Biology (Basel). 2022;11(2):282.
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/2/282
13. NHS. Insect bites and stings: Treatment. Geraadpleegd 13 augustus 2025.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/
GB-NPR-2500022 Sep. 2025