Insect allergy

Insect allergy is an allergic reaction that occurs when a person comes into contact with insect waste products, their saliva or poison. These substances can enter the human body when bitten or in contact with an insect, and when inhaling their waste products or particles.

As a rule, allergic reactions develop when interacting with blood-sucking or stinging insects, as well as cockroaches and those insects that are used as food for commercial or domestic fish (bloodworms).

The severity of an allergic reaction may vary depending on the amount of allergen that has entered the body, the sensitivity of a particular person to it and the type of insect.

Causes of insect allergy

There are several groups of reasons that can provoke this type of allergy:

contact with non-stinging non-biting insects (grasshoppers, locusts, butterflies, moths, moths);
contact with blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes, midges, horseflies, bedbugs, lice, fleas);
contact with biting insects (beetles, cockroaches);
contact with hymenoptera (ants, bumblebees, bees, wasps, hornets);
genetic predisposition to allergies of various types;
contact with insect allergens are those substances that are perceived by the human immune system as foreign, which provokes the occurrence of an allergic reaction by itself, without contact.
The reaction can significantly worsen, up to attacks of suffocation, in the presence of other allergic diseases. It can be, for example, bronchial asthma.

Symptoms of insect allergy

There are two types of allergic reactions: systemic and local.

With a local reaction that occurs at the site of contact with an insect, the following signs are noted:

severe skin itching;
skin rashes that can take a variety of forms: hemorrhages in the surface layer of the skin, severe redness of the skin, the formation of bubbles with transparent contents, slight redness of the skin, a rash that looks like traces of a nettle burn.
With a systemic allergic reaction, that is, with a reaction in which many organs and systems are involved, the following signs are noted:

laryngeal edema (progression of this symptom may cause respiratory arrest);
skin necrosis (necrosis);
attacks of suffocation, when there is a cough, shortness of breath and hoarseness of voice;
generalized skin rash that appears on the entire surface of the skin;
anaphylactic shock is the most severe form of the body’s reaction to the invasion of substances perceived by its immune system as hostile agents. Symptoms of this reaction can be all the signs described above, which can be complicated by loss of consciousness, cyanosis of the skin, a drop in blood pressure.
Diagnosis of insect allergy:

physical examination;
analysis of complaints and patient’s life;
general blood test;
allergic testing (carried out during remission).
Treatment of insect allergy

The main direction of treatment is to limit the possible contact of the patient with the allergen.

In addition, for general therapy, it is prescribed:

Compliance with a hypoallergenic diet, with the complete exclusion of products that can be perceived by the human immune system as hostile agents. As a rule, coffee, chocolate, citrus fruits, etc. are excluded.
When an insect bites, a tourniquet is applied, but not for more than 20 minutes.
Medical treatment:

The appointment of antihistamines to reduce allergic reactions.
The appointment of glucorticosteroids to reduce the manifestation of anaphylaxis.
The use of adrenaline to restore smooth muscles, restore blood circulation and respiration.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy to reduce the sensitivity of the patient to the allergen.

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