FACTS ABOUT INSECT STING ALLERGY: 
•	Honeybees, bumblebees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, fire ants, and harvester ants are the most common causes of insect stings in the United States. 
•	Stinging insect nests can be found in various places, including overhangs, the hollow of trees, or in the ground. 
•	Insect sting reactions can range from mild and local to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. 
•	Symptoms of an allergic reaction usually occur within minutes of the insect sting, but may begin as late as 20 minutes after the sting. 
•	It is not uncommon for stings to cause immediate pain. Some people say it feels like a hot wire was placed on their skin at the sting site. Others have pain followed by swelling and itching.
•	Common signs/symptoms of a reaction include any or all of the following: hives, itching & swelling (of any body part), vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, wheezing, difficulty breathing, coughing, difficulty swallowing, throat tightness/closing, red/watery eyes, loss of consciousness (fainting), sense of doom, dizziness, change of voice/color (Source: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology).
•	Local reactions typically are found at the site of the sting and cause painful swelling and itching. The symptoms usually disappear within a few hours.  Some local reactions can involve swelling of an area larger than the sting site. For example, the entire arm can become swollen from a sting on the hand. Swelling may last as long as 10 days, although it usually peaks within 2 days. This type of reaction may also include nausea and low-grade fever.
•	A systemic reaction can involve difficulty breathing, fainting or loss of consciousness

FOLLOW-UP CARE:  
•	As soon as possible, consult with an allergist to try to determine the cause of your reaction and receive necessary prescriptions. To locate an allergist near you, contact the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology {www.aaaai.org / (800) 822-2762} or the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology {www.acaai.org / (800) 842-7777}.  Fortunately, there is a treatment that is more than ninety-five percent protective.
•	If prescribed, carry your injectable epinephrine (EpiPen®) at all times!  Learn how to use the device.
•	Avoid contact with stinging insects.  
•	Wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace (such as the one offered by MedicAlert®) noting your allergy.  
•	Make sure that your primary care physician (PCP) has a record of your allergic reaction.
•	Consult educational resources provided by The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), a nonprofit organization {www.foodallergy.org / (800) 929-4040}.
•	If you experience a subsequent allergic reaction, administer epinephrine promptly and call 911.