Overview of insect sting-related conditions and treatments.
Many insects represent a significant medical concern because their stings can cause serious conditions. Wasps and bees, in particular, are among the insects that most frequently interact with humans, and their venom can trigger allergic reactions of varying severity. The venom from these stings contains toxic molecules and allergens that the immune system recognizes as foreign, provoking a response that can range from localized reactions to more severe forms, such as anaphylactic shock.
Macro image of a wasp stinging human skin
Case of allergic reaction after a bee, wasp, or hornet sting.
Allergic Reactions to Stings: What You Need to Know
Allergic reactions to stings can vary significantly from person to person depending on individual predisposition. The most common symptoms include swelling, redness, and itching. In some cases, reactions can be more severe, affecting breathing and blood circulation, with potentially fatal outcomes if not treated promptly.
Clinical study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice: (in English)
Anaphylaxis to Insect Stings: A Review of 1,000 Cases
Fondazione Veronesi – Popular science article on the use of desensitization vaccines against wasp and bee allergies. (in Italian)
Desensitization vaccines against wasp and bee allergies
Administration of a vaccine for allergy immunotherapy
Glass vial of lyophilized venom extract, base for vaccine preparation
Specific Immunotherapy (SIT): What It Is and How It Works
Specific Immunotherapy (SIT), or Specific Allergen Immunotherapy, is today one of the most effective medical practices to reduce allergic reactions in high-risk individuals. This therapy involves the preventive administration of controlled doses of the substances that trigger the allergic reaction, helping the immune system gradually tolerate the venom.
Immunotherapy with purified venoms is currently the only therapeutic treatment that provides near-total protection in case of a new sting, with a success rate of 95–98% in treated cases.
The immunotherapy treatment involves a regimen of gradually increasing venom doses until the protective dose is reached, usually 100 mcg. One of the most important features of immunotherapy is that protection lasts for years even after the treatment ends.
The initial phase of the production process of these vaccines starts with the availability of the raw material consisting of insect venom. The purity of the venom is crucial as it directly affects the quality of the drug that will be prepared.