Bee and Wasp Sting Allergy in Children: Diagnosis, Risk Assessment and Management of Hymenoptera Venom Allergy

In this episode of Hope & Histamine: The Paediatric Allergy Podcast, we explore the diagnosis and management of Hymenoptera venom allergy in children, including allergic reactions to bee, wasp and other insect stings.We discuss how to distinguish between normal local reactions, large local reactions and systemic allergic reactions, and when a child should be referred for specialist allergy assessment. The episode covers key aspects of diagnosis, including clinical history, venom-specific IgE testing, skin testing and risk assessment.We also look at the acute management of sting-related allergic reactions, including the role of adrenaline auto-injectors, emergency action plans and education for families and schools. Finally, we explore long-term management, including venom immunotherapy, who may benefit from it, and how it can reduce the risk of future severe reactions.This episode is designed for parents, healthcare professionals and anyone supporting children with insect sting allergy, offering practical, evidence-informed guidance on recognising risk, improving safety and supporting confident long-term care.Sources:Biló, B.M., Rueff, F., Mosbech, H., Bonifazi, F., Oude-Elberink, J.N.G. and the EAACI Interest Group on Insect Venom Hypersensitivity (2005) 'Diagnosis of Hymenoptera venom allergy', Allergy, 60, pp. 1339–1349.Bonifazi, F., Jutel, M., Biló, B.M., Birnbaum, J., Muller, U. and the EAACI Interest Group on Insect Venom Hypersensitivity (2005) 'Prevention and treatment of hymenoptera venom allergy: guidelines for clinical practice', Allergy, 60, pp. 1459–1470.Dhami, S., Zaman, H., Varga, E.M., Sturm, G.J., Muraro, A., Akdis, C.A., Antolín-Amérigo, D., Biló, M.B., Bokanovic, D., Calderon, M.A., Cichocka-Jarosz, E., Oude Elberink, J.N.G., Gawlik, R., Jakob, T., Kosnik, M., Lange, J., Mingomataj, E., Mitsias, D.I., Mosbech, H., Ollert, M., Pfaar, O., Pitsios, C., Pravettoni, V., Roberts, G., Ruëff, F., Sin, B.A., Asaria, M., Netuveli, G. and Sheikh, A. (2017) 'Allergen immunotherapy for insect venom allergy: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Allergy, 72, pp. 342–365.Krishna, M.T., Ewan, P.W., Diwakar, L., Durham, S.R., Frew, A.J., Leech, S.C. and Nasser, S.M. (2011) 'Diagnosis and management of hymenoptera venom allergy: British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) guidelines', Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 41, pp. 1201–1220.Sturm, G.J., Varga, E.M., Roberts, G., Mosbech, H., Biló, M.B., Akdis, C.A., Antolín-Amérigo, D., Cichocka-Jarosz, E., Gawlik, R., Jakob, T., Kosnik, M., Lange, J., Mingomataj, E., Mitsias, D.I., Ollert, M., Oude Elberink, J.N.G., Pfaar, O., Pitsios, C., Pravettoni, V., Ruëff, F., Sin, B.A., Agache, I., Angier, E., Arasi, S., Calderón, M.A., Fernandez-Rivas, M., Halken, S., Jutel, M., Lau, S., Pajno, G.B., van Ree, R., Ryan, D., Spranger, O., van Wijk, R.G., Dhami, S., Zaman, H., Sheikh, A. and Muraro, A. (2018) 'EAACI guidelines on allergen immunotherapy: Hymenoptera venom allergy', Allergy, 73, pp. 744–764.🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTubeDisclaimer: The information shared in this podcast and on this website is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition. Please don't ignore or delay seeking medical advice based on content from this podcast or website.Buy me a coffee: https://coff.ee/goodlifecreationsSend us Fan MailSupport the showBrought to you by - Goodlife Creations (2026). Music by - Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay.