Mosquito Bites vs Bee Stings: Histamine, Venom, & Life-Saving Immunotherapy | My Allergist Dad

Drew and his dad, Dr. Z, discuss why some people get severe-looking mosquito bite reactions while others don’t, explaining that mosquitoes don’t have venom and big welts are often due to a heightened histamine response rather than a true allergy. They compare this to stinging insect venom allergies, emphasizing that bee/wasp anaphylaxis can be life-threatening but is highly treatable with venom immunotherapy (allergy shots), which is about 85–90% effective and can prevent reactions even after future stings; Dr. Z notes patients should still carry epinephrine. They cover common stinging insects treated (honeybee, wasp, yellow jacket, and hornets), clarify that snake venom toxicity differs from allergy, and note rare snake-bite anaphylaxis and possible allergic reactions to antivenom, including considerations with alpha-gal. They also mention mosquito attraction factors like blood type, CO2, sweat, and heat.00:00 Creepy Crawlies Intro00:41 Rhode Island Snake Talk02:14 Mosquito Bite Reactions04:14 Bee Allergy Treatment06:37 How Venom Shots Work08:50 Snake Venom vs Antivenom15:15 Fire Ants and Bee Reactions23:05 Why Mosquitoes Pick You25:05 Wrap Up and PSA📩 Have a question for the show?Email: [email protected]