VENOM (STINGING INSECT) ALLERGY

Our clinic assesses patients for venom allergy, commonly known as wasp or bee sting allergy.

As simple as this may sound, assessing venom allergy in patients is a complicated matter suitable for only highly qualified allergists. This is because not all sting reactions are equal and your likelihood of subsequent anaphylaxis depends on the type of reaction you had.

What is anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is a whole body immune reaction gone wrong. Symptoms of anaphylaxis are serious and possibly life-threatening. It includes trouble breathing, hives, throat tightness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, feeling of doom.

Why not simply test you regardless of what the risk factor is? Testing for venom allergy - unlike for other allergies - is not very reliable. People who are truly allergic can often have a normal test and on the other hand patients who are not allergic to venom can show up as positive on the test. This is why patients should be tested for venom allergy only if they are deemed to have a likelihood of a true venom allergy based on the clinical history that Dr. Hadi or a qualified allergist elicits. For example having swelling of the entire arm versus an episode resulting in a mild full body rash mean different things in evaluating your risk of having a subsequent life-threatening reaction: the first one is actually considered low risk, while the mild body rash is associated with a much higher risk of anaphylaxis. The risk is also age dependent, with patients younger than 16 years of age less likely to have anaphylaxis compared to older individuals.

There are three ways to test for stinging insect allergies: Skin-Prick Testing, Intradermal Testing and Blood Testing :

In the skin-prick test, a small amount of a liquid containing insect venom is placed on your forearm, which is then pricked with our skin test device to allow the liquid to seep into the skin. If a raised, reddish spot forms within 15 to 20 minutes - called a hive - that can indicate a venom allergy.
The skin test can frequently be negative. Because of that we do the intradermal skin test. In this test a small amount of venom extract is injected just under the skin. The site is examined after about 15 minutes for signs of an allergic reaction. This test is considered more accurate than the skin-prick or blood tests in determining the presence of IgE antibodies.
If the intradermal skin tests is inconclusive, then Dr Hadi may order a blood test. In the blood test, a blood sample is sent to Calgary Lab Services to test for the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to insect venom.

Our clinic does the comprehensive venom allergy test consisting of yellow jacket (the most common sting), bee, paper wasp and various types of hornet.

Dr. Hadi may also order the blood test, with the knowledge that the blood test is not fully reliable: 20% of the general population will test positive on the blood test to insect stings, even though they have never had a sting in their life!

Dr Hadi takes this all into consideration when evaluating you.


To summarize:

  • We will be able to do stinging insect skin allergy testing at your appointment.

  • We will provide you with educational material, epinephrine teaching and a prescription if necessary during your appointment. Of course you will have an opportunity to have any questions you may have addressed during your appointment.






Hours of Operation:
Monday 0800-1500
Tuesday 0800-1500
Wednesday 0800-1500
Thursday 0800-1500
Friday 0800-1200
Weekends and Holidays: closed

Address:
Allergy Physicians Calgary
5918 - 3rd St SW
Calgary T2H 0H8

Telephone:
403-ALLERGY (403-255-3749)
Facsimile:
1-833-816-5734
(Second fax line: 403-457-8237)


Dr. Hadi and Dr. Hinther are medical sub-specialists and per Alberta Health regulations see patients via referral only. If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital. If you have an urgent or semi-urgent medical need, please see your primary care physician for evaluation or advice.

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