First Aid, Chapter 7 Hypersensitivity Disorders, Stinging Insect Allergy Flashcards
What are the families of hymenoptera and any subfamilies in the group? What are the species in each group?
Family Apidae, Family Vespidae (subfamily vespinase, subfamily polistinae), Family Formicidae
What are the species within family apidae?
Apis Mellifera (Honeybee), African-European Hybrid Bees (Killer Bee), and Bombus Spp (Bumblebee)
What are the subfamilies and species within family vespidae?
- Subfamily vespinae: species bespula (yellow jacket), dolichovespula arenaria and D. maculata (yellow hornet and white-faced hornets).
- Subfamily Polistinae: polistes spp (paper wasp)
What is the species in family formicidae?
-Solenopsis invicta (imported fire ant)
What is the species Apis Mellifera commonly called? What is it used for? Describe its next. How aggressive is it? What happens to the sting? What family does it belong to?
Apis Mellifera (Honeybee)—Used commercially for honey production and pollination; beeswax nest with numerous vertical combs (Figure 7-8A); not aggressive, and only females will sting when provoked; barbed stinger that remains in victim’s skin, killing the insect. Family Apidae.
What is the killer bee’s species name? Where did it come from? What other species is its allergen protein the same as? How aggressive is it? What family does it belong to?
African–European Hybrid Bees (Killer Bee—Escaped from a lab in Brazil in 1957 and have gradually migrated into the southern US. Similar to domestic honeybees and deliver identical allergen protein when it stings; however, they have a tendency to swarm with little provocation and sting in large numbers, causing a toxic reaction that can be fatal. Their aggressive nature has earned them the title “killer bees.” Family Apidae.
What is the bumblebee’s species? Where are its nests and what are they made of? How aggressive are they? Is avoidance difficult? What family does it belong to?
Bombus Spp (Bumblebee)—Subterranean or concealed nests made up of loose fibrous material; not aggressive but will sting when nests are disturbed; attack is loud, and slow so avoidance is fairly easy. Family apidae.
What are the nests of subfamily vespinae made of? What happens to their sting?
Multilayered paper nests made of masticated wood. Can sting repeatedly without losing sting apparatus.
What is the name of the yellow jackets species? Where are they found? Are they aggressive? Where are the nests found?
Vespula spp. (yellow jacket): Picnic and trash can scavengers; highly aggressive, especially in summer and autumn when larger populations compete for food supplies; often sting for no apparent reason; nests found in concealed locations, either underground, in wall cavities, or decaying logs.
What species of hymenoptera is most responsible for human stings?
vespula (yellow jacket).
What are the species names of the yellow hornet and white-face hornets? Where is the next found? What sets off their defensive stinging behavior?
Dolichovespula arenaria and D. maculata (yellow hornet and white-faced hornets): Aerial-nesting yellow hornets found in North America but not Europe; nests found around human dwellings; sensitivity to vibrations sets off their defensive sting behavior.
What hymenoptera species is frequently found around garbage cans or food?
Yellow Jacket
What is the species name of the paper wasp? What is the subfamily? Describe its nest. Where are the nests found. Are they aggressive?
Subfamily Polistinae—Polistes spp. (paper wasp): Nest constructed of a single layer of open cells (or comb) that are found on eaves or window sills of homes (Figure 7-8C). Narrow “wasp waist” and dangling legs when in flight; less aggressive, but can sting repeatedly without losing sting apparatus.
What is the species and family name of the fire ant? Where are its nests found? Where are they located? Are they aggressive? How do they sting? Describe the resultant skin manifestation of a sting.
Family Formicidae Solenopsis invicta (Imported Fire Ant). Large subterranean nests. Widespread in the southeastern US. Are aggressive and have a true sting apparatus; they anchor by their mandibles and pivot to administer multiple stings that develop into characteristic sterile pustule at site within 24 hours after sting. Arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1940s and have slowly spread, adapting to colder climates, with nests found as far north as Maryland.
What is the prevalence of systemic reactionsto stings? How many fatal reactions are there annually? What percentage of those occur in people with no prior history of an allergic reaction to stings?
Systemic reactions reported in 3% of adults and 1% of children; approximately 30–50 fatal stings occur per year in the US, with half of those occurring in people with no prior history of allergic reaction to sting.
Other than normal reactions, large local reactions, and systemic reactions to insect stings, what other types of reactions are possible?
Toxic, serum sickness, neuropathy, and rhabdomyolysis.
Is the skin prick always done before ID in venom testing? When is it a good idea? At what concentration?
The venom skin prick testing is not always done prior to intradermal testing, although it is reasonable in patients with a history of severe anaphylaxis who may be extremely sensitive to venom (1.0–100 μg/mL).
What is the starting dose of venom ID testing? What are the next doses? When is it completed?
Intradermal technique begins with concentrations between 0.001–0.01 μg/mL and proceeds by 10-fold increments until a postive result or a maximum concentration of 1 μg/mL is reached.
