Allergies to bees

ChristyML · May 2013

My husband and his dad are both semi-severely allergic to bees, or wasps, or hornets (whatever it is, they are somewhat common around our area). It's not life threatening, but they both swell up pretty badly (DH's dad got stung and his face swelled up, and he didn't get stung in the face, but he could still breathe just fine).

I am going to assume that DS will also be allergic in the same way, or maybe worse, since he is a baby. I have seen several nests and bees (or whatever they are) flying around already, and I feel like I need to be prepared for a severe reaction, should DS get stung.

I don't know what I should start carrying around. I know that there is Benadryl, but if his throat swells up, the Benadryl would be useless. Do they make baby sized epi pens? We will be outdoors a lot this summer, and sometimes far away from any hospital.

What would you do?

skate88 · May 2013

I would talk to my pediatrician or allergist. I'm sure they can answer your questions.

wesleycrusher · May 2013

skate88:
I would talk to my pediatrician or allergist. I'm sure they can answer your questions.

This.

Caseyk1127 · May 2013

DS has had epi pens since he was 4 months old for severe allergies ... So yes they make them. I would for ure call the pedi or make an appointment with an allergist if you're concerned.

FrickandFrack · May 2013

skate88:
I would talk to my pediatrician or allergist. I'm sure they can answer your questions.

1

Latham12 · May 2013

Go see an allergy doctors ASAP! They will test LO and give you medicine to be prepared.

Sillygirl85 · May 2013

Latham12:
Go see an allergy doctors ASAP! They will test LO and give you medicine to be prepared.

I wouldn't put a 7 month old through allergy testing. Take a First Aid course, spray any nests that you can, keep your cell phone with you, and just be vigilant.

ETA: My dad has severe allergies to stinging insects, but none of his four children do. It is highly possible that your son does not have allergies.

Latham12 · May 2013

SarahW44:
Latham12:
Go see an allergy doctors ASAP! They will test LO and give you medicine to be prepared.
I wouldn't put a 7 month old through allergy testing. Take a First Aid course, spray any nests that you can, keep your cell phone with you, and just be vigilant.
ETA: My dad has severe allergies to stinging insects, but none of his four children do. It is highly possible that your son does not have allergies.

I disagree. Allergy tests aren't that bad for babies. A friends 4 month old had serious dry and cracking skin and she had to have her tested and found out she's allergic to dairy, cheese and peanuts, so now since she's BFing she needs to cut all those things out. She said her DD didn't cry or anything through the testing but now they know she has those allergies and can monitor them. I would rather have my baby tested then have LO die from a bee sting.

Sillygirl85 · May 2013

Latham12:
SarahW44:
Latham12:
Go see an allergy doctors ASAP! They will test LO and give you medicine to be prepared.
I wouldn't put a 7 month old through allergy testing. Take a First Aid course, spray any nests that you can, keep your cell phone with you, and just be vigilant.
ETA: My dad has severe allergies to stinging insects, but none of his four children do. It is highly possible that your son does not have allergies.
I disagree. Allergy tests aren't that bad for babies. A friends 4 month old had serious dry and cracking skin and she had to have her tested and found out she's allergic to dairy, cheese and peanuts, so now since she's BFing she needs to cut all those things out. She said her DD didn't cry or anything through the testing but now they know she has those allergies and can monitor them. I would rather have my baby tested then have LO die from a bee sting.

Have you ever had allergy testing done? It's not fun.

I would never do it for a baby because I thought they might have an allergy because their father did. I would take precautions to avoid that allergen. It is possible to never get stung by a stinging insect.

Sillygirl85 · May 2013

OP check this site out. It has some good information on bee and stinging insect allergies.

https://www.allergyuk.org/allergy-to-wasp-and-bee-stings/allergy-to-wasp-and-bee-stings

Latham12 · May 2013

SarahW44:
Latham12:
SarahW44:
Latham12:
Go see an allergy doctors ASAP! They will test LO and give you medicine to be prepared.
I wouldn't put a 7 month old through allergy testing. Take a First Aid course, spray any nests that you can, keep your cell phone with you, and just be vigilant.
ETA: My dad has severe allergies to stinging insects, but none of his four children do. It is highly possible that your son does not have allergies.

I disagree. Allergy tests aren't that bad for babies. A friends 4 month old had serious dry and cracking skin and she had to have her tested and found out she's allergic to dairy, cheese and peanuts, so now since she's BFing she needs to cut all those things out. She said her DD didn't cry or anything through the testing but now they know she has those allergies and can monitor them. I would rather have my baby tested then have LO die from a bee sting.
Have you ever had allergy testing done? It's not fun.
I would never do it for a baby because I thought they might have an allergy because their father did. I would take precautions to avoid that allergen. It is possible to never get stung by a stinging insect.

I suppose we all have different opinions and would handle things different and that's ok. Just what I would do.

ChristyML · May 2013

SarahW44:
OP check this site out. It has some good information on bee and stinging insect allergies.
https://www.allergyuk.org/allergy-to-wasp-and-bee-stings/allergy-to-wasp-and-bee-stings

Thank you. I'm in the process of switching pedis, so I may not get seen right away, but I'm going to schedule an appointment to discuss what can be done to find out, and what I can do just in case something severe happens.

melody921 · May 2013

skate88:
I would talk to my pediatrician or allergist. I'm sure they can answer your questions.

This.

carrotsoup70 · May 2013

SarahW44:
Latham12:
SarahW44:
Latham12:
Go see an allergy doctors ASAP! They will test LO and give you medicine to be prepared.
I wouldn't put a 7 month old through allergy testing. Take a First Aid course, spray any nests that you can, keep your cell phone with you, and just be vigilant.
ETA: My dad has severe allergies to stinging insects, but none of his four children do. It is highly possible that your son does not have allergies.
I disagree. Allergy tests aren't that bad for babies. A friends 4 month old had serious dry and cracking skin and she had to have her tested and found out she's allergic to dairy, cheese and peanuts, so now since she's BFing she needs to cut all those things out. She said her DD didn't cry or anything through the testing but now they know she has those allergies and can monitor them. I would rather have my baby tested then have LO die from a bee sting.
Have you ever had allergy testing done? It's not fun.
I would never do it for a baby because I thought they might have an allergy because their father did. I would take precautions to avoid that allergen. It is possible to never get stung by a stinging insect.

FYI - they normally don't do scratch tests on little ones. They can test for allergies through blood tests.

Caseyk1127 · May 2013

carrotsoup70:
SarahW44:
Latham12:
SarahW44:
Latham12:
Go see an allergy doctors ASAP! They will test LO and give you medicine to be prepared.
I wouldn't put a 7 month old through allergy testing. Take a First Aid course, spray any nests that you can, keep your cell phone with you, and just be vigilant.
ETA: My dad has severe allergies to stinging insects, but none of his four children do. It is highly possible that your son does not have allergies.
I disagree. Allergy tests aren't that bad for babies. A friends 4 month old had serious dry and cracking skin and she had to have her tested and found out she's allergic to dairy, cheese and peanuts, so now since she's BFing she needs to cut all those things out. She said her DD didn't cry or anything through the testing but now they know she has those allergies and can monitor them. I would rather have my baby tested then have LO die from a bee sting.
Have you ever had allergy testing done? It's not fun.
I would never do it for a baby because I thought they might have an allergy because their father did. I would take precautions to avoid that allergen. It is possible to never get stung by a stinging insect.
FYI - they normally don't do scratch tests on little ones. They can test for allergies through blood tests.

DS has had multiple rounds of scratch test done since he was 4 months old. He will scream his head off if he gets a shot but doesn't even flinch during allergy scratch test. In fact I'm not even sure he realizes they are touching his back cause he just keeps playing with the toys.

carrotsoup70 · May 2013

Caseyk1127:
carrotsoup70:
SarahW44:
Latham12:
SarahW44:
Latham12:
Go see an allergy doctors ASAP! They will test LO and give you medicine to be prepared.
I wouldn't put a 7 month old through allergy testing. Take a First Aid course, spray any nests that you can, keep your cell phone with you, and just be vigilant.
ETA: My dad has severe allergies to stinging insects, but none of his four children do. It is highly possible that your son does not have allergies.
I disagree. Allergy tests aren't that bad for babies. A friends 4 month old had serious dry and cracking skin and she had to have her tested and found out she's allergic to dairy, cheese and peanuts, so now since she's BFing she needs to cut all those things out. She said her DD didn't cry or anything through the testing but now they know she has those allergies and can monitor them. I would rather have my baby tested then have LO die from a bee sting.
Have you ever had allergy testing done? It's not fun.
I would never do it for a baby because I thought they might have an allergy because their father did. I would take precautions to avoid that allergen. It is possible to never get stung by a stinging insect.
FYI - they normally don't do scratch tests on little ones. They can test for allergies through blood tests.
DS has had multiple rounds of scratch test done since he was 4 months old. He will scream his head off if he gets a shot but doesn't even flinch during allergy scratch test. In fact I'm not even sure he realizes they are touching his back cause he just keeps playing with the toys.

That's horrible! It must differ by allergist. I'm glad that he doesn't fuss during the scratch test. The ones that I have had are pretty miserable.

ChristyML · May 2013

kbruington:
I always carry Benadryl for myself (liquid) because I have severe allergies to nuts and my throat has started closing and Benadryl saved me until I could get somewhere for help. So I disagree with you and KNOW that Benadryl does help when a throat starts to swell. DS has gotten hives on his face before, I think from the grass, so now I keep a bottle of kids Benadryl in his diaper bag just in case.
Talk to your pedi about all this though

See, but I worry about not knowing if his throat is swelling up or not...there would be obvious signs right? Like clearing the throat and stuff? I think until I see the doctor I am definitely going to be carrying around baby Benadryl.

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