[Hymenoptera venom allergy]

Allergic reactions caused by sting of honeybees or wasps are very often and make also very severe anaphylactic reaction, up to 3,5 % of population. Mostly sting reactions are dependent to IgE induced reactions type I.Established are history, skin tests and specific IgE antibodies. Recombinant antibodies complete diagnostics in special cases. Specific immunotherapy is recommended as a very successful therapy in treating allergies due to honeybees and wasps. Many protocols are established, the standard maintenance dose is 100 mg. The hyposensitization is very successful with rates of nearly 100 % success. In most times a dose of 100 mg is sufficient, in some cases the dose must be increased to 200 mg. In most patients immunotherapy can be stopped after 3-5 years. Sting challenge tests should be done for proving the efficiency of immunotherapy. Many patients after immunotherapy have an improved live quality after sting provocations.