Severe Systemic Reactions Following Bee Sting Injuries in Korea

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Bee sting injuries can lead to severe systemic reactions (SSRs), including anaphylaxis and death, necessitating an understanding of risk factors.
• While most bee stings are minor, a subset of cases results in life-threatening outcomes, underscoring the importance of epidemiological surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiologic status of bee sting injuries in Korea.
• To identify specific risk factors associated with severe systemic reactions (SSRs) following bee stings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of a multicenter registry of patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) for bee sting injuries.
• Definition of SSRs included hypotension, altered mental status, hospitalization, or death upon ED arrival.
• Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine risk factors for SSRs, with fatality case characteristics also summarized.

Main Results:

• Out of 9673 patients, 537 experienced SSRs, and 38 died. Common sting sites were hands and head/face.
• Risk factors for SSRs included male sex (OR 1.634), increased age (OR 1.030), trunk stings (OR 2.858), and head/face stings (OR 2.123).
• Bee venom acupuncture (OR 3.685) and winter stings (OR 4.573) significantly increased the risk of SSRs.

Conclusions:

• Male sex, older age, specific sting locations (trunk, head/face), bee venom acupuncture, and winter season are significant risk factors for severe bee sting reactions.
• Findings highlight the critical need for targeted safety policies and public education to protect vulnerable populations from severe bee sting incidents.