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Published on: April 21, 2019
Risk factors associated with the severity of systemic insect sting reactions
1Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Israel Journal of Medical Sciences
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Systemic insect sting reactions are more severe with rapid onset, multiple prior stings, and older age. Honeybee stings are common in Israel, but insect type doesn't predict reaction severity.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Toxicology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Systemic insect sting reactions can range in severity.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for patient management and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors for severe systemic insect sting reactions.
- To determine the insect types responsible for anaphylaxis in Israel.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 498 patients undergoing venom immunotherapy for insect sting reactions in Israel.
- Data collected via questionnaires and patient record reviews.
- Multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify significant risk factors.
Main Results:
- Key risk factors for severe reactions include rapid onset (<30 min), ≥4 prior stings, and age ≥18 years.
- Honeybee venom immunotherapy was used in 80% of patients.
- Most patients were stung outdoors (79.3%) and lived in rural areas (50%).
Conclusions:
- Clinically relevant risk factors for systemic sting reaction severity have been identified.
- Honeybees are the most common cause of sting reactions in Israel.
- Insect type is not a significant predictor of reaction severity.
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