title: Diagnosis of hymenoptera venom allergy--with special emphasis on honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom allergy.
abstract: Hymenoptera stings occur very frequently and usually are not dangerous. The normal reaction after sting includes such symptoms as: mild swelling, redness and pain lasting from several minutes to several hours. In contrast, in people with allergy to insect venom, severe local reactions and systemic symptoms, including anaphylactic shock, may occur. Diagnostic tests should be performed in persons who experience systemic symptoms after a sting. The basic tests used in the diagnosis of allergy to hymenoptera venom are skin tests and detection of venom-specific IgE antibodies. If it is not possible to make a diagnosis on the basis of these data, specialized diagnostic tests, such as cellular tests, inhibition test and determination of tryptase and carboxypeptidase, can be performed. The presented study provides an overview of currently used diagnostic methods, both those used in everyday practice and allergy tests, which are available only in selected specialized centres.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matysiak
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Higher Vocational State School, Kalisz, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matysiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Pneumonology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, K. Jonscher Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bręborowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Zenon J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Kokot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D006927:Hymenoptera; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D001514:Bee Venoms; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014862:Wasp Venoms