Allergy from Ants and Biting Insects

Adams, Karla E.; Freiler, John F.; Freeman, Theodore M.; Ledford, Dennis

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-58726-4_32-1

Karla E. Adams⁴,
John F. Freiler⁴,
Theodore M. Freeman⁶ &
…
Dennis Ledford⁵

179 Accesses

Abstract

Allergy to stinging ants and biting insects is a worldwide problem that is likely to increase due to urbanization and human disruption of insect environments. This leads to inevitable contact with a variety of insect species that may trigger adverse reactions. While most human reactions to insects are generally mild in nature, the potential for severe and life-threatening allergies exists for some. The importance of further evaluation for a potential stinging insect allergy is highlighted by the reported fatalities to stinging and biting insects. Knowledge of insect taxonomy and life cycles is important as they play a vital role in guiding the evaluation of insect allergy. The evaluation of stinging insect allergy is largely guided by a history of potential exposure to an insect, resulting symptoms, availability of diagnostic resources, and risk of potential future reactions. In addition to avoidance measures and symptomatic treatment of an acute adverse reaction to a stinging insect, long-term treatment protocols that utilize immunotherapy are recommended if available. Further research into the production of diagnostic extracts, in vitro testing, and commercial extracts for insect allergen immunotherapy should be conducted in order to provide all venom-allergic individuals standardized evaluation and treatment options.

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Department of Medicine, Allergy & Immunology Division, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
Karla E. Adams & John F. Freiler
James A Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Asthma and Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
Dennis Ledford
San Antonio Asthma and Allergy Clinic, San Antonio, TX, USA
Theodore M. Freeman

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Karla E. Adams
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John F. Freiler
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Dennis Ledford
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Milton S Hershey Med Ctr, Penn State University Milton S Hershey Med Ctr, Hershey, PA, USA
Timothy Craig
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Dennis K. Ledford

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Division of Allergy & Immunology, Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, James A Haley Veterans' Hospital, Asthma and Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida, USA
Dennis K. Ledford

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Adams, K.E., Freiler, J.F., Freeman, T.M., Ledford, D. (2019). Allergy from Ants and Biting Insects. In: Craig, T., Ledford, D. (eds) Allergy and Asthma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58726-4_32-1

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58726-4_32-1
Received: 09 May 2018
Accepted: 20 September 2018
Published: 08 October 2018
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-58726-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-58726-4
eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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