How long does a bee sting last?

Bee sting allergy: how long can it affect me?

• I was highly allergic to bee's when I was a child. My throat would swell up and I would need a shot within a half hour or I would die. I was stung two weeks ago while dirt bike riding I was waiting for the symptoms to show up but was lucky and they never did. That night it seemed fine. The next day the stung area swelled up and was burning hot. I went to the doctor and got a shot and a cream. One week ago I started getting bumps that itch terribly on my fore arms and calves. I returned to the doctor and she gave me the same shot and cream but the bumps are worse and itch terribly. It seems they are getting worse and seem to be gradually spreading. The doctor said they are not related but I beg to differ. Is it possible the rashes I have are still from the bee sting? Thank You, Earle

• Answer:

  Don't get stung again, but carry an Epi-Pen (don't leave it in the glove box). You know, the bumps that itch on forearms and calves could be poison oak or allergy to something else that's come in contact with the skin. An epinephrine shot for a bee sting would have no effect on poison oak or allergy. You could also be allergic to whatever she gave you - shot or cream - in which case you need to learn what it was so that you can know whether to avoid it next time, because each time it's a stronger reaction to an allergy. Hydrocortisone from the pharmacy is very effective against that kind of irritation, but if it doesn't help in a day or so it's probably not poison oak. If you were highly allergic to bee stings but have not been stung in that time, you've had time to build up a little resistance, but now that you've had a couple of reactions, you must be very careful. For people with bee allergies, the longer you can go without being stung the better chance you have, but each time you are stung if the intervals are shorter, the reactions are more severe. And the sooner your reaction after the sting, the more severe it's likely to be. They told my husband not to get stung again because he wouldn't make it to the hospital. He was talking to them, but they couldn't find a pulse or blood pressure. It was pretty scary for awhile, but he went two years without a sting and when he was stung again 2-3 years later, he had little reaction in 1/2 hour, so went ahead fishing... Bee stings don't cause a rash. Allergies do.