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FRIDAY, July 4, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Ah, the sounds of summer: steaks sizzling on the grill, soda cans popping open, laughter at the pool -- and the loud smacks of hands slapping arms, legs and necks, trying to kill the insects that are a seasonal scourge.
Mosquitoes, bees, yellow jackets and, in the south and west, fire ants are all out enjoying the summer, along with the rest of the nation.
For most people, bug bites and stings are more an annoyance than anything else, causing swelling or itchy rashes at the site of the infection. And simple precautions such as repellents, bug zappers and long-sleeved tops and pants can cut your chances of serving as an unwitting snack, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
"Don't look like a flower, smell like a flower or act like a flower," says Dr. Richard D. deShazo, director of the Division of Allergy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. "Bees are attracted to flowers and they'll be attracted to you if you dress in bright colors, wear strong perfumes and walk barefoot in the clover that bees like."
Around the house, the ACAAI recommends keeping window and door screens in good repair, and making sure garbage cans stored outside have tight lids.
For picnics, keep the food covered and avoid drinking from soda cans because stinging insects are attracted to the sweetness and may crawl inside.
"Don't swat at yellow jackets," deShazo adds. "It makes them angry and more likely to sting."
Most people will weather their stings and bites with few ill effects. But an estimated 2 million Americans are allergic to various insects, and are prone to potentially serious health problems.
The key, says deShazo, is to recognize the difference between a local reaction to a bite or sting, which is what happens to most people, and a systemic response, which means the whole body is reacting.
Symptoms of a systemic response can include generalized itching, hives all over the body, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and a sudden drop in blood pressure. In severe cases, loss of consciousness or cardiac arrest can occur.
Get help immediately if any of these symptoms are present, deShazo says.
"In 75 percent of the cases, these symptoms occur within 20 minutes of the bite or sting," he says. "And once these reactions get rolling, they are difficult to control."
While the majority of allergic reactions aren't severe, about 40 to 50 Americans die each year from untreated bites and stings, deShazo says.
It's important that people allergic to insects take advantage of the medical options available to prevent illness.
Allergy shots are 97 percent effective in protecting people from severe reactions to stings and bites. And everyone who is allergic should always carry an emergency kit containing epinephrine (adrenaline), which can be injected immediately to stop allergic reactions, deShazo says.
More information
The West Virginia University Extension Service has a thorough rundown on bees and bee stings. For tips on avoiding mosquito bites, check with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
