BEE AND WASP VENOM ALLERGY IN TURKEY

Background: Beekeeping has progressed recently to where bce sting expo sure is an important public health problem in Turkey. Objective: To in vestigate the status of bee and wasp sting all Turkey. Methods: We con ducted a questionnaire-based study of 786 subjects (cellulose paper fa ctory personnel and family members older than 16 years of age) in Cay town of Afyon. Skin prick test with common aeroallergens and measureme nts of total IgE and specific IEE for bee and wasp venom were performe d in 212 randomly selected subjects. Results: Cummulative lifetime sti ng rate was 94.5% (geometric mean: 6.1 times), and last year bee sting rate was 20.4% (geometric mean: 1.6 times). Subjects who had beehives had higher risk of bee sting (P < .05) in the last year, whereas ther e was no significant difference among the groups for the cummulative L ifetime sling exposure. Severe and mild systemic reactions were noted in 2.2% and 5.3%, respectively. Emergency room visits were reported in 9.3%, and familial Hymenoptera allergy in 10.2%. Fatal potential of b ee sting was known by 81%. There was no mortality related with Hymenop tera allergy in records of the last 5 years, In 24 subjects with multi ple sling exposures, allergic reactions changed severity in the latter exposures, which became less severe in five and more severe in 19 sub jects. Atopy rate detected by prick testing was 20.3%, Specific ISE le vers were class 1 in 22, class 2 in 11, and class 3 in 2 subjects for bee; and class I in 24 and class 2 in 2 subjects for wasp. Nobody had received immunotherapy for venom allergy. None of the factors includin g atopy, sex, occupation, smoking and family history of bee sting was significantly related with severity of the systemic reaction (P > .05) . Conclusions: Bee and wasp stings are prevalent in Turkey, Severe sys temic reactions complicating the sting are frequent (2.2%). Public awa reness of potential fatality and treatment of the allergic reaction is not adequate.