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Venom immunotherapy not indicated for local sting reaction

Question:

5/11/2017
8 year-old boy with mild-persistent asthma & AD seen for consideration of VIT. Stung by bee with swelling of hand/arm for 3 days, minimally responsive to Benadryl per mom. Had been stung before without long lasting swelling such as this. No wheeze, or hives post-sting. Pediatrician checked stinging insect panel with mild IgE elevation (377 kU/L). Paper wasp 3.57 and Honey bee, white faced hornet, yellow hornet all small (+) 0.88, 0.86 and 0.37 respectively. No tryptase checked. Family interested in Rush/Ultra Rush VIT. No increased risk of exposure (ie beekeeper family). Skin testing not done.

Question is management. History clearly not c/w IgE mediated allergy and without testing would typically not consider VIT. Also the most positive test, the paper wasp, is not the culprit, however given the testing now performed would you proceed to VIT or skin test and consider VIT based off these results or ignore testing all together and focus on clinical history and have family call in with hives/wheeze post-sting. Would checking a serum tryptase guide care?

Answer:

Based on the Stinging Insect Hypersensitivity Practice Parameter (2016), as this patient suffered a local reaction, not a severe systemic one, venom immunotherapy is not indicated, venom allergy is testing not indicated, and he does not need to be evaluated for a mast cell disorder with a serum tryptase.

We hope this helps.
Patricia McNally, MD, FAAAAI