Allergy Shots for Insect Stings

Treatment Overview

Allergy shots for insect stings is a type of immunotherapy. A series of allergy shots is given to reduce your sensitivity to allergensallergens that cause an allergic reaction. Small doses of allergens are injected under the skin. Over time, allergy shots can make your reaction to allergens less severe. To treat allergies to insect stingsallergies to insect stings, very small amounts of the venom of the insect or insects are used. The treatment also is sometimes called venom immunotherapy (VIT).

You can get shots to treat allergies to stings from:

Honeybees.
Yellow jackets.
Hornets.
Paper wasps.
Fire ants.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend rush immunotherapy. Several shots are given over a period of days to weeks. This type of treatment can provide faster protection in the short term. But you will still need to have regular shots over the long term.

What To Expect

Allergy shots are usually given in a doctor's office. It is normal to stay in the doctor's office for a short time after getting an allergy shot to be watched for possible serious reactions to the injected insect venom.

Redness and warmth at the shot site are common. But they'll go away after a short time.

Why It Is Done

Allergy shots can prevent life-threatening reactions and also reduce anxiety about insect stings.

An allergic reaction that spreads far from the sting or that affects the entire body is called a systemic reaction. A less serious type of systemic reaction may only involve your skin. It can cause hives or deeper skin swelling (a cutaneous reaction), but it doesn't affect the tongue or throat or cause breathing problems. A more serious type of systemic reaction can cause anaphylaxisanaphylaxis, which is not common but can be life-threatening. Allergy shots are usually recommended if an adult or child has had a severe systemic reaction, especially anaphylaxis. The shots can reduce the risk of another severe systemic reaction.

Learn more

Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies?Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies?

Information about Allergy Shots for Insect Stings

How Well It Works

Allergy shots for insect stings can reduce your chances of having another severe systemic allergic reaction from 60% to about 5%.^{footnote 1footnote 1}

It is not clear exactly how effective the protection against future stings is after the treatment has ended. In about 80 to 90 out of 100 cases, people who were treated will still be protected against systemic reactions even if tests show some remaining immune sensitivity.^{footnote 1footnote 1}

Risks

Allergy shots are safe if the shots are given correctly. The most common side effects are redness and warmth at the shot site. Some people may have reactions near where they had the shot, such as itching, hives, or swelling of the skin. More serious but less common side effects include symptoms that affect other parts of the body. Examples are hiveshives, itching, and trouble breathing.

In rare cases, a person may have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the shots. Because of this possibility, the shots are given in a doctor's office or other setting where emergency care can be provided if needed. You must report any delayed reaction that you have to a shot. Late reactions can happen anytime within 24 hours after a shot.

Allergy shots may not be right for you if you:

Have another condition, such as asthma. You may be more likely to have a severe reaction to the shots. You should have your asthma well controlled before you get allergy shots.
Have an autoimmune diseaseautoimmune disease, such as lupus.
Are taking beta-blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal, for example). They are often used to treat heart conditions, glaucomaglaucoma, migraine headachesmigraine headaches, and high blood pressurehigh blood pressure.
Are taking ACE inhibitors, such as captopril (Capoten, for example) or lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, or Zestoretic, for example). These are often prescribed for high blood pressurehigh blood pressure and a variety of heart conditions. Talk to your doctor first about the potential risks of allergy shots.
Are not able to communicate about reactions to shots. Most doctors don't give allergy shots to children younger than age 5.

References

Citations

Golden DB, et al. (2011). Stinging insect hypersensitivity: A practice parameter update 2011. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 127(4): 852–854.e23.

Current as of: October 25, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffIgnite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review BoardClinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of UseTerms of Use. Learn how we develop our contenthow we develop our content.

To learn more about Ignite Healthwise, LLC, visit webmdignite.comwebmdignite.com.

Page Footer

I want to...

Audiences

Secure Member Sites

The Cigna Group Information

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details Details