{"id":979,"date":"2022-08-08T01:38:10","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T05:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aafa.org\/?page_id=979"},"modified":"2025-09-04T12:47:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T16:47:43","slug":"insect-allergy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aafa.org\/allergies\/types-of-allergies\/insect-allergy\/","title":{"rendered":"Insect Allergy"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Allergies T-Hero Section” module_class=”hero tert” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AAFA-Website_Tertiary_Allergies.jpg” background_position=”top_right” custom_padding=”1%||1%||true|false” global_module=”2217″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_left” background_horizontal_offset=”0%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”2%||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Nav Parent Title” module_class=”tert-parent” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”32px” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Allergies<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Breadcrumbs” module_class=”bcrumb” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”left” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”font-size:16px;||color: #fff;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Main Content” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2%||2%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”Page Title” module_class=”tert-content” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#008c99″ title_font_size=”39px” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_position=”center_left” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=” Intro Content” module_class=”secondary-intro” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Many people think of warm weather when they think of insect allergies. Warm weather does signal the arrival of some unwanted visitors like stinging and biting insects.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Page Content” module_class=”secondary-intro” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

However, you can find two very common \u201cbugs” all year long in homes and buildings. Neither one needs to bite or sting you to cause an allergic reaction, but both trigger allergy and asthma in many people.<\/p>\n

What Kinds of Insects Cause Allergic Reactions?<\/h3>\n

There are many different kinds of insects or \u201cinsect-like bugs” that can cause an allergic reaction:<\/p>\n

Stinging Insects<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bees, wasps, hornets, yellow-jackets<\/a> and fire ants<\/a> are the most common stinging insects that cause an allergic reaction. When these insects sting you, they inject a toxic substance called venom. Most people stung by these insects recover within hours or days. In others, this venom can trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction.<\/p>\n

Biting Insects<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mosquitoes, kissing bugs, bedbugs, fleas and certain flies are the most common biting insects known to cause an allergic reaction. Most people bitten by insects suffer pain, redness, itching, stinging and minor swelling in the area around the bite. Rarely, insect bites may trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction.<\/p>\n

A bite from a Lone Star tick can cause people to develop an allergy to meat. These ticks carry alpha-gal (a sugar). When a tick bites a person, it transfers alpha-gal into the bloodstream. The person\u2019s immune system then reacts to it. Alpha-gal is also found in mammal meat (beef, lamb, pork). If you have allergy symptoms after eating meat, see an allergist.<\/p>\n

Household Pests<\/strong><\/p>\n

Non-stinging and non-biting insects can also cause allergic reactions, particularly cockroaches<\/a> and insect-like dust mites<\/a>. These two insects may be the most common cause of year-round allergy and asthma. Unlike a cockroach, a dust mite is too small to see with the naked eye. The cockroach and dust mite\u2019s waste and body cause allergic reactions. They also can trigger asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.<\/p>\n

What Are the Signs of an Allergic Reaction to Insects?<\/h3>\n

Most people stung or bitten by insects suffer pain, redness, itching and minor swelling in the area around the bite or sting. This is a normal reaction<\/strong>. Most people get better within hours or days.<\/p>\n

An allergic reaction<\/strong> to insects that don\u2019t sting or bite, like cockroaches or dust mites, is different. You may sneeze, cough, have a runny or stuffy nose, or itchy eyes, nose, mouth or throat. These symptoms can be confused with the common cold, but last for weeks or months at a time. If you have asthma, an allergic reaction could trigger asthma symptoms or an asthma attack.<\/p>\n

People can have a serious allergic reaction to stinging or biting insects. A life-threatening allergic reaction<\/a> <\/strong>(anaphylaxis)<\/strong> produces signs and symptoms that require immediate medical attention. Without immediate treatment, anaphylaxis may cause death. Symptoms usually involve more than one organ system (part of the body), such as the skin or mouth, the lungs, the heart, and the gut. Some symptoms include:<\/p>\n