Describe the structure and functions of the three parts of the brain.
How is an allergy to an insect bite different from a normal reaction
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Answer:
Bites and stings usually cause irritation of the skin, which is not an allergic response, but some people can also have allergic symptoms that range from mild to severe and life threatening.
Insect stings from bees, wasps and the Australian jack jumper ant are a common cause of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in Australia. Severe reactions to insect bites from mosquitoes, midges, March flies and ticks are less common, although bites can cause milder allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions to snake bites are rare.
Causes of allergies to bites and stings
Venom from stinging insects such as bees, wasps and ants is one of the most common causes of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). If you are allergic to one type of stinging insect, you will not necessarily be allergic to another type. Biting insects such as midges and mosquitoes are more likely to cause local allergic reactions, but can sometimes cause severe allergic reactions.
Bees and wasps
The honey bee is the most common cause of allergic reactions to insects in Australia. Native Australian bees can also cause allergic reactions. Bees can sting only once, because they inject a venom sac into the skin and then die.
Unlike bees, paper wasps and European wasps can sting several times. Although paper wasps cause most of the serious stings, the European wasp is becoming more of a problem in Australia.
Stinging ants
Stings from the Australian jack jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula) are a major cause of severe allergic reactions in Australia. The stings of jack jumper ants are very painful and can cause generalised allergic reactions or severe allergic reactions. The commonly occurring bull ant can also cause anaphylaxis.
The jack jumper ant (also known as jack jumper or jumping jack) is found in many parts of Australia, including Victoria. They are approximately 10–15 mm long and are smaller than large bull ants (15–25 mm long).
Stings from the green ant of Queensland and the South American fire ant can also sometimes cause allergic reactions.
Ticks
The saliva of the tick known as the Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) causes an allergic response in some people. Ticks are present along the east coast of Australia, and extend into Gippsland in Victoria. Ticks live on vegetation and attach to and bite into the skin of people and animals.
Reactions to the attachment of ticks include:
minor redness and itching, which is not due to an allergy
redness and large areas of swelling at the site caused by a mild allergic reaction
severe allergic reaction
If you disturb or try to remove the tick, it can inject its saliva and this can cause people who are allergic to have a life-threatening severe allergic reaction. Allergies to ticks can also make people allergic to red meat and gelatine made from animals.
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Symptoms of allergies to bites and stings
The immune system reacts to specific allergy trigger molecules (allergens) in all allergies. Your immune system produces antibodies that detect the allergen and cause inflammatory reactions and the release of a chemical called histamine.
Allergic reactions to insect stings and bites range from mild local reactions at the site of the sting or bite to severe allergic reactions that are life threatening. Symptoms are more likely to improve in children than adults. Adults are at the greatest risk of a severe allergic reaction.
Stings and bites often hurt and can cause minor redness and itching at the site, but these symptoms are not caused by an allergic reaction.
Keeping a record of your symptoms
Diagnosing an allergy can be difficult. If you think you may have an allergy after being bitten or stung, make a record (diary) of your symptoms to help you and your doctor understand the cause of your symptoms.
Include information about whether your symptoms occur:
inside your home, outside or both
for a short time or longer
at night, during the day or when you wake up
at a particular time of the year
near animals
after you have been stung or bitten by an insect
Local skin allergic reactions
Some people will have an allergic reaction that causes a rash or a large swelling around the site of the sting or bite. If you have a local skin allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting, you have less than a one-in-10 chance of future stings causing a severe allergic reaction.
Generalised allergic reactions
A generalised allergic reaction affects parts of the body beyond the site of the sting or bite, but it is not life threatening.