Pathients with Hymenoptera Stings Treated at Saku Central Hospital. Review of 13 Years' Statistics.
10.2185/jjrm.42.949
- VernacularTitle:佐久総合病院における蜂刺症の実態 １３年間の統計より
- Author:
Yukiho ANDO
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
1993;42(4):949-955
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
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Abstract:
For the period of 13 years from 1979, a total of 1, 711 patients (1, 027 males and 684 females) with Hymenoptera stings underwent treatment in our hospital's departments of dermatology and emergency care. It follows that nearly 132 patients with Hymenoptera stings received treatment at our hospital each year. The number of such patients was great particularly during the period from July to October, when the wasps buzz around in the most brisk manner. Many of the victims were among nine-year-olds and younger boys, and among males in their thirties, forties and fifties. Paper wasps and hornets were responsible for about 70% of the stings. The parts which the stingers attack are mostly exposed parts-hand, face, arm and head in that order. A serious loss of consciousness was observed among 3.3% of the patients. The number of those with systemic reactions was significantly greater in males than in females. The incidence of systemic reactions was higher for those patients with head stings than for those with hand-arm stings.
In 1991 alone, there were eight cases in which anaphylactic shock occurred. The ratio of males to females stood at 7: 1, all in the middle and older age brackets. The incidence was high in the summer months of August and September, mostly on the head and neck. Symptoms appeared in a very short time, several to 15 minutes after the sting. There were seven cases positive in hymenoptera venom specific IgE antibody (RAST). Presumably, the allergic mechanism that the patients had is responsible for the severe response.
