Getting to know

When stung or bitten by one of the insects mentioned above, everybody experiences unpleasant symptoms; however, they are not always caused by an allergic reaction. Both allergic and non-allergic reactions are caused by substances in the insect venom or saliva that are introduced into the skin upon being stung or bitten. Venom and saliva are complex mixtures of various chemical substances. Some of these substances are toxic, hence the universal reaction that they cause in people. They also contain a large number of proteins which, in some people (with genetic predisposition for allergy), may cause an allergic response. Some venom components are common to all insects from the Hymenoptera family, while other venomous substances are specific for a given type of insect.