Is it true that the longer you go without ever being stung, the more likely it is that you're allergic to bees?

I don’t know about the science here, but I believe it to be true. I haven’t been stung in at least five years, except for last weekend when a hornet got me on the bottom of my foot. My foot was swollen for practically 36 hours and sore for three days (when the normal reaction is a few hours). But as soon as I took Benadryl, things looked better. Plus, my mom told me I probably became allergic because she’s heard the same thing. Any reaction to a bee sting is an allergic reaction, doesn’t necessarily include anaphylactic shock.

I’m also not positive, but I believe it’s true. If you’re not stung as a child or young adult, your body doesn’t have the chance to build any kind of immunity to the poison.

It’s basically the same as children who are overprotected and not exposed to enough germs. As adults, they tend to get sick more often and worse than they would have, had they been exposed to certain things as children. Building up immunity as a child is pretty important.

I don’t know. It’s tricky with the immune system. To be able to become allergic to bees, you have to have been stung before.

Anaphlatic shock as I understand it occurs when the immune system overreacts and starts damaging your own body. The immune system causes the problem in the first place, so simply saying let’s get stung more should increase your chances of you immune system screwing up. The opposite effect of what you might expect so stay away from bees.

Markyy is more correct. I am allergic to bees, but not sure about hornets, wasps, and Bumble bees (different venom). The more I get stung the faster I have an anaphlatic episode. I haven’t been stung in 15 years (knock on wood) but I carry an epi-pen because it will be worse.
I believe your body has to make histamines to the venom that causes the reaction. The more venom (over time) the faster the histamines attack it and inflame your body.

Calm down! You are fine.

There is no relationship to not having been strung and being allergic to bee stings.

Actually, if you develop an allergy to bee stings, it gets worse each time that you are stung. I had no unusual reactions to childhood stings. I even worked with bee hives when I was a young adult. My allergic reactions did not start until I was well in my 30s.

What happens when you get a mosquito bite? If you have a reaction to bee venom, you will also get a reaction to other insect bites. So, if you just have a normal reaction to mosquito bites, you are probably fine.

Even if you were allergic, your reaction would most likely be much milder than anaphylaxis, and would involve redness and swelling at the sting site.

I was stung by a bee for the first time when I was 40 years old. That is a pretty long time, and I was not allergic at all. I’m not convinced there is any relation.

I always wondered this! I’ve never been stung, and I guess I don’t know if I’m allergic. No way of knowing until it happens, right?

It’s something you might want to ask your doctor the next time you go in, or if you have a health care hot-line you could call and talk to them.
Virtual Medical Center has information that might help. I found this wikipedia article interesting.

Did you know they can use bee venom to alleviate arthritis pain?

@YARNLADY yep I knew that, but I think it is a painful way to relieve pain. But what do I know?

@brinibear A bee sting hurts about as much and as long as a small, sharp pinch. It is not that big of a deal.

Again I am not sure either, but if you are allergic and gradually expose yourself to things I think that you can build up a resistance or tolerance (almost like the principles behind a vaccine) and I think that you can definitely go the other way as well (ie: if no exposure for a long time become more allergic) but I do not think that you can be one day not be allergic to something and then suddenly become in danger just because you have never been stung…therefore if not actually allergic I do not think you will ever have much of a problem, irrespective of how long you go without a sting, obviously however at this stage you do not know so this may be of little consolation at this stage – statistically speaking however you should be fine!