Is it possible to be allergic to flies

A bite or sting can cause: Skin rash, or hives Itching Swelling, redness, and warmth Rarely, stings or bites can cause severe or deadly reactions. It can cause: Skin rash, hives, itching, and swelling—in areas away from the sting site Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, throat, and eyelids Coughing, wheezing, or problems breathing Light-headedness, fainting Insects that live in the house can cause: A runny nose or sneezing Coughing, wheezing, or problems breathing Diagnosis The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history.

Tests may include: Skin prick test—tiny amounts of allergen are placed on the skin. The doctor will watch the area for a reaction. If a severe reaction happens, it will be treated right away. Blood test—to look at how the body responds to an allergen. Treatment Treatment depends on how bad the reaction is.

General treatment may include: Ice—to reduce swelling Medicines, such as: Epinephrine injections after a sting—to treat severe reactions Antihistamines—to reduce swelling and itching Corticosteroids—for severe swelling, itching, stuffy nose, and sneezing Inhaled bronchodilators—to reduce wheezing, coughing, and problems breathing Prevention Insect allergies cannot be prevented.

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Support Groups. Stroke Awareness. Fitness Classes. Integrative Therapy. Weight Management. 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. 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. 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. 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:.

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. 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. 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:. 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 chance of future stings causing a severe allergic reaction.

A generalised allergic reaction affects parts of the body beyond the site of the sting or bite, but it is not life threatening. Symptoms of a generalised allergic reaction include red swelling skin, or rash or hives urticaria in areas of the body other than at the site of the sting or bite. Although these symptoms are not life threatening, if you have experienced a generalised allergic reaction, you should visit your doctor, who may refer you to a medical specialist allergist or clinical immunologist.

Severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis after an insect bite or sting is life threatening and causes approximately three deaths per year in Australia.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include:. If you have experienced any of these symptoms after an insect sting or bite, you are at greater risk of having another severe reaction if you are stung or bitten by the same type of insect. You should ask your doctor to refer you to an allergist or clinical immunologist. If you have allergic symptoms after you have been bitten or stung, you should visit your family doctor who will ask some questions about your reactions.

Your diary of your symptoms will help you to answer accurately. To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to an allergist or clinical immunologist. Black flies inject anticoagulants blood thinners that stop the blood from clotting into the bite site. This can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Personal repellents containing DEET or picaridin tend to last longer than other repellents, depending on the concentration.

Children should not be allowed to apply their own repellents and carers should be cautious not to apply excessive amounts of repellent. Repellents should be applied to the hands of a carer first, and then applied evenly to the child's exposed skin. The black flies breed in running water, and populations can increase following a flood or heavy rain.

Adult flies commonly emerge in immense numbers 10 to 14 days after commencement of flooding and the females viciously attack humans and animals.