Bee Venom
Lexikon
Bee venom, technically apitoxin, is the acidic mixture of secretions from the worker's venom gland.
Bee venom, technically apitoxin, is the acidic mixture of secretions from the worker's venom gland. About one tenth of a milligram enters the skin per sting. Its most important component is melittin, making up roughly half the dry weight, along with phospholipase A2 as the main allergen, apamin, hyaluronidase and histamine.
Its effect is based on damage to cell walls, dilation of blood vessels and increased tissue permeability. This produces the sharp pain, redness and swelling. After the sting, the sting apparatus remains lodged in the skin and keeps pumping for a few more seconds, so it is recommended to scrape it out as quickly as possible rather than pulling it out.
The venom also contains alarm pheromones. They are the reason further bees fly to the same spot after a sting. Anyone who has been stung should therefore apply smoke or wipe the area, otherwise a single sting quickly turns into a whole series.
In non-allergic people, a very large number of stings would be needed for it to become life-threatening. It is different with an insect venom allergy, where a single sting can already become dangerous, and stings in the mouth or throat are an emergency regardless of allergy status. This is factual information only and does not replace medical advice.