Stinging Insect Allergy

Used in 2 entries

For each citing entry, the verbatim excerpt and Likelier's calculation notes (how the source's number was converted to the lifetime-probability framing) are shown below. Click through to read the full claim ledger.

1. [1] Sting anaphylaxis Risk

   Statistic

   Systemic allergic reactions to insect stings occur in about 1% of children and 3% of adults; at least 50 fatal reactions per year in the US; half of sting-related deaths occur with the first systemic reaction

   “"Systemic allergic reactions to insect stings are estimated to occur in about 1 percent of children and 3 percent of adults … At least 50 fatal reactions to insect stings are reported each year in the United States, and many sting fatalities may not be recognized … Studies have shown that one half of sting-related deaths occur with the first systemic reaction."”

   Calculation notes

   Independently corroborates the 3% adult systemic-reaction prevalence used for the native numerator (this AAFP review gives "about 1 percent of children and 3 percent of adults"). It also corroborates the Golden 2007 fatality framing: at least 50 fatal reactions per year in the US, with one half of sting-related deaths occurring with the first systemic reaction — supporting the caveat that a record of uneventful stings is not proof of permanent safety.
   

   Independence note: AAFP review drawing on epidemiological literature independent of the Golden 2007 PMC source above.

   Source date: 2003-06-15 · Accessed: 2026-05-04

2. [2] Swallowed bee/wasp Risk

   Statistic

   Systemic allergic reactions to insect stings are estimated to occur in about 3% of US adults (and about 1% of children)

   “"Systemic allergic reactions to insect stings are estimated to occur in about 1 percent of children and 3 percent of adults."”

   Calculation notes

   Supports the body-prose reference to venom-allergy prevalence (~3% of US adults) used as context for anaphylaxis risk from an oropharyngeal sting. Not used in the native/normalized probability calculation, which is based on the Huff 2025 NEISS oropharyngeal-fraction analysis.
   

   Independence note: Independent clinical epidemiology review (American Family Physician), methodologically distinct from the NEISS-based Huff 2025 analysis and the honeybee-ingestion toxicological review.

   Source date: 2003-06-15 · Accessed: 2026-07-03

Also cited in these entries

AnimalDirect

Sting anaphylaxis

What are the odds that a bee or wasp sting will trigger anaphylactic shock requiring an epinephrine injection?

1 in 50 lifetime(2.0%)

AnimalDirect

Swallowed bee/wasp

What are the odds of accidentally swallowing a live bee or wasp and suffering a life-threatening airway reaction?

1 in 29,155 lifetime(0.003%)