Will you die from a bee sting if you are allergic?

Answer 1

Usually, no. However some people are hypersensitive to wasp venom and can have a very severe reaction called anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis. If not treated quickly the person can die from that.

Answer 2

Death from bee stings due to anaphylactic shock is actually not super-uncommon. Bees deliver a large amount of toxin, and if you react allerigically to it, and don't have the proper frst aid equipment, death is a possibility. People who know they're allergic to bee stings are typically very careful about this. They wear medic-alert tags often, and they carry epinephrine, a superb broncho-relaxant that alleviates many of the negative anaphylactic reactions, or at least supresses them until you can get them to an ER. In this case, epi is adminstered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. People with experience and extreme sensitivity may carry pre-loaded syringes containining dexamethasone (a glucocortisoid), diphenhydramine (an antihistimine) and epinephrine. For those less skilled, there are commercially available "syrettes" -- spring loaded syringes, where you remove the safety cap, slam it against your thigh, and it injects an IM epi dose. So, in summary, bee stings can be fatal if the subject is allergic and does not treat the toxin quicky -- but they usually aren't.