It is a well-known fact that fatalities due to animal or insect bites is common. This is the very reason why certain insects and animals are categorised as ‘poisonous’ or ‘venomous’. Stinging insects like bee or wasp hardly come fall into this sect as they are not feared to instigate death.
But a recent finding show contradicting results. The study that is a result of 13 years of keen study centred in Australia, has been tracking the hospitalisations due to animal or insect bites over 13 years. About 49,000 hospitalisations were reported and fatalities amongst them were as follows.
- 27 – snake bite
- 27 – bee sting
- 3 – tick bite
- 2 – ant bite
- 3 – box jellyfish
64 people died overall.
Also, nearly 33% of the total hospitalisations were due to bee stings. While people approached hospitals to get treated for spider bites, no fatalities were observed.
Dr Ronelle Welton, said that it was shocking to see more allergic reactions and deaths along coastal Australia where medicines and treatment are accessible. She adds saying that, people are ignorant towards bee stings or spider bites as they do not fear them as they do snakes. They ignore these minor insects’ bites and its allergy. This manipulates as a stronger allergic reaction when they reach hospitals.
She throws light on the fact that, 75% of people who died due to snake bites rushed to hospitals. Whereas only 44% of people who suffered death from insect bite were brought under doctor’s treatment.
She explains medically that, though insect bites do not produce deadly effects for the first time, they develop an allergic sensitivity.
There should be more awareness spread on insect bites and sting from a public perspective. People should learn and understand the beginnings of a fatal end that are often ignored.
