A case of serum sickness reaction after multiple bee-stings

Abstract

Anaphylaxis is the most common systemic allergic reaction caused by bee stings. Delayed-type allergic reactions, including serum sickness, occur much less frequently. We report a 27-year-old man who developed serum sickness reaction nine days after multiple bee-stings. He had complained of erythematous skin rash, fever, arthralgia, myalgia and proteinuria. High specific IgE to bee venoms (honeybee, yellow jacket, yellow hornet) were observed by CAP system and C3, C4 and circulating immune complex levels measured by C1q binding assay showed normal values. We report a case of serum sickness reaction caused by multiple bee stings.