Münstedt K, Hellner M, Winter D, von Georgi R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2008;18(2):100-5.
The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of bee venom allergy in German beekeepers, to explore risk factors for bee venom allergy in this group, and to determine which factors best predicted severe reactions.
A questionnaire incorporating 2 instruments on beekeepers' physical and mental health and working practice was included in 3 German beekeeping journals. A reference group also completed the questionnaire. Simple descriptive methods, bivariate correlation, cross-tabulation, 1-way analysis of variance, and stepwise discriminant analysis were used to analyze data.
Altogether, 1053 questionnaires were returned. No significant differences were seen between the 2 groups. The mean number of bee stings annually was 57.8 (median, 30; range, 0-1000). Overall, 46 (4.4%) beekeepers reported systemic reactions to bee stings, 797 (75.6%) had mild local reactions, and 196 (18.6%) had no reactions. The study confirmed several risk factors. These were, in descending order of importance, symptoms of upper respiratory allergy while working on the hive, presence of other allergies, time spent as a beekeeper, and more severe nonallergic reactions to bee stings in springtime. These factors identified beekeepers at risk of allergic reactions to bee venom in 85.2% of cases. Our results also showed an association between allergy and emotional instability. Risk management in allergic beekeepers was not good.
The results of this study will help to identify beekeepers at risk of systemic reactions to bee stings and to inform them about the dangers of bee venom allergy.
本研究旨在确定德国养蜂人中蜂毒过敏的发生率，探讨该群体中蜂毒过敏的危险因素，并确定哪些因素最能预测严重反应。
一份包含两份关于养蜂人身心健康及工作实践的问卷被纳入三本德国养蜂杂志。一个参照组也完成了该问卷。使用简单描述性方法、双变量相关性分析、交叉表分析、单因素方差分析和逐步判别分析来分析数据。
共收回1053份问卷。两组之间未观察到显著差异。每年平均被蜜蜂蜇刺的次数为57.8次（中位数为30次；范围为0至1000次）。总体而言，46名（4.4%）养蜂人报告了对蜜蜂蜇刺的全身反应，797名（75.6%）有轻度局部反应，196名（18.6%）没有反应。该研究证实了几个危险因素。按重要性降序排列，这些因素依次为在蜂箱上工作时的上呼吸道过敏症状、存在其他过敏、养蜂时间以及春季对蜜蜂蜇刺更严重的非过敏反应。这些因素在85.2%的病例中识别出有蜂毒过敏反应风险的养蜂人。我们的结果还显示过敏与情绪不稳定之间存在关联。过敏养蜂人的风险管理不佳。
本研究结果将有助于识别有蜜蜂蜇刺全身反应风险的养蜂人，并告知他们蜂毒过敏的危险。
