What Happens If You Leave a Bee Stinger In?

What are allergies? Pollen, food, perfumes, and many more things can provoke allergy symptoms. Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system where the body's defenses react to certain allergens. Learn about common allergy triggers and how you can avoid an allergy attack.

What is vertigo? What causes dizziness? Understand different balance disorders and symptoms such as vertigo, motion sickness, nausea, and more.

Bees, wasps, and fire ants are related insects that belong to the Hymenoptera order. There are thousands of species of wasps found throughout the world. Common wasps are yellow jackets and hornets. Types of bees include honey bees, the Africanized honey bee (killer bee), and the bumble bee. There are four types of reactions to a bee or wasp sting;

1. local reaction,
2. systemic allergic reaction,
3. toxic reaction, and
4. delayed reaction.

Individuals who have a systemic or toxic reaction generally require immediate medical treatment to prevent anaphylactic reaction, and possibly death.

Although many different types of insects in the United States are able to inflict a poisonous bite or sting (meaning they are venomous), the insects most likely to cause medical problems are bees, wasps, and ants. See a picture of Bee, Wasp, Yellow Jacket Stings and learn more about the health topic.

Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:

• ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
• ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
• cap: Capsule.
• CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
• DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
• DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• HA: Headache
• IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
• JT: Joint
• N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
• p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
• q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
• RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
• SOB: Shortness of breath.
• T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."

Dizziness is a symptom that often applies to a variety of sensations including lightheadedness and vertigo. Causes of dizziness include low blood pressure, heart problems, anemia, dehydration, and other medical conditions. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause.

Hives, also called urticaria, is a raised, itchy area of skin. Most often the cause of hives is unknown. Sometimes it is a sign of an allergic reaction to food or medications, but the cause of the allergy (the allergen) is unknown. Dermatographism and swelling (angioedema) may accompany hives. Treatment to get rid of hives and alleviate symptoms typically includes antihistamines.

Allergic reactions may last for varying lengths of time. They may take a few hours to a few days to disappear. If the exposure to the allergen continues, such as during a spring pollen season, allergic reactions may last for longer periods such as a few weeks to months.

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of many conditions including motion sickness, pregnancy, emotional stress, gallbladder disease, and other illnesses. Learn about causes, treatment, and when to be concerned.

What is nausea? Do you want to know how to get rid of nausea and how to stop vomiting? Learn home remedies for nausea, anti-nausea medication, what causes nausea, and other info crucial to nausea relief. Understand why we vomit, how vomiting can be treated or prevented, and more.

When it comes to summer, there plenty of hazards under the sun! Take the Summer Skin Hazards Quiz and clue in on the dangers to your summer skin!

Tummy Troubles? Get a better idea of what's causing the nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and other gastrointestinal discomforts and problems. Take the Tummy Troubles Quiz!

Take the quiz and find out the causes, symptoms, treatments, and ways to prevent the confusing balance disorder called vertigo.

Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or rocking, even when someone is at rest. Vertigo may be caused by a problem in the brain or spinal cord or a problem within in the inner ear. Head injuries, certain medications, and female gender are associated with a higher risk of vertigo. Medical history, a physical exam, and sometimes an MRI or CT scan are required to diagnose vertigo. The treatment of vertigo may include medication, special exercises to reposition loose crystals in the inner ear, or exercises designed to help the patient re-establish a sense of equilibrium. Controlling risk factors for stroke (blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and blood glucose) may decrease the risk of developing vertigo.

Vertigo is a false sense of motion that can occur while you are still or while you are moving. Feelings that you or everything around you is spinning or moving, loss of balance, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea are some of the main signs of vertigo. An inner infection is one cause of vertigo and can be viral or bacterial such as a cold or flu.

Allergists recognize four types of allergic reactions: Type I or anaphylactic reactions, type II or cytotoxic reactions, type III or immunocomplex reactions and type IV or cell-mediated reactions.

Nausea can be relieved with ginger, mint, lemon, acupressure, deep breathing exercises, and other home remedies. Learn about what causes nausea and when to call a doctor.