Mowing-Related Bee and Wasp Sting Patients Treated at United States Emergency Departments.

Background: Bee and wasp (including hornet and yellow jacket) stings can cause various adverse effects that range from relatively mild-moderate, such as burning pain at the sting site, erythema, and edema, to allergic reactions, like nausea or vomiting, urticaria, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and tongue, weak and rapid pulse, dizziness, syncope, anaphylaxis, and possibly death. Bee and wasp stings can occur under many circumstances, including while people do yardwork, such as mowing lawns and fields. The study objective was to describe mowing-related bee and wasp sting patients treated at United States (US) emergency departments (EDs). Methods: Data were obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a database of consumer product-related injuries collected from a representative sample of approximately 100 US hospital EDs. Mowing-related bee and wasp stings during 2000-2023 were identified, and the distribution of estimated mowing-related bee and wasp stings was determined for various factors. Results: A total of 957 patients with mowing-related bee and wasp stings treated at a sample of US hospital EDs were identified, resulting in a national estimate of 47,636 stings. Multiple stings were reported in 58.9% of the estimated incidents. The patient age distribution was 0.0% 0-5 years, 0.2% 6-12 years, 6.2% 13-19 years, 9.5% 20-29 years, 17.1% 30-39 years, 22.9% 40-49 years, 19.7% 50-59 years, 13.2% 60-69 years, 9.3% 70-79 years, and 1.7% 80 years or older; 74.2% of the patients were male, and 25.8% were female. The most commonly reported diagnoses were 31.0% anaphylaxis, allergic reaction, or general reaction; 17.7% edema; 10.5% urticaria; 7.1% erythema; and 5.8% dyspnea, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath. The patient was treated or examined and released in 95.6% of the estimated incidents. Conclusion: The majority of patients with mowing-related bee and wasp stings treated at hospital EDs involved multiple stings. Most patients were aged 30-59 years, and the majority were male. Most patients were treated or evaluated and released from the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]