Bee Stings: The Aftermath

Question

You don't have to have a life-threatening allergy to have a negative response to bee stings. Many people experience uncomfortable itching and swelling when stung. But are such reactions merely an annoyance, or might they serve a purpose? Several years ago, researchers who study the immune system wanted to find out. To do this, they injected a group of mice with bee venom. Some of the mice had allergic reactions (such as swelling) to the venom, and others did not. Three weeks later, the researchers injected the same mice with venom for a second time—this time with a dose so large it could be deadly. They found that the mice who had previously had allergic reactions to the venom were much more likely to survive the potentially lethal dose.