Emergency Treatment of Anaphylaxis in Japanese Beekeepers

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Honeybee stings often lead to anaphylactic shock. We surveyed Japanese beekeepers to examine whether adrenaline auto-injectors are properly used after honeybee stings.

Methods: We contacted representatives of the Japanese Beekeeping Association in all 47 prefectures for assistance distributing allergist-developed questionnaires. Representatives in 33 prefectures distributed questionnaires to their members and we received valid responses from 826 beekeepers.

Results: Adrenaline auto-injectors had been prescribed to only 46 of the 826 participants (5.6%) to prevent systemic reaction (SR) to honeybee stings. Of the 33 beekeepers who experienced a honeybee sting after adrenaline auto-injector prescription, 16 (48.5%) developed SRs; 9 of these 16 (56.3%) were treated with an adrenaline auto-injector.

Conclusions: Japanese beekeeping organizations should consider encouraging medical institutions to prescribe adrenaline auto-injectors. Furthermore, physicians and other health care workers should better educate beekeepers and others who have been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector in order to improve compliance and raise awareness of the risk posed by SRs.

KEYWORDS:

• Beekeepers
• Japanese
• anaphylaxis
• adrenaline auto-injector

Authors’ contributions

Kozo Sato and HH performed the study, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. MT, SS, RS, and HS performed the study and analyzed the data. Kumiya Sugiyama analyzed the data, performed the study, and helped to write the manuscript. KK and MA designed the study and helped to write the manuscript. TF and YF designed the study and reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank S. Sekiguchi, N. Suzuki, and S. Ohno at the Department of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Saitama Medical Center, for their excellent technical assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.