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Poisonous Ingredient
Bee, wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket stings contain a substance called venom. The venom from each type of insect contains several chemicals. Bee and hornet venom contain histamine.

Of these insects, Africanized bee colonies are very sensitive to being disturbed. When they are disturbed, they respond faster and in greater numbers than other types of bees. They are also much more likely to sting than European bees.

You are also at risk for stings if you disturb a wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket nest.

Where Found
Bees can be found all over North America where flowers bloom. There are 4000 native bee species in the United States. While honey bees live in hives, 70% of all bees live in the ground in nests.

Wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are also found all over North America in woodlands, meadows, orchards, parks, playgrounds, and cemeteries. Yellow jackets mostly build their nests below the ground surface. Hornets and wasps usually build their large nests in trees or bushes as well as manmade structures such as roof overhangs, house walls and attics.

Symptoms
Bee, wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket venom can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Below are symptoms of a bee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket sting in different parts of the body.

EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT
Swelling in the throat, lips, tongue, and mouth *
HEART AND BLOOD VESSELS
Rapid heart rate
Severe decrease in blood pressure*
Collapse (shock) *
LUNGS
Difficulty breathing *
SKIN
Hives *
Itching
Swelling and pain at site of the sting
STOMACH AND INTESTINES
Abdominal cramping
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
* These symptoms are due to an allergic reaction, and not venom.

Bee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket sting: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia This article describes the effects of a sting from a bee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket.

What are ticks?
Ticks are small parasites. They may look like insects, but they have eight legs and are related to spiders. Ticks feed on the blood of people and warm-blooded animals. There are many types of ticks in the United States, and they live in different parts of the country.

Ticks can be different colors and sizes. They can be light-colored, reddish brown, or dark brown. Some ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see. Ticks may get on you if you walk though areas where they live, such as tall grass, leaf litter or shrubs.

Why do I need to be worried about tick bites?
If you spend time outdoors or have pets that go outdoors, you need to beware of ticks. When they bite, certain types of ticks can pass on germs that cause different diseases. Sometimes the symptoms can be mild. In other cases, you can have serious, long-lasting health problems. Some of the diseases you can get from a tick bite (called tickborne diseases) include:

Lyme disease
Alpha-gal syndrome (tick bite red meat allergy)
Babesiosis
Ehrlichiosis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Tularemia

Tick Bites | Tickborne Disease | MedlinePlus Tick bites can spread many diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Learn how to prevent tick bites and what to do if you get bitten.

Your body normally cools itself by sweating. During hot weather, especially when it is very humid, sweating just isn't enough to cool you off. Your body temperature can rise to dangerous levels and you can develop a heat illness.

Most heat illnesses happen when you stay out in the heat too long. Exercising and working outside in high heat can also lead to heat illness. Older adults, young children, and those who are sick or overweight are most at risk. Taking certain medicines or drinking alcohol can also raise your risk.

Heat Illness: MedlinePlus During hot weather, especially with high humidity, sweating isn't enough and your temperature can rise and cause heat illnesses like heat exhaustion.

What are joints?
Your joints are places where two or more bones come together. Your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and knuckles are all joints. Your spine has joints, too.

But joints are more than bones. They include the soft tissues around them, such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Cartilage is the hard slippery flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. Tendons are tough, flexible bands that connect your muscles to your bones so you can move your joints. Ligaments connect the bones of the joint to each other to keep them stable when you move.

What are joint disorders?
Joint disorders are diseases or injuries that affect your joints. Injuries can happen because of overuse of a joint. Or you could have a sudden injury, such as an accident or a sports injury.

Joint Disorders | MedlinePlus Joint disorders are caused by diseases and injuries. Treatments and therapies depend on the cause and range from pain relievers to surgery.

What is the flu?
The flu, also called influenza, is a respiratory infection caused by viruses. Each year, millions of Americans get sick with the flu. Sometimes it causes mild illness. But it can also be serious or even deadly, especially for people over 65, newborn babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses.

What causes the flu?
The flu is caused by flu viruses that spread from person to person. When someone with the flu coughs, sneezes, or talks, they spray tiny droplets. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person may get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

Flu | Flu Symptoms | Stomach Flu | Influenza | MedlinePlus The flu can cause serious illness in people over 65, babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a vaccine.

What are esophagus disorders?
Esophagus disorders are problems with how your esophagus works. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. You usually don't notice it unless you swallow something too big, hot, or cold. You might also notice it if something is wrong. When that happens, you might feel pain or have trouble swallowing (dysphagia).

What causes esophagus disorders?
The cause depends on the type of disorder. Some run in families. Others are linked to allergic reactions to food or substances in your environment. Sometimes, the cause is unknown.

You may be more likely to develop an esophagus disorder if you:

Are overweight or have obesity
Are pregnant
Take certain medicines
Have had radiation treatmentt to your neck or chest
Smoke or are around secondhand smoke

Esophagus Disorders | MedlinePlus You esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagus problems include GERD (reflux), cancer, esophagitis, and spasms. Learn about symptoms and treatments.

What are joints?
Your joints are places where two or more bones come together. Your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and knuckles are all joints. Your spine has joints, too.

But joints are more than bones. They include the soft tissues around them, such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Cartilage is the hard slippery flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. Tendons are tough, flexible bands that connect your muscles to your bones so you can move your joints. Ligaments connect the bones of the joint to each other to keep them stable when you move.

What are joint disorders?
Joint disorders are diseases or injuries that affect your joints. Injuries can happen because of overuse of a joint. Or you could have a sudden injury, such as an accident or a sports injury.

What is the common cold?
The common cold is a mild infection of your upper respiratory tract (which includes your nose and throat). Colds are probably the most common illness. Adults have an average of 2-3 colds per year, and children have even more. Colds are more common in the winter and spring, but you can get them at any time.

What causes the common cold?
More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common type. The viruses that cause colds are very contagious. They can spread from person to person through the air and close personal contact. You can also get infected when you touch something that has the virus on it and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. For example, you could get a cold after you shake hands with someone who has a cold or touch a doorknob that has the germs on it, and then touch your face.

What are the symptoms of the common cold?
The symptoms of a common cold usually include:

Sneezing
Stuffy nose (congestion)
Runny nose
Sore throat
Coughing
Headache
The symptoms usually start a few days after you become infected with the virus. Some symptoms can last for 10-14 days.

Common Cold | Viral Infection | MedlinePlus Common cold symptoms usually begin 2 or 3 days after infection and last 2 to 14 days. There is no cure for the common cold. Learn tips for relief.

What are adenoids?
Adenoids are a patch of tissue that is high up in the throat, just behind the nose. They, along with the tonsils, are part of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system clears away infection and keeps body fluids in balance. The adenoids and tonsils work by trapping germs coming in through the mouth and nose.

Adenoids usually start to shrink after about age 5. By the teenage years, they are almost completely gone. By then, the body has other ways to fight germs.

What are enlarged adenoids?
Enlarged adenoids are adenoids that are swollen. It is a common problem in children.

What causes enlarged adenoids?
Your child's adenoids can be enlarged, or swollen, for different reasons. It may just be that your child had enlarged adenoids at birth. Adenoids can also become enlarged when they are trying to fight off an infection. They might stay enlarged even after the infection is gone.

Adenoids | Enlarged Adenoids | Adenoid Removal | MedlinePlus Your adenoids are high up in your throat. They trap germs coming in your mouth and nose. Learn about enlarged adenoids, a common problem in children.

What are cataracts?
A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens inside your eye. This cloudiness blocks light from reaching the back of the eye, making it harder to see clearly. A cataract can affect one or both eyes, but it doesn't spread from one eye to the other.

Cataracts usually develop slowly. As they get worse, your vision can become blurry or dim. Brighter lighting or new eyeglasses may help at first, but if cataracts begin to interfere with your daily activities, you may need cataract surgery.

Without treatment, cataracts can cause severe or even permanent loss of vision.

What causes cataracts?
Most cataracts develop as part of the normal aging process. This happens when the protein in the lens of your eye clumps together. Over time, these protein clumps grow larger and thicker, making it harder to see. The lens may turn yellow or brown, which can affect how you see colors.

Cataracts can also develop after an eye injury or surgery for another eye condition, like glaucoma.

Cataracts | Cataract Surgery | MedlinePlus A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye. It affects your vision. Cataracts are very common in older people. Learn about symptoms and surgery.