Yellow Jacks

[RAG]

About two weeks ago I was stung about 20 times by Yellow Jacks.  Of course, it hurt a great deal at first.  Over the proceeding days the areas of the stings became very itchy.  Within a few days the itchiness subsided. I took Benerdryl and place different types of creams in the areas. About a week after I got stung I broke out with a terrible rash and hives in the vicinity of the stings.  There was also an area that had a small hive where I wasn't even stung!  I'm also noticing small what looks like the begining of Black and blue marks on different parts of my body.

I saw my doctor about a week ago, he perscribed Ultivate and a strong antihystermine.  The rash and the hives are alot better.

My concerns are;

1.The black and blue marks are they typical of numerous stings?
2. My doctor felt my rash was more typical of a contact dermititis from the medication then a delayed alergic reaction, does this sound possible?
3.  In the heat my rash seems to come back a bit and become itchy?  Can this type of situation be persistent?
4. Is there anything I should look out for now or in the future systemically?
5.  If I get stung again can I now have an immediate adverse reaction?  Should i get tested?

[dewed]

In regard to Yellow Jacks...my boyfriend was stung only once by a wasp (type?), he used no topical or oral medication.  About a week or so later, he also developed a rash at the site of the sting.  It looked worse then than when he received the initial sting.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

1. Yes, especially if the itching made you scracth.
2. Yes, more than likely.
3. No--it can last a while, but shouldn't be persistent or recurrent.
4. No--you're describing local, not systemic (and therefore life-threatening) reactions.  Check with your doctor to be sure about this important point.
5. If the reaction was local and not systemic, as I believe to be the case, then testing isn't useful.  Again, your doctor should shed light on this.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff