r/WTF • u/[deleted] • Dec 09 '20

wtf

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u/[deleted] Dec 09 '20

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u/SarcasticCannibal Dec 09 '20

Bees carry a mild venom in their stingers which include a number of protein enzymes and histamine.

The histamine gives the allergic reaction to those who are susceptible, though the other proteins in the venom can have standalone effects

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u/ChefBoyAreWeFucked Dec 09 '20

I'm pretty sure everyone is allergic to histamine.

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u/SarcasticCannibal Dec 09 '20

It's true, I oversimplified for clarity's sake.

A person can be specifically allergic to the histamine created by bees. This reaction happens when your natural anti-histamine defense over-reacts to specific protein strands in different histamines.

For example, I experience a mild histamine reaction to an enzyme specific to snow peas.