Death Due to Bee Sting: A Case Report

Abstract

Allergic reactions to bee stings can manifest during both the early (local, toxic, systemic) and late phases (including serum sickness, neurological, vascular, and cardiopulmonary symptoms), potentially leading to long-term complications. Anaphylaxis is one of the most severe and potentially fatal reactions. Autopsy studies of fatalities linked to bee stings typically show non-specific pathological findings, although laryngeal edema, acute pulmonary emphysema, and pulmonary congestion may be present. A case is reported involving a 76-year-old male patient with a history of allergic reactions who had been hospitalized multiple times in the past. He died in an ambulance after being stung by a bee on his eyebrow. Autopsy findings indicated ecchymosis and mononuclear cell infiltration at the site of the sting, along with edema of the tongue and epiglottis, histiocytes, and congestion in the lungs. In most bee sting-related deaths, anaphylactic reactions are critical in the early stages, making airway management crucial. Consequently, when addressing bee stings, it is essential to inquire about the patient’s allergic history and to evaluate the autopsy findings in conjunction with information gathered from the scene.