Insect Allergy Blood Test
£246.20
Standard GP Consultation
£135
(30 min)
Express GP Consultation
£85
(15 min)
Skip the queue and Book an Online GP Consultation for everything from check ups to prescriptions.
Skip the queue
Insect bites and stings are a particular annoyance during the summer months, however, for some, the thought of being bitten or stung may cause considerable anxiety. An allergic reaction to a bite or sting can cause symptoms ranging from rashes, hives, swelling or stomach pain, to shortness of breath, fainting or full anaphylaxis.
If you have noticed any symptoms that suggest an allergic reaction after being stung or bitten by a bug and think you may be suffering from an insect bite allergy, at Midland Health we can offer a wide range of allergy tests to confirm the diagnosis. Book your GP appointment at our clinic today to discuss allergy testing and treatment options with your doctor, during your GP Consultation our experienced Doctors will advise which test is most suitable for you.
Before doing any allergy tests, we will set up an initial consultation with one of our doctors, who will ask you about your medical history to find out whether you have any predisposition to various allergic conditions that could be hereditary. During the Consultation, our experienced doctors will advise you on the most suitable allergy test for you.
When you get bitten or sprung by an insect, the normal reaction of the body is to develop a small swollen lump on the skin that gets red, itchy and sometimes painful. If you are not allergic, the swelling should go down on its own and the symptoms should disappear within a couple of days. Sometimes it may take just a few hours to see an improvement and other times - a little longer, but the symptoms will be contained within the immediate area of the bite and will only cause minor discomfort.
If you have an insect bite allergy, you will exhibit symptoms more severe than those expected of a normal bug bite. You could have two types of allergic reactions:
If you or someone else around you is showing signs of a severe allergic reaction and you have an EpiPen at your disposal, use it and call a doctor immediately after. If you don’t have epinephrine available, call 999 immediately, as this could be a life-threatening situation.
There is no specific treatment for insect bite/sting allergy, so the condition cannot be cured. However, it can be managed successfully using allergy shots (immunotherapy) and the insect bite allergy symptoms can be treated using various methods, as well.
Mild allergy symptoms may be treatable with antihistamine tablets or topical medication, such as special creams. If you are diagnosed with a severe insect bite allergy, you may be required to carry an epinephrine pen in case of anaphylaxis.
During your appointment at Midland Health, your GP will talk you through your options to put your mind at ease.
Usually, people will seek insect bite allergy testing after having experienced worrying symptoms caused by a bug bite or sting. Your Midland Health GP will discuss your concerns and ask you questions about your medical history to find out probable signs of an allergy.
If your doctor suspects you might have an insect allergy, they may offer allergy testing at the Midland Health clinic.
Our GPs can administer allergy testing so you will be in the care of your doctor the whole time
Speak to us today to book your appointment at Midland Health!
£246.20
£135
(30 min)
£85
(15 min)
In some cases, it may be possible to build tolerance and reduce the likelihood of a severe reaction to bug bites and stings by using immunotherapy – a process that involves getting allergy shots at regular intervals.
An epinephrine pen or an EpiPen is an autoinjector tool used to administer epinephrine in a medical emergency. It helps reduce the symptoms of anaphylaxis – it normalises breathing, stimulates the heart rate, reduces the swelling of the face and throat, and raises dropping blood pressure.
If you have ever exhibited a severe allergic reaction, you should always have an epinephrine pen with you at all times. Your doctor will be able to give you a prescription for the medication.
The wasp sting is the most common bite allergy in the UK and it is something you should look out for especially in the summer months.
Wasp sting allergy and mosquito sting allergy are the most widely spread bug bite allergies but you can also experience allergic symptoms when being bitten by other insects, such as spiders, fleas, lice, fire ants, ticks and more.
You can never fully avoid insects but there are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of getting bitten or stung by an insect including:
If you experience a severe reaction caused by an insect allergy, such as wheezing, swelling of the throat, face and lips, feeling sick and dizziness – use your EpiPen if you have one and call 999 immediately.
If you are worried about a mild allergic reaction, or the area is getting infected, or if you have been stung near the eyes or throat, seek medical advice.
If you have been stung or bitten by an insect and you have no allergic reaction, you can wash the area with soap and water, place ice on the spot to reduce swelling and avoid scratching to reduce the chances of getting an infection.
Midland Health has partnered with a highly reputable online pharmacy provider, Cloud Rx to ensure you receive your prescriptions directly to your home address as a next-day service. This way, you can be sure the medicine is available and delivered directly to your home or nominated address. No need for paper prescriptions or to have to go to multiple pharmacies to find the medicine that has been issued by our Midland Health doctors to you. To find out more about our digital prescription service please click here.
Ask us anything about this service, other services or
Midland Health and we'll get straight back to you.