SKIN TEST REACTIVITY TO BEE HIVE PRODUCTS (HONEY BEES, HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND POLLEN)

Abstract

Bee hive products such as honey bees, honey, royal jelly and pollen are widely consumed as a health supplement. There has been several cases of allergic reactions to bee hive products reported worldwide. Consumption of bee hive products is common among Malaysians, but the degree of its sensitization is not known. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of skin test reactivity to Apis mellifera, domesticated locally and the bee hive products such as honey bees, honey, royal jelly and pollen among a group of volunteers. Four types of honey collected from different locations with different plant sources; one sample of imported honey from Australia, one sample of royal jelly, four different sources of bee pollen, and honey bee derivatives were used to prepare allergen extracts for skin testing. 2522 volunteers were skin tested to these allergen extracts. 271 (10.75%) of the subjects had a positive skin prick test result to at least one honey bee derivative or bee hive product allergen. Individuals with skin test positivity to honey bee are most likely to be sensitized to bee pollen followed by honey and royal jelly. Skin test reactivity to honey bee and bee hive products is prevailed to be high in Malaysia. This study has proven that bee hive products sensitization individuals are mostly to be also sensitized to honey bees. Therefore, is recommended these allergens to be included in the skin prick panel