CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A serious shortage of insect venom has allergy doctors in the Carolinas changing the way they treat patients.
One of the two worldwide manufacturers of venoms used to treat people who are allergic to bee stings is shut down, so doctors have to conserve.
Doctors estimate that there’s been a 25 to 35 percent reduction in supply.
The vaccines are used as part of venom immunotherapy (VT). VT involves injecting small doses of venom to reduce sensitivity to the allergens that can be deadly in some cases.
Other people with insect venom allergic reactions can carry portable epinephrine, also known as an EpiPen.
Dr. Vandana Patel told Channel 9 that adult patients who have skin reactions to stings from bees, wasps, hornets and yellowjackets may not get immunotherapy. Children may receive half the previous dose, and some patients will wait longer between venom shots.
[LINK: Doctors recommended guidelines for rationing venom during shortage]
Patel worries that the shortage could become a life or death concern for people severely allergic to stings.
“With venom desensitization, we can take that risk down to three percent,” said Patel. “It's a great fear for us, because it's something we're very good at.”
Patel said their new efforts to conserve have not impacted the quality of local patient care.
The new guidelines will stay in place until the venom shortage is over, but it's uncertain how long that could be.
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