Corneal bee sting controlled with early surgical intervention and systemic high-dose steroid therapy

A Case of Conjunctival Bee Sting Injury with Review of the Literature on Ocular Bee Stings

BACKGROUND Ocular bee stings have been rarely described in the literature, and their management is controversial. A case of conjunctival bee sting with retention of the stinger for 48 hours is presented with a review of the literature on the complications and management of ocular bee sting injury. CASE REPORT A 22-year-old beekeeper presented to the Emergency Department with mild symptoms from a conjunctival bee sting that he had received 48 hours previously. The stinger was removed in the Emergency Department, and topical antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment with corticosteroid were given. There were no complications in this case. However, review of the literature has shown that although the outcome from ocular bee stings can be mild, as in this case, ocular bee stings can result in severe visual symptoms that require amniotic membrane transplant (AMT). Management commonly includes removal of the stinger and both topical and systemic treatment with corticosteroids. The main complications include cataracts, inflammation of the anterior chamber, optic neuropathies, and changes in ocular pressure. CONCLUSIONS Ocular bee stings have been rarely described in the literature, and the management remains controversial. As this case has shown, removal of the stinger and the use of topical treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids can prevent potentially serious complications that may affect vision. Early and regular follow-up with ocular imaging may be required when symptoms persist.

Corneal wasp sting: A case report and review of literature

Purpose

To report severe immunologic and toxic reaction due to corneal wasp sting that may cause catastrophic sight-threatening outcomes.

Methods

A 45-year-old man referred to the emergency room with corneal wasp sting of Vespa Orientalis. The authors review previous Medline literature about this topic.

Results

In our case, the response to frequent topical corticosteroid was dramatic, and at the seventh day after injury, all inflammatory responses in the anterior segment of the eye had been resolved.

Conclusion

Corneal wasp injury with Vespa Orientalis can cause severe inflammation of the cornea and the anterior segment. Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment.

A Foreign Body Granuloma of the Buccal Mucosa Induced by Honeybee Sting

A foreign body granuloma of the buccal mucosa induced by honeybee sting was reported. The patient was an 82-year-old female who presented with a submucous mass at the right buccal mucosa. The mass was 20 mm in diameter, elastically firm, partly mobile without pain or tenderness, and covered with almost normal mucosa. MR image did not delineate the lesion clearly. Under clinical diagnosis of a benign tumor, the lesion was excised under local anesthesia. The excised lesion was 14 × 11 × 9 mm in size and solid and yellowish in cut surface. Histologically, the lesion consisted of granulomatous tissue with a few narrow, curved, eosinophilic structures compatible with decomposed fragments of a honeybee sting and was diagnosed as a foreign body granuloma, although the patient did not recall being stung.