Snakes | Spiders | Jellyfish | Other

I have had a reaction to a sting from an ant [bee | wasp] involving redness and a large area of swelling (in some cases quite severe) lasting several days. Am I likely to react this way or worse if bitten again??

You have probably developed a large local allergic reaction to the sting. You may well develop a similar large local reaction in the future if you are stung again. This usually responds to topical and/or oral steroids. This is distinct from a generalised allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) that is evident by rashes, wheezing or difficulty breathing, faintness or dizziness from low blood pressure and, in severe cases, unconsciousness or worse. These generalised allergic reactions seem to be due to a different immune response and so the presence of large local reactions does not predict generalised reactions and vice-versa. The generalised allergic reactions are treated with intramuscular adrenaline injections. For further advice you may wish to have your GP refer you to an allergist or immunologist.

I am a Jehovah's Witness and would like to know more about antivenom and how it is made.

Antivenom is made from blood plasma. In most but not all cases it comes from the blood of horses. For example, Australian snake antivenoms are made in horses but the standard American rattlesnake antivenom is now made in sheep. Other examples are the funnel web spider antivenom that is made in rabbits and the box jellyfish antivenom that is made in sheep. In these cases the antivenom is not blood or plasma itself but a purified fraction of that plasma, specifically refined antibody fragments. Due to the complexity of venom it seems unlikely that synthetic, non-blood product related antivenoms will be commercially produced in the near future.