What's eating you? Bees, part 1: characteristics, reactions, and management.

Bee stings are common in the United States. We review the characteristics of bumblebees, honeybees, and Africanized honeybees; the types and pathophysiology of sting reactions; and the medical management and prevention of bee stings. In part 2 of this series, we will discuss the use of venom immunotherapy, the diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis that initially presents as anaphylaxis, and the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with mastocytosis.