Bee Sting: Autopsy of an Anaphylactic Death—A Case Report

Bee stings are the most common among insect emergencies. Bee venom contains dopamine, histamine, neurotoxin enzymes, melittin, hyaluronidase, and phospholipase-A. Hypersensitivity varies from mild urticaria to severe anaphylaxis leading to even death. We report a case of a 72-year-old man attacked by a swarm of bee and sustained multiple bee stings all over his face, head, neck, chest, and both arms causing massive envenomation following which he managed to walk home following which he developed systemic symptoms such as vomiting, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, gasping, and chest pain. He was brought dead to the casualty and hence was taken up for medicolegal autopsy. Postmortem examination revealed congestion of all internal organs including classical signs of anaphylaxis leading to respiratory distress and death. Multiple bee stings envenomation can end up in anaphylactic shock and death. Therefore, patients who have sustained multiple bee stings have to be rushed to the hospitals at the earliest and receive prompt treatment to avoid fatal complications. Purpose of this article is to highlight the symptomatology and gross changes noted in the autopsy are signs of anaphylaxis as a result of allergy to honeybee venom.