Abstract

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, presenting with various clinical symptoms. The most common etiologies of anaphylactic reactions include allergic responses to food, medications, latex, and Hymenoptera stings. In its classic form, anaphylaxis typically involves the cutaneous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramping abdominal pain, can occur transiently but mucosal lesions are rarely detected. We recently experienced a case of ischemic colitis presenting with hematochezia after bee venom-induced anaphylactic shock. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in Korea. We report the case with a review of the literature. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2011;42:175-178)

• Keywords: Anaphylaxis, Bee venom, Ischemic colitis