Abstract:
In South Africa bee stings are most commonly
caused by either Apis mellifera capensis or A. mellifera
scutellata, indigenous species which are notoriously
aggressive when compared to European honey bees.
According to Statistics South Africa, 109 deaths were
documented for the period 2001–2011 as having been
caused by hornets, wasps, and bees (ICD10—X26). This
appears to be a small number but, as was reported in
Australia, these statistics might be inaccurate due to either
over- or underreporting of cases. We report 3 cases of
fatalities due to bee stings, including one with postmortem
features of diffuse intravascular coagulopathy. A brief
overview of the venom of the honey bee, reactions following
a bee sting and possible mechanisms of death are
presented. Confirming the diagnosis in these cases may be
very problematic for the forensic pathologist, as in many
cases minimal history is available and both external and
internal examination could fail to reveal any specific signs
of bee sting or other obvious morphologic abnormalities.
Thus, there is a need for reliable confirmatory or supportive
diagnostic tests.
