# tissue swelling in response to envenomation **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 2, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tissue-swelling-in-response-to-envenomation/744951 "2016-02-02T14:26:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tissue-swelling-in-response-to-envenomation/744951/1 "2016-02-02T14:26:28Z")
Inspired by [this collection of photos](http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinchack/dogs-who-learned-the-hard-way-not-to-eat-bees) of dogs who thought it was a good idea to eat bees. Why is swelling a common response to insect stings? Is this: A) an evolved response on the part of the victim that somehow helps it cope with the venom, or B) an evolved property of the venom that helps make a sting more unpleasant, thereby helping the stinging insect, or C) a side effect of envenomation that isn’t particularly helpful to either party? ---
**Author:** ![Cboath11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Cboath11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cboath11)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tissue-swelling-in-response-to-envenomation/744951/2 "2016-02-02T16:48:27Z")
Its an immune response. [health - Why do Bee stings cause swelling? - Biology Stack Exchange](http://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/17032/why-do-bee-stings-cause-swelling) Google is your friend. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tissue-swelling-in-response-to-envenomation/744951/3 "2016-02-02T16:55:59Z")
[angioedema.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angioedema)