In most of the cases, bee stings are considered a temporary discomfort if you are not allergic to bee venom. You may suffer from a sharp pain, swelling, redness, warmth or itching, which could subside in a few hours. But a recent incident proved that it could lead to serious complications. An Ahmednagar-based farmer had to undergo heart-transplant after a honey bee sting caused his heart to fail. Reportedly, only 20 percent of his heart was functioning before the operation. The Maharashtra farmer who was stung in 2017 became Navi Mumbai’s first patient of heart-transplant surgery. The sting had precipitated into end-stage heart disease. Man Dies After Being Stung By Honey Bees: Can Their Stings Kill?

The 33-year-old man, identified as Rajeev Waghmare, was stung by a bee in June, 2017, as reported by TOI. His problems began even since then. After the sting, Waghmare complained of chest pain and was immediately taken to the medical care in Ahmednagar. Medical examination and angiography revealed blockages in the coronary vessel. Waghmare underwent medical treatment.

Cardiomyopathy Symptoms

According to the Mayo Clinic, Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it hard for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body. It can even lead to heart failure. Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy are:

  • Breathlessness with exertion or even at rest

  • Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet

  • Bloating of the abdomen due to fluid build-up

  • Cough while lying down

  • Fatigue

  • Heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering

  • Chest discomfort or pressure

  • Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting

In November, 2017, Waghmare’s health problem returned, and this time he went through an angioplasty. Despite the treatment, the farmer had recurrent heart failures. In January, with only 20 percent of his heart functioning, Waghmare was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Belapur. He went through a heart-transplant operation in July after he found a matching donor. Waghmare’s condition is unique, considering he had several blockages in a single artery. The report further states that doctors suggest that this is the first cardiac failure case following a bee sting. The 33-year-old man is currently under medication and is yet to be discharged.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2019 02:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).