If you've been stung by a bee and didn't have a reaction, there is still a chance of reacting in the future. You can get stung many times in your life and not react and one day become allergic to ...

From tending the garden to walking barefoot on the lawn, a bee sting is just a figment of spending time outside, and consequently, getting stung can sometimes just happen.

Remember that allergy occurs when there's the right genetic combination -- the genes you get from your parents -- but also certain exposure to something in the environment -- in this case a bee sting.

Step 2: Monitor for Signs of an Allergic Reaction Nearly everyone, even people without a bee sting allergy, will experience symptoms of pain, redness, swelling, and itching at the site of the sting.

Adam’s Journal My wife had what she describes as a “bad” reaction to a bee sting as a second grader. To her knowledge, Mary has never again been stung, but she’s since lived in fear of bees.

DEAR READER: For someone with such an allergy, a sting can be very serious -- yes, even life-threatening. If left untreated, an allergic person could die within minutes to hours after a bee sting.

How long do bee stings last? The duration of a bee sting varies. Within a few hours, most of your symptoms will dissipate. However, it may take a few days for swelling and redness to subside.

It sounds as if Mary has never had allergy treatment for bee stings. So, if she had a strong reaction to one as a child, there is a significant chance her body might respond similarly today.