Insect Stings

Self-care treats mild reactions to insect stings. A severe allergic reaction needs immediate care. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction usually happen soon after or within an hour of the sting.

If you have had a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting, you should carry an emergency insect sting kit, prescribed by your doctor. You should also wear a medical alert tag that lets others know that you are allergic to insect stings. Persons who have had severe reactions to bee or wasp stings should ask their doctor about allergy shots.

Questions to Ask

Question 1

After an insect sting, do any of these problems occur?

• Signs of a severe allergic reaction listed on this page.

• The sting was in the mouth, inside the throat, or on the tongue.

• Dizziness, muscle spasms, diarrhea, or vomiting occur with many insect stings. (This is 10 or more in a teenager or adult; 5 or more in a child.)

• Hoarseness. Red, severe hives occur all over.

Get medical care without delay. If symptoms are life threatening go to the ER or call 9-1-1. Don’t call 9-1-1 or use the ER if symptoms do not threaten life. Ask your doctor ahead of time where you should go for a problem that needs prompt care, but not emergency care.

Question 2

After an insect sting, do you have any of these problems?

• The area around the sting is increasingly red, warm, and/or tender to touch, or reddish streaks extend from the site.

• Severe or increased pain or swelling at the site.

• Drainage or pus at the site.

• Fever.

You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.

Question 3

Do self-care measures not treat symptoms or make symptoms worse?

Call your doctor or health care provider and state the problem. He or she can decide what you should do.

Use Self-Care / Prevention:

You can probably take care of the problem yourself if you answered NO to all the questions. Use the “Self-Care” measures that are listed. Call your doctor if you don’t feel better soon, though. You may have some other problem.

Self-Care / Prevention

To Avoid Insect Stings

• Keep food and drink containers tightly covered. (Bees love sweet things, like soft drinks.)

• Don’t wear perfume, colognes, or hair spray when you are outdoors.

• Don’t wear bright colors, like white or yellow. Choose neutral colors, like tan or khaki. Wear snug clothing that covers your arms and legs.

• Don’t go barefoot. If camping, look for insects in your shoes before you put them on.

• Wear an insect repellent, especially if you are sensitive to insect stings.

• Be careful when you work outdoors, pull weeds, mow tall grass, and work around shutters. Bees often build hives behind shutters.

• If an insect that stings gets in your car, stop the car. Put the windows down. Once the insect leaves, resume driving.

• Check for and repair openings in your window screens.

To Treat an Insect Sting Without a Severe Allergic Reaction

• For a bee sting, gently scrape out the stinger as soon as possible. Use a blunt knife, credit card, or a fingernail. Yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets don’t lose their stingers.

• Don’t pull the stinger out with your fingers or tweezers. Don’t squeeze the stinger. It contains venom. You could re-sting yourself.

• Clean the sting area with soapy water.

• Remove jewelry from bitten fingers, wrists, etc. It may be difficult to remove jewelry once swelling occurs.

• Put a cold compress (ice in a cloth, etc.) on the sting. Don’t put ice directly on the skin. Hold the cold compress on the site for 10 to 15 minutes.

• Keep the sting area lower than heart level.

• Take an over-the-counter medicine for pain as directed on the label.

• For itching and swelling, apply a topical 1% hydrocortisone cream and/or take an over- the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl, if okay with your doctor. Follow directions on the labels.

This website is not meant to substitute for expert medical advice or treatment. Follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s advice if it differs from what is given in this guide.

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