Description

A bee sting is a common outdoor nuisance. You can take several measures to prevent the stings of bees, wasps, and wasps. If you are stung, basic first aid that can help relieve the pain of mild or moderate intensity reaction. You may need emergency medical aid for a severe reaction.

Symptoms

Bee sting symptoms can range from pain and swelling of a life-threatening allergic reaction. Have a type of reaction does not mean that you will always have the same reaction each time you are stung or that the next reaction will be more severe.

  • Mild reaction. Most of the times, the bee sting symptoms are mild and include instant, sharp, burning pain, a bump and swelling. In most people, the swelling and the pain goes away in a few hours.
  • Moderate reaction. Some people who get stung by a bee or other insect to have a stronger reaction, with burning pain, a welt, itching, redness, and swelling that gets worse during the next day or two. The symptoms can last up to seven days.
  • Severe reaction. A serious reaction to a bee sting is life-threatening and requires emergency treatment. This type of reaction is called anaphylaxis. A small percentage of people are stung by a bee or other insect to develop anaphylaxis. Generally occurs from 15 minutes to an hour after the bite. Symptoms include rash, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of tongue, difficulty in swallowing and tightness in the chest.
  • Multiple bee stings. If you are stung more than a dozen times, you may have a bad reaction that makes you feel very sick. The symptoms are those of a moderate reaction, as well as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and dizziness.

When to see a doctor

Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention for:

  • A serious reaction to a bee sting that suggests anaphylaxis, even if it is only one or two of the symptoms. If you were prescribed emergency epinephrine that is injected yourself (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, others), use right away as a health care professional directed. Inject the epinephrine in the first place, then call 911.
  • Multiple stings in children, older adults, and people who have heart or breathing problems.

Make an appointment to see a health professional if:

  • Bee sting symptoms do not disappear within three days.
  • Have you had any other symptoms of an allergic reaction to a bee sting.

Causes

A bee sting is an injury caused by the venom of the bee. The sting of a bee jabs a barbed stinger into the skin. The sting is released poison. The venom has proteins that cause pain and swelling around the bite area.

In general, the insects such as bees and wasps are not aggressive and will only bite in self-defense. In most cases, this results in one or maybe a couple of bites. Some types of bees tend to swarm, itching in a group. An example of this type of bee is of Africanized bees.

Risk factors

The risk factors of a bee sting are:

  • To live in an area where the bees are active.
  • Being close to the hives.
  • Spend a lot of time outdoors.

Prevention

The following tips can help reduce the risk of a bee sting:

  • Be careful when you drink sweet drinks out. The use of wide, open cups so that you can see if a bee that is in them. Check the cans and the straw before drinking them.
  • Tightly cover food containers and trash cans, as the odors that can attract insects.
  • Clear the trash, fallen fruit, and the dog or other animal feces, such as flies may attract wasps.
  • Wear closed toe shoes when walking outside. Do not walk through the flowers.
  • Do not use perfumes and perfumed hair and body products, as they may attract insects.
  • Do not use bright colors or floral prints, as they can attract bees.
  • Be careful when cutting the grass or trimming vegetation. These activities could disturb the insects in a hive or nest of wasp.
  • Avoid being near bees, wasps, and hornets. For example, to remove the hives and nests near your house if you can do this safely.

Knowing what to do when bees or other stinging insects are nearby:

  • If the bees are flying around you, stay calm and slowly walk away from the area. Swatting at an insect can cause a sting.
  • If a bee or wasp stings, or many of the insects begin to fly around, cover your mouth and nose and quickly exit the area. When a bee stings, it releases a chemical that attracts other bees. If you can get into a building or enclosed vehicle.

People who have a severe reaction to a bee sting, have on average a 50% chance of anaphylaxis the next time you are stung. Talk with a health care professional about prevention measures, such as vaccines against allergy to avoid a similar reaction if stung again.

Diagnosis

To diagnose an allergy to the venom of a bee sting, your healthcare provider may suggest that you have one or both of the following tests:

  • Skin test. During skin testing, a small amount of venom that is injected into the skin of the upper arm or the upper part of the back. If you are allergic to bee stings, you get a lump in the skin at the test site.
  • Blood test. A blood test can measure how your immune system reacts to the bee venom.

Your health care professional may also want to test for allergies to bees, hornets and wasps. The bites of these insects can cause allergic reactions similar to those of the bee stings.

Treatment

For the majority of bee stings, treatment at home is enough. Multiple stings or an allergic reaction can be a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Emergency treatment of allergic reactions

During an attack, anaphylactic, an emergency medical team can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating. You may get medicines, including:

  • The epinephrine to reduce the body's allergic response.
  • Oxygen to help you breathe.
  • Antihistamines and glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, to reduce inflammation of the airways and improve breathing.
  • A beta-agonist , such as albuterol to relieve respiratory symptoms.

Injector of epinephrine

If you are allergic to bee stings, your health care professional may prescribe emergency epinephrine that is injected yourself (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, others). You will need to have with you at all times. An injector is a combination of syringe and concealed needle that injects a single dose of the medicine when it is pressed against the thigh. Always be sure to replace an injector by its expiration date.

Make sure that you know how to use the injector. Also make sure that the people closest to you know how to give the medicine. If you are in an anaphylactic emergency, it could save your life. If you use an injector of epinephrine, go to the emergency room after.

Wear an alert bracelet that identifies your allergy to bee or other insect stings. And carry chewable antihistamine with you. The use of antihistamines if you're bitten, you start to have symptoms of an allergic reaction and are able to swallow. You can use either an injector and oral antihistamine.

Allergy shots

Bee and other insect stings are a common cause of anaphylaxis. If you have had a serious reaction to a bee sting or multiple bites, your health care professional may refer you to an allergist for allergy testing. The allergist may suggest immunotherapy. This type of therapy is sometimes called "allergy shots". These vaccines are generally given on a regular basis for a couple of years. You can reduce or stop the allergic response to bee venom.

Lifestyle and home remedies

For a minor or moderate bee sting, follow these first aid steps:

  • Move to a safe area to avoid more bites.
  • If you see a stinger sticking out of the wound — it looks like a black spot remove it as soon as possible. Try to scrape it with your fingernail or the edge of a knife. A sting may not be present, since only honey bees leave a stinger. Other bites of insects, such as wasps, not.
  • Wash the bite with soap and water.
  • Remove any rings in the area of the bite, immediately, before the swelling gets worse.
  • Apply to the area with a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice. Keep the bite for 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat as necessary.
  • If the bite is on an arm or leg, raise it. The inflammation may increase during the next two days, but usually goes away with time and elevation.
  • Apply a hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to relieve the itching and swelling. Do this up to four times a day until symptoms subside.
  • If needed, take a pain reliever. The pain medication that you can buy without a prescription, can help relieve the pain. Examples are ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). If the bite area, itchy, take an anti-itching medicine by mouth. This type of medicine is also called an antihistamine. Examples include diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine, loratadine (Alavert, Claritin, and others), cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy) and fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy). Some of these products may cause drowsiness.

What to avoid

  • Do not scratch the sting of the area. Scratching can lead to infection.
  • Do not rub the bite with the mud, the mud contains a lot of germs.
  • Do not try to remove a thorn beneath the surface of the skin. Will come out over time as the skin sheds.
  • Do not apply heat.

Preparing for your appointment

Bee and other insect stings are a common cause of anaphylaxis. If you have had a severe reaction to a bee sting, but not to seek emergency treatment, contact a health professional. You may be referred to an allergy specialist, who can be found if you are allergic to bees or other insect venom.

List of questions you want to ask your health care professional, such as:

  • What should I do if I get stung again?
  • If I have an allergic reaction, do I need to use the medicine of the emergency, such as an auto-injector of epinephrine?
  • How can I prevent this reaction from happening again?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions as well.

Your healthcare provider will likely do a physical examination and ask you a series of questions, such as:

  • When and where were you bitten by?
  • What symptoms did you have after being bitten?
  • Has had an allergic reaction to an insect bite in the past?
  • Do you have other allergies, such as hay fever?
  • What medications do you take, including herbal remedies?
  • Do you have other health problems?
Symptoms and treatment of Bee sting