Bee and wasp stings are bothersome and painful, but rarely cause long-lasting effects. In most cases it is sufficient to treat them at home and you feel better after a few hours or within a day or two. However, it is important to learn to distinguish between the sting of a bee and that of a wasp, in order to be able to intervene in the most appropriate way. Last but not least, it is necessary to be able to recognize if a serious reaction is in progress that requires more in-depth medical assistance.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Treating the Stings
Step 1. Evaluate the body's reaction to the sting
If you have been stung more than once in the past or have had multiple stings at the same time, you may have an allergic reaction to the proteins contained in the wasp or bee venom. The level of the reaction indicates whether further treatment or medical intervention is required.
- If the reaction is mild, it will be limited to the area where you were stung. A red, swollen bump may appear on the skin about 1 cm in diameter (however in some people it can be up to 5 cm in diameter). The area may start to itch. Often the center is white, where the sting has gone through the skin.
- If the reaction is moderate, it will be localized in the same area where the mild reaction occurs, accompanied by inflammation that extends beyond 5 cm within a day or two of the sting. It usually peaks within 48 hours and within the last 5-10 days.
- If the reaction is severe, it involves the same symptoms as the mild and moderate reaction, accompanied by chronic hives, diarrhea, cough or difficulty in breathing, swelling of the tongue and throat, weak and rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, fainting and possibly death of the patient, if he does not receive medical assistance quickly. If any of these symptoms occur, call the emergency services. If you know you are allergic and have an epinephrine auto-injector available (such as EpiPen, Twinject or similar), use it or ask someone to administer it to you. Place the device on your thigh and hold it for a few seconds while you wait for the emergency service to intervene.
Step 2. Determine what stung you
The first aid maneuvers to carry out in case of bee or wasp stings depend on which of these two insects attacked you. However, in both cases they are aimed at reducing discomfort and swelling in the affected area.
Wasps do not leave the stinger, while bees (but not hornets) leave a "barbed" or "bristled" sting in the skin
Step 3. Manage first aid operations in the absence of the sting
Gently wash the sting site with soap and water. Use cold water for pain relief. Hot water increases blood circulation to the area and, consequently, inflammation. Then apply a cold pack or ice to reduce swelling. If you use ice, be sure to put a towel on before applying it to decrease the risk of cold damage to the surface of the skin. Apply the cold pack or ice for 20 minutes every hour until you feel some relief.
- If you feel severe itching, you may want to take an oral antihistamine, such as Zirtec, to relieve it. Alternatively, an over-the-counter topical corticosteroid cream may also be helpful in reducing the action of histamine in the affected area.
- In case of pain, you can take ibuprofen (Brufen) or acetaminophen (Tachipirina), if necessary. Follow the dosage instructions.
Step 4. Manage first aid operations in the presence of the sting
First you need to remove the stinger, which is normally located in the center of the sting. You will see a poison sac attached which continues to excrete poison after the bee has flown away. Do not extract the stinger either with your fingers or with a pair of tweezers; by squeezing the pouch, the poison will penetrate the body faster. Instead, wash your hands and then your nails scratch the sting so as to take it and extract it without crushing the pouch. You could also scrape the sting site with the edge of a credit card and remove the stinger.
- As explained for the wasp sting, wash the affected area with soap and water and apply a cold pack or ice to reduce inflammation and pain. If you use ice, put a towel on first to prevent cold damage to your skin.
- Consider taking an over-the-counter antihistamine or topical corticosteroid to help reduce inflammation, itching, and pain from the sting.
Step 5. Use some home remedies
If it is a simple sting that does not cause any allergic reactions (see below), it is sufficient to treat it at home after having performed the first aid operations. In most cases, the signs and symptoms should go away within hours or within a day or two. However, there are some home remedies that can relieve the discomfort of the sting, including:
- Prepare a paste of baking soda and water to apply to the sting. Baking soda helps soothe the affected area, reduces swelling, and relieves itching.
- Apply honey to reduce swelling and pain. Honey has natural antibacterial properties.
- Crush a couple of garlic cloves and apply the juice to the affected area. Garlic also has natural antibacterial properties.
- Lavender essential oil can help reduce pain caused by bee and wasp stings. Apply a couple of drops to the affected area.
Step 6. Check for symptoms for some time
If you experience a mild reaction and the accident does not require medical attention, in most cases the swelling and itching will subside within a few hours. The more severe the reaction, the longer the symptoms will last. The following may appear within minutes to an hour of the sting and indicate a severe reaction. If they occur, see your doctor.
- Abdominal pain;
- Anxiety;
- Breathing problems and wheezing;
- Chest pain or tightness
- Cough;
- Diarrhea;
- Stunning;
- Hives and itchy skin;
- Palpitations;
- Difficulty in speaking;
- Swelling of the face, tongue or eyes
- Loss of consciousness.
- Keep in mind that after anaphylactic shock due to bee and wasp stings, unusual reactions can also occur that involve symptoms that persist for months, serum sickness, encephalitis (inflammatory process affecting the brain) and secondary parkinsonism (which triggers symptoms similar to the Parkinson's disease). However, they are very rare.
Part 2 of 2: Recognizing the Sting
Step 1. Learn to distinguish between a wasp and a bee
While it is possible to get confused because they both cause quite painful bites, it is important to know them and to know how to distinguish them, in order to be able to administer the most suitable treatment. Bees and wasps are part of the order of insects called hymenoptera (with membranous wings), but they differ in appearance and have different life habits:
- They differ in physical conformation. The bees are about 2.5 cm long and can be completely black. Others are black or brown with yellow streaks. They are also hairy. Conversely, wasps have a narrow waist and smooth, shiny skin. Bees have two wings, wasps four.
- The colonies of bees are very large, with a population exceeding 75,000 individuals, while those of wasps do not exceed 10,000. Wasps hibernate during the winter months, unlike bees, which however remain in the hive at this time of year. Wasps do not produce honey, while all bee species have this ability. Bees feed on pollen and plant products, while wasps eat both pollen and other insects as well.
- Bees can only sting once. They have a barbed stinger which, remaining in the victim's body, separates from that of the bee. Honey bees die after stinging, while a single wasp or hornet can sting multiple times.
Step 2. Determine the characteristics of a sting
The sting of the bee and that of the wasp are very similar. If you don't see the insect the moment it bites you, it's not easy to figure out which one it was, so it can be helpful to know the symptoms to watch out for if you get stung.
- You experience excruciating, instant pain in the area where you were stung.
- A red wheal appears after a few minutes.
- A small white spot forms in the center of the wheal where the sting occurred.
- The area around the sting may swell slightly.
- Look for the sting in the center of the red zone to determine if it was a bee.
- Choose your treatment based on the sting and physical reactions.
Step 3. Avoid provoking bees and wasps
Bees are usually docile insects that attack only if provoked, while wasps are naturally more aggressive predators. Generally, you should stay calm in the presence of these insects, and walk away slowly. If you try to crush a bee or a wasp, it may sting you. The best way to avoid this danger is to prevent wasps and hornets from invading the outdoor spaces where you usually stay.
- Wasps and hornets are attracted to sweet drinks, food, and junk. So, if you are having a picnic, take out the food only when you are ready to eat and put it away as soon as you are done to avoid attracting these insects. Check the foods and the insides of all drinks before consuming them, to avoid the danger of being stung in the mouth.
- Always close the bin with its lid to prevent insects from entering the bags and attacking you when you lift the lid.
- Never work in the garden wearing yellow or white clothing or with floral motifs, as they attract insects. Try dressing in red, as both bees and wasps cannot distinguish this color. Do not wear loose clothing, in which they can get trapped.
- Limit the use of products that give off odors that attract them, such as perfume, cologne, scented soaps, hairspray, and other fragrances.
- Don't walk barefoot. Wasps and bees often rest on the ground.
- Do not leave the outside lights on longer than necessary during the night. They attract insects and predators that eat them, such as wasps.
- Don't crush a wasp. The body of the wasp releases a chemical signal that communicates to the other companions present in the area to attack. Similarly, when a bee stings it releases a chemical that attracts other nearby bees.
Advice
- Find out if you've been stung by a bee or a wasp. If the stinger remains in the skin, try not to squeeze it to pull it out.
- Most reactions to bee or wasp stings, if not localized, pass within a few hours.
- Evaluate the allergic reaction to the sting. If you need to get medical help, call 911 immediately.
