Monday, May 10, 2010
Stings by honey bees, bumble bees, wasps, or yellow jackets are frightening. Over 95% of stings are by yellow jackets. These stings cause immediate, painful red bumps. The pain is usually better in 2 hours. However, the swelling may increase for 24 - 48 hours. Multiple stings (more than 10) can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a headache, and fever. These symptoms are caused by a toxic reaction to the large amount of venom in so many stings. They are not the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions cause difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, passing out, hives, or swelling in skin areas other than where the sting occurred.
HOME CARE Treatment. If you see a little black dot in the area of the sting, the stinger may still be in the skin. (Only honey bees leave their stingers.) Remove the stinger by scraping it off. If only a small fragment remains, it will come out on its own. Then rub each sting for 20 minutes with a cotton ball soaked in meat tenderizer and water, or with a slurry of ground-up aspirin tablets. (Avoid the area around the eye.) This will neutralize the venom and relieve the pain. If you do not have any meat tenderizer, apply an aluminum-based deodorant or a baking soda solution for 20 minutes. If it still hurts, massage with an ice cube for 10 minutes. Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen immediately for relief of pain and burning.
Prevention. Some bee stings can be prevented by avoiding gardens and orchards and by not going barefoot. Insect repellents do not protect against these stinging insects.
CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY (or CALL 911) IF BREATHING OR SWALLOWING IS DIFFICULT.
NOTIFY YOUR PHYSICIAN IF:
• The swelling continues to spread after 24 hours.
• Swelling of the hand or foot spreads past the wrist or ankle.
• You have other questions or concerns.
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