Bee and Wasp Stings:

As the weather warms up and families have more outdoor activities, picnics, ball games, etc., the warm weather brings with it the greater chance of bee and wasp stings. Bees, wasps, and hornets all belong to the same insect family. Their venoms are quite similar. Therefore, the first aid treatment and precautions for them are likewise similar. Here we will discuss bee stings, and the differences between bee and wasp stings will be noted.

Bee Stings:

The stinger of a bee remains in the skin following the sting. With a bee sting you will see swelling, redness and pain. In the center of a bee sting you see a small black dot, which is the stinger. The stinger must be removed carefully to avoid putting more venom into the sting site. If you look closely with a magnifying glass you may see a small sac of venom attached to the stinger. If you use your fingers to simply pull out the stinger you will compress the sac and inject any venom remaining in it. One good method of removing the stinger is to use the edge of a credit card and gently flick the stinger from the site. This should dislodge the stinger without compressing the venom sac.

Once the stinger has been removed, you may apply a paste made with meat tenderizer on the sting site. This will help to neutralize the venom. If no meat tenderizer is available, you may use baking soda instead. Ice can also be applied to the site to relieve discomfort. Oral acetaminophen can relieve discomfort.

One of the greatest fears that most parents have is that their child might be allergic to bee stings. If you suspect that your child might be allergic, discuss your concerns with your physician. If your child is, indeed, allergic, there are several precautions and preparations that should be made. These should be discussed with your physician. One preparation that your physician might recommend is to keep an epinephrine injector available at all times. These are expensive, and potentially hazardous if not used correctly. Therefore, you should discuss this with your physician.

Wasp Stings:

Wasp stings are quite similar to bee stings. The main difference is that there is no stinger left in the sting site, and the reaction tends to be worse.

Call your doctor during normal office hours if you have any questions or concerns regarding bee stings in general.