Bee Sting

Bees, hornets, and wasps can be a common annoyance when spending time outdoors. There are things you can do to lessen your chances of getting stung. If you do get stung, basic first aid can help with mild or moderate pain. A serious reaction, however, might need emergency medical attention.

Bee stings can cause various reactions, ranging from minor discomfort to a potentially serious medical emergency. The severity of a reaction isn't always predictable; a past mild reaction doesn't guarantee a future one will be the same.

Mild Reactions: Many bee stings cause only minor problems. You might feel a sudden, sharp burning pain at the sting site, along with a raised bump (welt) and swelling. These symptoms usually disappear within a few hours.

Moderate Reactions: For some people, a bee sting can cause a stronger reaction. This might include a persistent burning pain, a larger welt, itching, redness (flushing) and swelling that increases over the next one or two days. Symptoms can last up to a week.

Severe Reactions (Anaphylaxis): A serious reaction to a bee sting, called anaphylaxis, is a medical emergency. This is a potentially life-threatening reaction that happens in a small number of people. It typically starts within 15 minutes to an hour after the sting. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include hives (rash), itching all over the body, difficulty breathing, a swollen tongue, trouble swallowing, and tightness in the chest. If you experience any of these symptoms, get immediate medical help.

Multiple Stings: Getting stung more than a dozen times can also lead to a severe reaction. Along with the symptoms of a moderate reaction, you might also feel nauseous, vomit, have diarrhea, experience a fever, and feel lightheaded. If you've been stung multiple times and are experiencing any of these problems, seek immediate medical attention.

Important Note: This information is for general knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. If you experience any symptoms of a bee sting reaction, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately, especially if you suspect an anaphylactic reaction.

If you're stung by a bee, here's what to do:

Get immediate help (call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room) if:

• You have a strong reaction: Even a mild reaction that shows signs of a serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, needs immediate attention. This reaction can involve just a few symptoms or many. If you've been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen or Auvi-Q), use it right away as your doctor showed you. Inject the epinephrine first, then call 911 or go to the emergency room. Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include hives, swelling, trouble breathing, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat.

• You have multiple stings: If you've been stung multiple times, especially if you are a child, older adult, or have heart or breathing problems, seek immediate medical care. Multiple stings can cause more serious problems, and early treatment is important.

See a doctor if:

• Symptoms last longer than three days: If the pain, swelling, or other symptoms from the bee sting don't improve within a few days, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

• You've had allergic reactions before: If you've had any allergic reactions to bee stings in the past, or any other allergies, see your doctor after a bee sting. This is important to get advice on how to manage the risk of a serious reaction in the future. Your doctor can also help determine if you need any special precautions.

A bee sting happens when a bee's stinger punctures the skin and injects venom. This venom contains special proteins that cause the pain and swelling you feel around the sting site.

Bees, like most insects, aren't usually looking to attack. They only sting to protect themselves or their colony. Most of the time, this means a single bee stings, or maybe a few. But some types of bees, like Africanized bees, can swarm. This means many bees sting together in a group.

Bees can sting you if certain conditions are met. A few things that increase your chances of getting stung include:

• Living in an area with lots of bees: If bees are common in your neighborhood, you're more likely to encounter one. This could be a rural area with wild bee populations, a suburban area with gardens, or even a city park with bee-friendly plants.

• Being near beehives: Beehives are where bees live. If you're close to a beehive, whether it's in a backyard, a farm, or a nearby apiary (a place where beekeepers keep bees), there's a higher possibility of a bee sting. Beekeepers usually take precautions to minimize this risk, but it's still something to be aware of.

• Spending a lot of time outdoors: The more time you spend outside, the more opportunities there are to run into bees. This could be anything from hiking in a wooded area to simply enjoying your garden. If you're doing outdoor activities, be aware of your surroundings and take steps to avoid disturbing bees.

Protecting Yourself from Bee Stings

Bees, wasps, and yellow jackets can be a nuisance, but they also can sting. Here are some simple ways to lower your chances of getting stung:

Avoiding Attraction:

• Be mindful when drinking: If you're enjoying a sweet drink outdoors, use a wide, open cup so you can see if any bees are hiding inside. Check cans and straws carefully before drinking from them.
• Cover food and trash: Bees and other insects are attracted to smells. Make sure food containers and trash cans are tightly sealed to keep the aromas contained.
• Keep your surroundings clean: Clear away garbage, fruit that has fallen from trees, and pet waste. These attract flies, which can bring wasps.
• Dress appropriately: Wear closed-toe shoes to protect your feet. Avoid walking through flowerbeds, as bees are often found there.
• Avoid strong scents: Don't wear perfumes, scented lotions, or hair products. These scents can draw insects to you. Similarly, avoid wearing bright colors or floral patterns, as these can also attract bees.
• Be cautious when outdoors: If you're mowing the lawn or trimming bushes, be aware of nearby beehives or wasp nests. Disturbing them can lead to stinging insects coming out. Try to avoid areas with known bee populations.

What to do if you encounter bees:

• Stay calm if a few bees are around: If just a few bees are buzzing around you, remain calm and slowly back away. Trying to swat at them can make them sting.
• If you're stung or many insects are swarming: If you get stung, or many insects are flying towards you, protect your mouth and nose, and quickly move away from the area. Immediately seek shelter inside a building or vehicle. A bee sting releases a chemical that can attract other bees, so leaving the area is crucial.

Important Note about Severe Reactions:

If you've had a severe reaction to a bee sting in the past, you have a higher chance of having another severe reaction (anaphylaxis) if stung again. This is a serious medical issue, so talk to your doctor about prevention strategies, such as allergy shots. They can help you avoid future problems.

To find out if you're allergic to bee venom, your doctor might recommend one or both of these tests:

• Skin test: A tiny amount of bee venom is put under your skin on your arm or upper back. If you're allergic, a raised, red bump (called a wheal) will appear at that spot. This bump shows your body's immediate reaction to the venom.

• Blood test: This test looks at how your immune system responds to bee venom. It measures the levels of certain antibodies in your blood that are associated with allergic reactions. This can give your doctor more information about the severity of your potential allergy.

Your doctor might also test you for allergies to other stinging insects like yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps. These insects can also cause allergic reactions that are similar to bee stings. It's important to be tested for these other insects because a reaction to one kind of insect sting doesn't necessarily mean you'll react the same way to another.

Most bee stings can be treated at home. However, multiple stings or a severe allergic reaction requires immediate medical attention.

A serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is a medical emergency. If you stop breathing or your heart stops, emergency medical personnel might perform CPR. Treatment will likely include:

• Epinephrine: This medicine quickly reduces your body's allergic response.
• Oxygen: This helps your breathing.
• Antihistamines and corticosteroids (like prednisone): These medicines help reduce swelling in your airways, making it easier to breathe.
• A beta agonist (like albuterol): This helps open your airways and improve breathing.

It's crucial to know how to use any epinephrine auto-injector you might have. Tell close friends and family how to use it, too. They could save your life if you have an anaphylactic reaction. If you use an epinephrine auto-injector, always go to the emergency room afterward.

To help prevent future problems, wear a medical alert bracelet that shows you're allergic to bee stings or other insect stings. Carry chewable antihistamines. If you get stung and start to have allergy symptoms, take the antihistamine if you can swallow it. You can use both the auto-injector and the antihistamine at the same time, if needed.

Bee stings, along with other insect stings, can sometimes cause severe allergic reactions. If you've had a serious reaction to a bee sting, or multiple stings, talk to your doctor. They might recommend seeing a specialist called an allergist for testing. The allergist might suggest allergy shots (immunotherapy). These shots are usually given regularly for several years and can help reduce or eliminate your allergic reaction to bee venom.

Treating a bee sting: First-aid steps

If a bee stings you, follow these simple steps to help relieve the pain and discomfort:

1. Get to safety. Move away from the area where you got stung. This will prevent getting stung again.

2. Remove the stinger (if visible). A bee's stinger is a black dot that sometimes remains in the skin after the bee flies away. If you see a stinger, gently scrape it out using your fingernail or a dull knife edge. Only bees leave stingers behind; wasps and other stinging insects do not. If you don't see a stinger, don't worry about looking for one.

3. Clean the sting site. Wash the area with soap and water to remove any dirt or germs.

4. Remove any tight jewelry. Take off any rings, bracelets, or watches around the stung area immediately. Swelling can make these items difficult or impossible to remove later.

5. Apply cold. Apply a cold compress to the sting. You can use a cloth dampened with cold water, or a bag of ice wrapped in a towel. Hold it on the sting for 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat as needed.

6. Elevate the affected area (if possible). If the sting is on your arm or leg, raise it slightly above your heart. This can help reduce swelling.

7. Use over-the-counter medications. Hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion can help soothe itching and swelling. Apply these up to four times a day until the symptoms go away. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with pain. If the sting itches, an antihistamine (like Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, or Allegra) taken by mouth can help. Be aware that some of these medications can cause drowsiness.

8. Avoid scratching or rubbing. Scratching can introduce germs and make the area more irritated. Don't rub the sting with mud, as it can contain bacteria.

9. Leave the stinger alone if it's under the skin. If the stinger is buried, don't try to remove it. It will come out on its own as the skin heals.

10. Avoid heat. Applying heat to the sting will likely make the swelling worse.