It’s official: summer is here! With the weather warming up, you may find yourself spending more time outdoors. If you enjoy spending time outside, you probably also know there are some parts of the outdoors you would rather avoid, such as bee stings. Here are some basic facts about bee stings, what to do if you get stung, and when it’s time to seek professional help.
The Basics about Bee Stings
While bees are highly efficient pollinators (and honey bees make delicious honey, too!), their sting is no laughing matter. Thankfully, most bee stings result in mild symptoms that will lessen within a few hours. Common symptoms of a bee sting include:
- Immediate pain at the sting site (often described as a burning or sharp pain)
- A red welt or raised area at the sting site
- Swelling or itching around the sting site
The symptoms of a bee sting are caused by a bee’s venom, which is made up of naturally occurring chemicals and is designed to ward off a bee’s potential enemies. Most people are sensitive to bee venom, and the sharp stinger barbs cause some pain too.
What to Do If You Are Stung by a Bee
As mentioned above, most people experience only a mild reaction to a bee sting. To relieve the symptoms, you can:
- Wash the sting area with soap and water
- Apply a cold compress
- Elevate the affected limb or area
- Avoid scratching the sting site
- If the sting site is very itchy, apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream
- If needed, take an over-the-counter pain reliever or oral antihistamine
In most cases, the bee will leave its stinger in the sting site, so you should remove it as soon as possible to prevent more venom from being released. To remove the stinger, scrape it out sideways with an object with a hard edge, such as a fingernail or credit card. Avoid using tweezers or your fingers, as this could spread the venom.
When to Seek Professional Help for a Bee Sting
If you are stung multiple times, you may experience a more severe reaction. This may not mean you are allergic—it is simply a result of the increased amount of venom in a concentrated area due to multiple stings. Symptoms may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Fever
If you experience these symptoms, seek urgent medical care by going to the emergency room or urgent care facility.
Some people are allergic to bee venom and have a more severe reaction, even if they are stung only once. These cases can be very serious and even life-threatening. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to bee venom include:
- Shortness of breath or wheezing
- Hives
- Difficulty speaking and swallowing
- Vomiting
- Vertigo
- Extreme itchiness
- Disorientation
- Loss of consciousness
- Stomach cramps
In these cases, it is essential that the person receive immediate medical attention. Call 911 and seek emergency medical treatment.
If you or someone you know has had a moderate to severe reaction to a bee sting (or any insect sting) in the past, you may benefit from immunotherapy. Our allergist will conduct a test to verify what you are allergic to and will then recommend any necessary treatment. Over time, immunotherapy may help to reduce your sensitivity to the insect venom. Not all patients are good candidates for venom immunotherapy, so talk to our allergist at West River ENT and Allergy to find out if this is right for you.
To learn more about what to do if you or someone near you is stung by a bee, or to schedule your appointment with our skilled team, we invite you to contact us today.
