Bee and wasp stings may be painful and uncomfortable, but rarely last long. In most of the cases, home remedies alone will suffice. Also, the stung body part should feel better within a few hours or 1-2 days. However, it is important to know the difference between treatment for bee and wasp stings, especially detecting whether you have a severe reaction to the sting so that you can seek appropriate medical treatment.
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Part 1 of 2: Overcoming the Sting
Step 1. Watch your body's reaction to the sting
If you've been stung by a bee or wasp several times before, or if you've been stung multiple times now, you may be having an allergic reaction to the protein in the wasp or bee venom. Your reaction rate determines whether further treatment or medical attention is needed.
- Mild reactions will be localized to the area of the sting. Your skin may turn red and form a lump about 1.2 cm in diameter. However, the size of the lump in most people may reach 5 cm. The stung skin may also be itchy with a center that is often white due to the stinger piercing the skin.
- Moderate reactions include localized reactions as in mild reactions but accompanied by swelling of the sting area to more than 5 cm for 1-2 days thereafter. Moderate reactions usually peak after 48 hours and last for 5-10 days.
- Severe reactions to stings include symptoms that occur in mild or severe reactions, accompanied by chronic urticaria (hives), diarrhea, coughing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue and throat, weak and rapid pulse, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and even loss of consciousness. risk of death if not treated quickly. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact the nearest emergency department immediately. If you notice an allergic reaction and take an injection of epinephrine (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, or other), use it immediately or ask someone to inject it into you. Press this injection into the thigh and hold it there for a few seconds. Wait for emergency help to arrive.
Step 2. Determine the type of insect that stung you
First aid for a bee or wasp sting is determined by the type of insect that stung you. However, first aid for both insect stings includes treatments to relieve discomfort and swelling at the site of the sting.
Wasps don't leave their stingers in the skin, while honey bees (but not bumblebees) will leave their stingers broken
Step 3. Give first aid to the stinger without the stinger remaining
Wash the sting site gently with soap and water. Use cold water to reduce discomfort. Hot/warm water will speed up blood circulation to the site of the sting and make swelling worse. Then, apply an ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling. If you use ice, place a layer of towel between your skin and the ice to avoid the risk of skin problems from the cold. Apply an ice pack or cold pack for 20 minutes every hour until you feel better.
- If the sting is very itchy, you can use an oral antihistamine such as Benadryl to relieve it. Alternatively, a topical corticosteroid cream may also be used to reduce the histamine response at the site of the sting.
- If the sting is painful, you can use ibuprofen (Ifen) or paracetamol (Panadol) as needed. Follow the recommended dosage on the package.
Step 4. Give first aid to the stinger with the remaining stinger
First of all, you must remove the stinger from the skin. The stinger should be located in the middle of the sting. The venom bag on the stinger will continue to put the venom into your body after the bee has flown away. Do not pull out the stinger with your fingers or tongs. However, wash your hands, then pry stinger with fingernail and pull it out without pressing the poison pouch. You can also pry at the sting site with the tip of the ATM card to pull it out.
- Just like a wasp sting, wash the stung area with soap and water, apply a cold compress or an ice pack to the area to reduce swelling and discomfort. If you are using an ice pack, place a layer of towel between the ice and the skin to prevent damage to the skin tissue from the cold.
- Consider taking an antihistamine or over-the-counter topical corticosteroid to reduce the inflammation, itching, and discomfort from the sting.
Step 5. Provide home care
To treat a common sting that doesn't cause an allergic reaction (note below), home remedies after first aid will suffice. In most cases, signs and symptoms from the sting will subside within a few hours or 1-2 days. There are several home remedies that can relieve a wasp or bee sting. These treatments include:
- Make a paste of baking soda and water to apply to the sting. Baking soda can help soothe the sting, and reduce swelling and itching.
- Apply honey to the stung area to reduce swelling and discomfort. Honey has natural antibacterial properties.
- Crush a few cloves of garlic and apply the juice to the stung area. Garlic also has natural antibacterial properties.
- Lavender essential oil can help reduce the pain of bee and wasp stings when applied to the surface of the stung skin.
Step 6. Watch your symptoms for a while
In some people, the swelling and itching will subside within a few hours with mild reactions and home remedies. The more severe the reaction, the longer the symptoms will last. Observe for the following symptoms, which may occur minutes or 1 hour after the sting and indicate a severe reaction. Seek help if you experience any of these.
- Stomach pain
- Anxiety
- Difficulty breathing and wheezing
- Tightness and discomfort in the chest
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizzy
- Urticaria and itching of the skin
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Difficulty speaking
- Swelling of the face, tongue, or eyes
- Unconscious
- Note that unusual reactions to bee and wasp stings have also been reported, including symptoms lasting for months, serum sickness, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and secondary parkinsonism (symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease) after anaphylactic shock. However, reactions to bee or wasp stings are very rare.
Part 2 of 2: Recognizing the Sting
Step 1. Distinguish between bees and wasps
While bees and wasps are very similar in that they both have painful stings, you need to know and recognize the differences between them in order to provide the appropriate treatment. Bees and wasps are members of the insect order Hymenoptera (or membranous wings), but their appearance and lifestyle are different:
- The bodies of wasps and bees have different proportions. The body length of the bee is about 2.5 cm and the entire body may be black, black or brown with yellow stripes. Bees are also hairy. Meanwhile, wasps have smaller waists and smooth, shiny skin. Bees also have 2 wings, while wasps have 4 wings.
- Bee colonies are much larger with a population of more than 75,000 individuals, while wasps live in colonies of less than 10,000 individuals. Wasps hibernate during the winter, while bees do not, although they only stay in their hives during the winter. Wasps cannot produce honey, but all species of bees can. Bees eat pollen and plant starches, meanwhile, although they also eat pollen, wasps also eat other insects.
- Honey bees can only sting once. After that, the stinger breaks so that it remains in your skin and detaches from the bee's body. The honey bee will die after attacking. On the other hand, wasps or bumblebees can sting multiple times.
Step 2. Observe the appearance of the sting
Bee and wasp stings may appear very similar. Unless you see a stinging insect, it can be difficult to know for sure, so knowing where to look for a sting wound may be helpful.
- You will feel an instantaneous stabbing pain at the site of the sting.
- Red bumps will appear within a few minutes.
- A small white dot will appear in the center of the sting bump.
- The area around the sting will swell slightly.
- Look for a stinger in the center of the reddened area to determine if the sting was caused by a honey bee.
- Give treatment according to the sting and the reaction that occurs in your body.
Step 3. Do not disturb the bees and wasps
Bees are usually docile and will only attack when disturbed, while wasps are naturally more aggressive predators. In general, you should stay calm while around bees and wasps. Walk slowly away from areas around wasps and bees. Hitting bees and wasps can actually cause them to sting you. Keeping wasps and bumblebees out of your yard is the best way to avoid getting stung.
- Wasps and bumblebees are attracted to drinks, food, and sweet litter. Take out your picnic lunch when it's ready to eat and throw it away as soon as you're done so that these insects don't come near. Check the contents of all foods and drinks before eating to avoid stinging the inside of the mouth.
- Close the trash can tightly so that insects don't gather in it and attack you when you open it.
- Never garden in yellow, white, or flowery clothes as these can attract insects. Try wearing red because bees and wasps can't see it. Don't wear loose-fitting clothing that would allow bees and wasps to get trapped inside.
- Reduce the use of scents that attract insects such as perfume, cologne, scented soap, hair spray, and other fragrances.
- Don't walk barefoot. Bees and wasps are commonly found on the ground.
- Do not leave outdoor lights on longer than necessary at night. The lights will attract insects and their predators, such as wasps.
- Do not press the wasp body. The wasp's body will issue a chemical alarm that summons other wasps in the vicinity to attack. Similarly, when a bee stings, a chemical that summons other bees in the vicinity is released.
Tips
- Make sure the cause of your sting is a bee or wasp. If any of the stinger remains in the skin, be sure not to apply pressure to it.
- Most localized reactions to bee or wasp stings will improve within a few hours.
- Observe your allergic response to the sting. If emergency help is needed, immediately call the local emergency department telephone number.
