This usually happens quickly (within 10 or 15 minutes) after a sting. AnaphylaxisĪ severe allergic reaction, also called anaphylaxis, can be fatal. This is more likely if the person has been stung before. Only about 5% of the population in the U.S.
#BEE STING REMEDY NPR SKIN#
It’s important to be able to tell the difference between expected skin irritation from a bee sting and an allergic reaction. These symptoms develop within a few minutes and can last for a few days. Itchiness: Stings from ants can be particularly itchy.īleeding: Sometimes the stinger can go deep enough to cause mild bleeding. Warmth: The site of the sting may feel warm to the touch. Swelling: There may be swelling and redness to the area around the sting. Pain: Stings of bees, wasps, and hornets tend to cause pain immediately. Other times, as with a child, you may only see the reaction afterward. Most people recognize the moment they’re stung - and what insect did it. Topical hydrocortisone: If you prefer not to take a pill, a corticosteroid cream, like hydrocortisone, can help with the swelling and itchiness. Pain medications: A dose of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help relieve the pain. These include:Īntihistamines: A dose of an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can help with itching and swelling. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help with the pain, itching, and swelling. This protects your skin from cold injury. Use the ice pack for no more than 20 minutes each hour. Apply iceĪn ice pack on the area can help with pain and to reduce swelling. For this reason, also avoid using tweezers to remove it. This method keeps you from squeezing any remaining venom into the skin.
So use something like a credit card in a gentle, scraping fashion to remove it. If you see a small, black dot on the skin, this is likely the stinger. Sometimes bees leave their stinger behind - this isn’t the case with other hymenoptera. This will allow you to take care of yourself or someone else. So pause for a moment to take a deep breath. This can be harder than it seems, especially because stings tend to be quick and unexpected. Here are the immediate steps you can take: Stay calm In the moments right after a sting, it can be hard to remember what to do next.
#BEE STING REMEDY NPR HOW TO#
We’ll walk you through the steps to care for a bee or wasp sting and how to tell if you have a more serious reaction. Whether you’ve had a bee sting before, it’s helpful to know the best ways to treat a sting. But for a small number of people the reaction can be more severe. For many, it causes irritation, swelling, and redness. There are over 130,000 species of hymenoptera, and most people experience a sting at some point in their lives. Bugs with stingers - like bees, wasps, hornets, and ants - belong to a group of insects called hymenoptera.
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