Summer is a time for outdoor activities, picnics and enjoying everything nature has to offer. However, it’s also a time when encounters with bees and wasps become more frequent. While these insects play an important role in the ecosystem, their stings can be painful and sometimes dangerous. Understanding how to treat insect stings and when to seek medical attention is crucial for staying safe during your outdoor summer adventures.
“In most cases, stings from bees and wasps are only annoying, and cause a brief, sharp pain along with slight swelling and redness,” said Dr. Roopa Shah, a family medicine provider at SSM Health. “But if you're allergic, a more severe reaction, called anaphylaxis, can occur and needs to be treated by a healthcare provider.”
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention for an allergic reaction:
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness and nausea
- Itching and hives throughout the body
- Significant swelling and redness that extends beyond the sting site
- Swelling of the throat and tongue
- Stomach cramps and diarrhea
- Rapid fall in blood pressure which can result in shock
First Aid for Bee and Wasp Stings
“A bee sting leaves behind a stinger attached to a venom sac,” Dr. Shah said. “The stinger continues to release venom into the skin so it’s important to remove it right away.”
Follow the steps below to treat a bee sting:
- Remove the stinger: Use your fingernails or flat object to scrape away the stinger. Don't squeeze the area as that can cause more venom to be pushed in.
- Clean the area: Wash the sting site with soap and water to prevent infection.
- Apply a cold pack: This helps reduce pain and swelling. Use it for 10-15 minutes at a time.
- Take pain relievers: Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage pain.
- Use topical treatments: Hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion can alleviate itching and inflammation.
“Wasps, including yellow jackets and hornets, do not leave behind a stinger so there is no need to remove anything,” Dr. Shah said. “But the rest of the treatment is the same as a bee sting.”
Preventing Bee and Wasp Stings
Prevention is the best strategy when it comes to bee and wasp stings. Here are some tips to avoid these painful encounters:
- Be careful when drinking sweet beverages outside. Use cups with lids or water bottles with straws. Inspect cans and straws before drinking from them.
- Tightly cover food containers and trash cans and clean up dirty dishes and food when you're done eating so they don't attract stinging insects.
- Avoid wearing floral-scented perfume and lotions, as well as bright colors or floral prints, which can attract stinging insects.
- Be careful when mowing the lawn or trimming vegetation, which might disturb a beehive or wasp nest. If you come across a nest or hive, leave it alone.
- If a few bees are flying around you, remain calm and slowly walk away. Swatting at an insect may cause it to sting.
Bee and wasp stings are common in the summer but knowing how to handle them is key. SSM Health’s team of healthcare providers are happy to help keep you and your family healthy and safe this summer.
