How To Treat A Bee Sting

Honey is probably the sweetest thing on earth. However, the makers of the honey are not all that pleasant. Bees can be horribly deadly or painful if they sting you, depending on whether you are allergic to their venom or not. They can attack you without mercy, and you might just come away from the encounter looking more swollen than their hives.

The best way to approach bees is by wearing protective clothing. However, there are chances of you getting stung if you are probably going on a trek, or just taking a walk. All that’s needed is a bee which is disturbed. The main point to keep in mind if you are stung by a bee is react quickly. When bees sting they put out a scent that attract other bees. If you happen to be in the vicinity, you will be stung again.

Bee Sting Treatment

To being with, put as much distance between yourself and the bee(s) as possible. You don’t want to be stung again!

If there are any stingers embedded in your skin, remove them immediately. Don’t scrape them off. You could just pull them out with your fingers or with a pair of tweezers. If you do not pull the stingers out at the earliest, the effects of the sting will be more potent. Do not squeeze the stinger since it would push more venom into your body.

If you are allergic to bees and do not have any emergency treatment on you, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Go straight to the emergency room.

Watch for any itching, hives, shortness of breath or redness that could appear. If this happens, antihistamines can be used to slow down reactions until you get to the hospital.

If you are not allergic to bees, you would most often find that you would develop local reactions to the sting. These would include swelling, redness, and pain, which will all usually go away quite soon. Swelling may last for a day, for which an ice pack can be applied.

In case of itching at the place of the sting, calamine lotions will help soothe the spot. Antihistamines are also effective.

If you have been stung more than ten times or if you have been stung inside your mouth, nose, or throat, you should go to the emergency room immediately. Shortness of breath is common in these cases, even if you are not allergic to bees.

Pain can be relieved by judicious use of acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Bee sting swabs are available to dull the pain. This can be applied if there is tenderness at the site of the sting.

If the stinger has been embedded deep into your skin, and if you are unable to remove it, visit a doctor even if you are not allergic to bees.