![]() Honey bee stings Microscope magnified image of a queen wasp's stinger, showing stylus and barbed lancets The left side of the image shows the ≈4 ☌ (7 ☏) temperature increase (saturated red zone) caused by a bee sting after about 28 hoursĪ honey bee that is away from the hive foraging for nectar or pollen will rarely sting, except when stepped on or roughly handled. While bee stinger venom is slightly acidic and causes only mild pain in most people, allergic reactions may occur in people with allergies to venom components. The reaction of a person to a bee sting may vary according to the bee species. ![]() Bee stings differ from insect bites, with the venom of stinging insects having considerable chemical variation. Those at risk can get a prescription for an epi-pen, which allows you to administer epinephrine yourself if you have a severe reaction.The stinger of a honey bee separated from the body and attached to a protective dressingĪntihistamine, epinephrine (for allergic reaction)Ī bee sting is the wound and pain caused by the stinger of a female bee puncturing skin. If you've had a mild or moderate allergic reaction to an insect sting before, you should discuss this with your doctor, as this may increase your risk for anaphylaxis in the future. This counteracts the hormones your body releases in response to the sting and prevents your body from going into shock, Cutler says. In the case of anaphylaxis, you must be treated with an adrenaline injection, known as epinephrine. ![]() Signs of anaphylaxis can occur within minutes of a sting and include: It's estimated that 90 to 100 Americans die every year due to anaphylaxis from an insect sting. In fact, about 3% of adults who experience insect stings develop a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which does require immediate medical attention. But some allergic reactions are more severe. Swelling in other areas of your body, in addition to the sting siteĪccording to Cutler, most allergic reactions are mild or moderate, and can still be treated at home with antihistamines and ice.Excessive itchiness that persists past a few hours.Signs of an allergic reaction from a bee sting include: What to do if you have an allergic reactionĪbout 5% to 7.5% of Americans will experience an allergic reaction to an insect sting at some points in their lives, according to the Journal of Asthma and Allergy. Once the stinger is removed, wash the site with soap and water.Īfter you remove the stinger, you can use a few remedies to treat the pain, itchiness, and swelling that can accompany a bee sting. Don't try to pull the stinger out with tweezers or your fingers - this could result in even more venom squeezing into the skin.ģ. ![]() Use a scraping motion with a flat, blunt object like a credit card across the affected area to remove the stinger.Ģ. But if a honey bee stings you and the stinger remains in your skin, it can continue to pump toxins into your body, which will make symptoms worse if it's not removed.ġ. You won't need to remove a stinger if you're stung by a wasp, hornet, or carpenter bee. Other types - like carpenter bees, or venomous insects like wasps - have smooth stingers that stay attached to the insect, and they can sting you multiple times before flying away. Some types of bees - like honey bees - have barbed stingers that remain in your skin. You'll see a small black dot at the sting site, if so. First, it's important to immediately remove the stinger from your skin, if it's still there.
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