Wasp sting treatment. If you are bitten by a wasp or a bee, when to go to the hospital. Relieving puffiness and swelling

What to do at home if a person is bitten by a wasp - this problem is especially relevant in the hot summer months. Young children and older people do not always tolerate this without consequences. For a person prone to developing an allergic reaction, a wasp sting can be fatal. Allergists estimate that about 10% of people are allergic to wasp venom. According to statistics, 1 child in 100 is at risk of developing anaphylactic shock after a wasp attack.

From year to year, wasps become more and more aggressive and dangerous, as they collect substances in fields treated with various insecticides, herbicides, etc. Not a single expert study can fully explain the fact why modern insects are so radically different from those that were 50 years ago. Patients are increasingly seeking medical help after contact with a “striped fly” and do not know what to do if they are bitten by a wasp or bee.

For a healthy person, a lethal dose of wasp venom is equivalent to 500 insect bites. But for an allergy sufferer who suffers from a painful reaction to wasp venom, even 1 sting can lead to tragic consequences.

Wasp venom is a clear, colorless liquid that tastes bitter. It contains biological substances, a small amount of which can cause a number of pathophysiological reactions.

A lethal dose of wasp venom is equivalent to 500 stings

Composition of the poison:

  • 30% dry matter,
  • biogenic amino acids,
  • polypeptides,
  • enzymes.

The composition of wasp venom may differ depending on which continent the insects live on. In foreign countries, for example, cross-reactions with ant poison may occur. The aggression of the venom depends on the composition of the antigen, the age of the wasp or bee, and the weather.

The greatest danger is stinging in the oral mucosa. In this case, the insect does not spare the poison, as it is frightened by the cramped conditions. As a result, the tongue or, even worse, the larynx swells. In the case of swelling of the tongue, there is nothing fatal, while swelling of the larynx can lead to suffocation. Also, don’t think long about what to do if a wasp bites you on the neck. In this case, immediate medical attention is required.

Symptoms

After a wasp sting, a local reaction in the form of swelling occurs on the affected area of ​​the skin. When stung into the soft tissues of the face, the swelling is more pronounced. It should be remembered that people with weak immune systems, young children, the elderly and people with allergies are most vulnerable when coming into contact with stinging insects.

Swelling appears in the bite area. Characterized by redness and itching

In addition to swelling, the following signs may appear:

  • painful sensations in the bite area;
  • swelling;
  • redness of the affected skin area;
  • increased body temperature, fever (read in this publication how effective they are for children);
  • periodic itching;
  • rash.

In a normal course, all these signs disappear without a trace after just a few days, while allergy sufferers can suffer from a bite for several weeks.

In addition to standard symptoms, a person suffering from allergies may experience tachycardia, severe shortness of breath, chills and even short-term loss of consciousness. This condition is unsafe for human life and requires immediate medical attention.

How to treat a bite

Even if a person does not suffer from allergies, he still needs to know what to do at home if he is bitten by a wasp, especially a child. The stings are very painful, the pain is stronger than from a bee. Relieving pain is the main task. In hot and sunny summers, you also need to know the rules of first aid for sunstroke and heatstroke. Read more in the material.

First aid

The affected area should be washed and a cold compress applied.

Let's find out what to do if a wasp bites an arm, leg (the most common cases) or another part of the body:

  1. Rinse the affected area with cold water to remove dirt and any remaining poison. You can also apply a cold compress or a piece of ice.
  2. Disinfect the wound - alcohol, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, etc. will do.
  3. If swelling and itching intensify, then lubricate the affected area with an antihistamine such as Fenistil gel. Alternative option- Apply a piece of cloth soaked in vinegar.
  4. Take Suprastin, Claritin, Loratadine tablets to avoid allergy complications.
  5. In case of anaphylactic shock or angioedema, seek medical help immediately. While waiting for the medical team, the victim needs to take a supine position, placing his legs at a level above his head.
  6. In case of general intoxication of the body, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids - this may be plain water or very sweet tea.

There is no need to try to pick at the wound to find the sting, because only bees leave them.

What to do if a wasp bites a child? First, give an antihistamine according to the age category, then disinfect the wound and use folk remedies (lemon juice, onion, vinegar) to neutralize the poison.

How to treat the affected area

Allergy to wasp venom

Insect venom releases histamine and other components that trigger the onset of an allergic reaction. Therefore, you need to know what to do if a wasp bites you and a person’s arm or leg swells.

Allergies are divided into several degrees of severity:

  • Mild degree. Redness and swelling at the site of the bite (a normal reaction of the body).
  • Average degree. Redness and swelling, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, etc.
  • Severe degree. Anaphylactic shock develops. In this case, immediate medical attention is required.

The increased risk of developing a severe anaphylactic allergy reaction most often occurs in people with chronic heart problems and asthmatics. If a local allergic reaction occurs (swelling around the bite site), you must do the following:

  1. Take an antihistamine as soon as possible. It blocks the action of histamine, a substance that is released by some cells in the body during an allergic reaction.
  2. Apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. You can use a piece of cloth or an ice bag.
  3. What to do if a wasp has bitten your finger and a person experiences excruciating discomfort throughout his entire arm: Analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen will help, they relieve pain.
  4. If a severe allergic reaction develops, the allergic person must be given adrenaline.

In the next video, a candidate of medical sciences will tell you how to provide assistance with a wasp sting.

Allergy tests

To diagnose an allergy to insect venom, a skin test or blood tests for specific IgE antibodies are performed. The only way to alleviate the symptoms of an allergic reaction is to systematically administer small doses of insect venom. This procedure is performed in a hospital or outpatient setting. Your doctor will give you an injection regularly to help keep your immune system functioning properly. This treatment lasts 5 years and guarantees a 90% result.

If the swelling becomes more and more, this is a reason to consult a doctor.

If an anaphylactic reaction occurs, allergy tests with a type of insect allergen should be performed 2-3 weeks after the bite.

Depending on the body's reaction, the degree of the allergic reaction is determined. If the first test is negative, it should be repeated after 4-6 weeks. Such manipulations should only be performed by an experienced allergist, who can skillfully prevent the development of allergies during the test.

When to Seek Medical Help

After a bite, you need to listen to your body and monitor your well-being. The body's reaction to poison is individual for everyone. and proceeds differently. You should seek medical help in the following cases:

  • the general condition of the victim has deteriorated sharply;
  • the swelling does not subside, but, on the contrary, becomes larger (read about the reasons);
  • the temperature rises, convulsions appear;
  • pronounced allergy symptoms are noticeable;
  • a person was attacked by several wasps at once;
  • the insect stung the soft tissues of the face (tongue, larynx);
  • wasp stung in the eye;
  • an anaphylactic reaction develops.

Common mistakes in first aid

  • Drink alcohol. Alcohol causes swelling and worsens symptoms.
  • Squeeze out the poison. This may lead to spread of infection throughout the body, which will significantly worsen the victim’s condition.
  • Leaving a person alone in a state of anaphylactic shock. In this case, you must wait for the ambulance and not leave the victim.

Prevention

No one is immune from wasp stings and it is very difficult to completely avoid an insect attack. However, you can minimize this risk by following certain precautions:

  • put mosquito nets on the windows;
  • during outdoor recreation, carefully check food and drinks before consumption, especially sweet ones;
  • use repellents or special candles;
  • do not walk barefoot on flowering grass;
  • on hot days outdoors give preference to clothes in light, muted colors: bright, colorful things attract the attention of wasps;
  • walk around places where hives and garbage cans are located;
  • do not overdo it with perfume;
  • do not make sudden movements near wasps;
  • carefully pick up fruits that have fallen from the tree;
  • Do not try to kill, hit or drive away insects, because this will only provoke their attack.

People who are allergic to wasp venom, young children, and children of parents with allergies are at particular risk. Elderly people should be especially careful when encountering wasps. Their reaction to a sting may be unexpected.

Wasps are not the only danger that awaits people while relaxing in nature. Go to to find out what the first symptoms and signs of heatstroke are. You can also learn all about the symptoms of sunstroke and its dangers for children and adults.

conclusions

Symptoms of a wasp sting can range from redness and itching to nausea, vomiting and difficulty breathing. Therefore, it is important to avoid insect attacks, especially for allergy sufferers. But if this does happen, the affected area needs to be washed and disinfected, and both pharmacy and folk remedies are suitable to relieve swelling. Antihistamines will relieve the development of an allergic reaction. In severe cases, medical attention may be required.

From the following video you will learn in what cases you should definitely consult a doctor after a wasp sting.

How to treat a wasp sting at home

Greetings! This summer we went to Sol-Iletsk.

We were lured there by salty ponds, but what we liked most were the juicy, delicious watermelons, of which we took a couple of them home. And here we are sitting in the gazebo, eating one of the watermelons, when the child begins to scream heart-rendingly.

Wasps flew to the scent, and one of them bit the child. You will say that it is just a wasp, harmless. But I still prefer to play it safe, so I want to tell you how to treat a wasp sting at home.

Bitten by a wasp - what to do at home

Wasps are literally everywhere where people live. At the adult stage, most wasps grow to 2.5 cm in length. The wasp is characterized by a yellow-black striped color and a poisonous sting. Wasps are most active from early spring to late autumn, during which time they are very dangerous to people.

While defending the nest, she can sting aggressively. The sting of a wasp or even several wasps cannot kill a person; for this to happen, the stings must occur several hundred times. At the site of wasp bites on the body, there are a kind of pale spots that initially itch and a strong burning sensation is felt. Swelling may appear within a few hours, followed by an abscess within a few days.

People who are allergic to wasp venom may experience circulatory problems, shortness of breath, and in the worst case, even collapse. Wasps are most aggressive in late summer when the weather begins to deteriorate and rain begins to fall and the larvae have grown into adults. Early autumn is the worst time to watch for these insects, especially if you are going to walk in a forest or field.

On the territory of Russia, from the order of poisonous hymenoptera insects, the honey bee (Apis melifera, or melifica) and the bumblebee (Bombus) are found, they belong to the bee family (Apidae), and the flower wasps (Masarinae) and the hornet (Vespa) belong to the family Vespidae. ).

All four species are representatives of the order Hymenoptera insects (Hymenoptera) and are poisonous. When bitten, a toxic liquid is released from the insect's ovipositor, located at the rear end of the abdomen.

Why is it dangerous?

In Russia, there are more than 50 deaths per year, mainly from bee stings (domestic and wild) and wasps; less often from stings of hornets and, extremely rarely, bumblebees. The cause of death from a wasp sting is an allergic reaction to the poison with the development of anaphylactic shock.

A similar outcome is possible even if a person is bitten by just one insect. A severe clinical course is observed with multiple insect bites, reaching several tens or even hundreds. This happens, for example, when a person is attacked by a swarm of bees or wasps.

Such attacks occur when insects feel threatened and the existence of the colony is threatened. The signal for each individual to attack is the perception of an alarm pheromone, a special substance secreted by insects when they sense danger.

Honey bees can only sting once because their stinger is serrated and remains embedded in the victim's skin. Having lost the sting and the sac of poison, the bee dies. Wasps, unlike bees, have a smooth sting and when a wasp bites, it manages not only to remove it, but to sting the victim again.

What does it look like

A wasp sting is slightly different from other hymenopteran insect stings (such as bees). This is due to the peculiarity of the wasp's sting, as well as the stronger toxins of the venom. So, let's look at the photo:


  • Upon examination there is a bite mark, but no sting,
  • First appears around the wound White spot,
  • After 1-2 minutes, redness and signs of irritation appear,
  • A blister may appear
  • After 10-15 minutes, swelling and swelling occurs, spreading upward and to the sides.
  • Burning and severe pain in the wound.

Chemical composition of the poison. In terms of the chemical composition, the venom of the four hymenopteran insects presented is very similar and differs little. The composition of bee venom includes enzymes - phospholipase-A2, hyaluronidase, phosphatases and polypeptide-melittin, protease inhibitors and a number of biologically active substances.

Phospholipase-A2, hyaluronidase, alkaline phosphatase and melittin exhibit antigenic properties, which are associated with the development of the main pathogenic reactions to bee venom, in particular anaphylactic shock.

Melittin (composed of 26 amino acid residues) is the main toxic component. Molecular weight - 2840. Damages cell membranes, causes hemolysis, cytolysis, has an antibiotic effect; slows down blood clotting.

In a general reaction to bee venom, an IgE-dependent anaphylactic reaction develops with local redness and blister formation; IgE is produced by plasma cells and is present in trace concentrations in the blood.

An immunological reaction occurs to bee venom (hapten) as to a foreign protein, and an antibody is formed as part of IgE. IgE is fixed, in particular, on mast cells and basophils. It leads to the release of histamine, heparin and other biologically active substances. Mast cells serve as the primary target cells of an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of a wasp sting

Local manifestations and systemic reactions of the body when a person is bitten by a bee, wasp, hornet or bumblebee are caused by both exogenous toxicants and endogenous biologically active substances formed as a result of their action.

  1. When a wasp stings, there is a sharp cutting pain and burning sensation.
  2. The bite site is clearly visible due to the rapidly developing redness and swelling of the skin, with the gradual formation of a blister.
  3. Soon signs of inflammation appear - hyperemia, local hyperthermia, etc.
  4. Within 15-30 minutes, all unpleasant sensations subside, but local manifestations persist for several hours.

In case of numerous wasp bites or existing hypersensitivity of the body, the following are added:

  • headache,
  • pain in the lower back and joints,
  • dizziness,
  • general weakness,
  • nausea,
  • Vomiting and chills are possible.

The severity of the lesion is determined by the areas of aggression: it is most severe when bitten on the neck, face, or scalp. In addition to the local reaction, wasp stings can lead to severe general reactions, in particular allergic (hyperergic) reactions. They usually appear as:

  • skin or skin-articular lesions (urticaria, arthralgia),
  • anaphylactic shock,
  • Quincke's edema,
  • swelling of the larynx,
  • associated asphyxia or
  • in the form of bronchospasm or
  • asthmatic reaction.

Any of these reactions or syndromes can develop immediately, within the first minutes after a wasp sting, or later - 30-120 minutes. Therefore, the development of any of these allergic manifestations should be considered as a signal for intensive therapy, even if they are mild. Treatment must be carried out in a hospital.

With multiple bites (100-300 bites), capillary permeability increases and intravascular hemolysis develops. Stings from a large number of bees and wasps, especially large ones, as well as hornets, can lead to organ dysfunction.

In severe cases, toxic effects in victims cause: acute hemolysis, adult RDS, liver dysfunction, acute necrosis of skeletal muscles (myoglobinemia), arterial hypertension.

Under the influence of phospholipase-A2 and melittin contained in the venom, a significant amount of endogenous catecholamines enters the bloodstream. If their concentration is significant, there is a high risk of myocardial damage.

The release of catecholamines leads to arterial hypertension, followed by persistent hypotension, bradycardia, possible myocardial ischemia, and bronchospasm. Intoxication is manifested by psychomotor agitation, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Attention!

Sometimes necrosis of skin areas affected by wasp bites occurs. Tension swelling can lead to rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuric nephrosis and acute renal failure.

In the early period of intoxication, death can occur from cardiovascular and respiratory failure, in a later period - from acute renal failure.

What to do at home

Unlike bees, there is no need to remove the sting after a wasp sting. We need to focus on neutralizing the effects of the poison. Make sure there are no allergic reactions. For people allergic to wasps, symptoms are visible immediately after the sting. This is important to avoid anaphylactic shock, which can lead to cardiac arrest and death.

If you or your child are stung by a wasp, you should immediately take measures to prevent the spread of the poison and relieve pain. Place ice or a cloth soaked in cold water on the bite site. If you are using ice, first wrap it in a cloth and then place it on the sore area. You need to keep it on the bite site for approximately 30 minutes.

Soak a cotton swab or paper towel in the acid solution. You can use for this purpose lemon juice or vinegar. Wet the piece so that the liquid gets inside the hole after the insect bite. The acidic liquid neutralizes the poison and brings relief.

Apply cold cream to the bite area to reduce the burning sensation after applying the acid solution. Over-the-counter antihistamines can reduce inflammation and itching after a wasp sting.

Use extreme caution when eating or drinking. If you didn't notice wasps sitting on them and put them in your mouth, the irritated insect may sting you in the mouth. In this case, to minimize pain and swelling, start sucking on ice. A bite in the mouth may immediately cause an allergic reaction and immediate action should be taken.

Traditional recipes for wasp bites:

  • Lavender. It reduces the risk of infection caused by bites. In addition, it reduces pain. One of the most effective forms is lavender essential oil. Just soak a cotton swab in the oil and apply it to the bite site.
  • Parsley. Has natural antibacterial properties that help prevent infection and reduce itching and pain. Place some parsley leaves in a mortar and pestle. Apply to the bite site. Keep until symptoms subside.
  • Calendula. Grind calendula flowers and apply to the bite site. This will help reduce pain and itching.
  • Basil. Grind 1-2 basil leaves in a mortar. Apply to skin. Leave it for a while.

Allergic reaction

If you notice any of these symptoms in a person who has been stung by a wasp, call immediately. ambulance, even if this person has never been allergic to insect bites.

  • Labored breathing
  • Swelling in the throat
  • Facial redness
  • Fever
  • Cardiopalmus
  • Dizziness, fainting, or confusion
  • Stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Swelling of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, eyes and neck
  • Infrequent or rapid breathing

How to treat

When carrying out treatment, it is necessary to check whether the sting remains in the wound. As a rule, the wasp does not leave a sting in the wound. The venom from the sac may continue to enter the bloodstream for several hours or days, and therefore must be removed.

The sting cannot be removed by squeezing, as this will lead to rupture of the sac and rapid release of toxins into the general bloodstream. The sting and pouch are removed with anatomical or manicure tweezers.

The wound is treated with an antiseptic solution (alcohol, iodine, soap solution, cologne). Cold is applied. If inflammation spreads to the entire limb, analgesics, antibiotics and ointments with glucocorticoids are prescribed.

How to relieve swelling and swelling after a wasp sting. Swelling and swelling at the site of the sting occurs due to the inflammatory neurotransmitter (histamine) that is released in response to the wasp toxin. This is a physiological reaction that goes away on its own after 48-72 hours. However, you can relieve or alleviate unpleasant symptoms with the help of cold.

Immediately apply ice wrapped in a clean cotton cloth to the wound and hold for 20 minutes. You can then apply a cold compress with baking soda or vinegar. It is also good to take antihistamines - suprastin, diphenhydramine, which prevent allergies and the spread of edema.

How to relieve itching and burning. The cause of itching and burning in the wound is the same. Allergic reaction and histamine release. Taking antihistamines, as well as local treatment, will help relieve unpleasant symptoms. Ointments Fenestil and those containing prednisolone alleviate the condition. You can lubricate the wound with an acidic solution - lemon juice, vinegar, or apply a plantain leaf or a piece of apple.

How to treat a wasp sting the next day. There is usually no need to treat the bite the next day. After 24 hours, the burning sensation, pain subsides and swelling decreases. It is enough to lubricate it a few more times with fenestyl or another ointment with prednisolone. But it happens that a wasp sting causes an infection and inflammation begins.

Wasps are predators and feed not only on other insects, but also on carrion, fish or meat waste on garbage heaps. Therefore, if the wound was not disinfected on time or the victim has a weak immune system, cellulite occurs - inflammation of the subcutaneous fat. It is manifested by an increase in body temperature, severe redness of the wound area with redness and swelling spreading to the sides and upwards.

In this case, it is necessary to take antibiotics orally or even intravenously. Antibiotics are prescribed wide range action within 7-14 days. The doctor should prescribe treatment after examining the wound. Sometimes hospitalization may be required.

Prevention of bites: Light-colored clothing, floral designs on clothing, shiny jewelry, and the smell of perfumes and lotions attract insects.

Emergency assistance to victims. Emergency care for victims of wasp, bee or hornet stings involves immediately removing the sting with an injection needle or a sharp razor (but not with tweezers, as this may squeeze the poisonous contents into the skin).

These places, as well as places where mosquitoes and mosquitoes have bitten, should be lubricated with ether, alcohol or cologne, then with prednisolone ointment, after which an ice pack should be applied to them. This reduces pain, eliminates itching and prevents swelling, especially in children. It is advisable to take one of the antihistamines orally, for example diprazine or suprastin (0.025 g 2-3 times a day).

Medical care and treatment

In severe cases of intoxication and the development of an allergic reaction, intensive treatment is carried out. When anaphylactic shock develops, it is necessary to maintain patency of the victim's upper respiratory tract and restore blood pressure.

To maintain blood pressure, hemodynamic drugs are administered and fluid infusion is performed; Adrenaline is administered to expand the airways and vascular drugs (dopamine, dobutrex).

When wasp stings, a large amount of histamine is released, so antihistamines are administered: H1 and H2 blockers. The combination of two types of antihistamines is more effective than using only one. H1 blocker - diphenhydramine 1.5 mg/kg; H2 blocker - ranitidine.

Glucocorticoids (methylprednisolone 50 mg or hydrocortisone 200 mg), calcium chloride or calcium gluconate are administered intravenously.

In severe cases, GS and plasmapheresis are indicated to remove circulating components of the poison from the body. For rhabdomyolysis, to prevent the development of myoglobinuric nephrosis and acute renal failure, it is administered intravenously. alkaline solutions. In extremely severe cases, intractable shock develops and death occurs.

In the event of the appearance and increase of general manifestations of intoxication, it is recommended to provide assistance to the victims, as in the case of severe poisoning with snake toxins.

Attention!

If allergic reactions to insect stings occur, 1 ml of a 0.1% solution of adrenaline hydrochloride, a 0.2% solution of norepinephrine hydrotartrate or a 1% solution of mesatone should be immediately administered subcutaneously.

An ice pack should be applied to the bite site. It is advisable to administer 500-1000 ml of a 5% glucose solution in combination with prednisolone (40-60 mg) or hydrocortisone (120 mg), and orally - antihistamines in combination with analgin.

Victims are subject to hospitalization in the intensive care unit, therapeutic or pediatric department for any severity of an allergic reaction, even if such reactions have previously developed in the anamnesis in response to insect bites.

source: http://medicalit.ru/otravlenija/yady-zmej-ryb-nasekomyh/ukusila-osa-chto-delat/

Wasp sting: first aid

A wasp sting is actually a very unpleasant thing. Even one bite causes pain and burning, redness and swelling, which usually goes away within 1-2 hours. On the face, especially if the bite was near the eyes, swelling can last up to two days. If there are several bites, a general toxic reaction may begin.

Between 0.5 and 2% of people are hypersensitive to wasp stings. They can experience a severe allergic reaction even from one wasp sting: their body temperature rises, chills, headaches, difficulty breathing and attacks of suffocation appear. There may be cramping abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, severe weakness, loss of consciousness and convulsions develop.

And indeed this is small insect could ruin our entire vacation! Therefore, it is so important to know how first aid is provided for a wasp sting.

What you need to know about a wasp sting? Wasps can both bite and sting. They bite with their jaws, and the sting with which they inject their poison is located on their abdomen. Unlike bees, a wasp's sting does not get stuck in a person's skin, so the wasp can sting several times in a row. The wasp sting will remain in your wound only if you kill the wasp at the very moment when it stings you.

In any case, if a wasp stings, provide first aid to the victim:

  • If there is a sting left in the wound, carefully remove it with tweezers. Do not squeeze out the sting under any circumstances - this will lead to further more widespread poison.
  • Treat the bite site with either hydrogen peroxide, ammonia diluted with water (1:5), or a weak, slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate or water with salt (a teaspoon per glass).
  • Apply ice to the bite site. If there is no ice nearby, soak a handkerchief or towel in cold water and apply it to the bite.
  • The victim of a wasp sting should be given plenty of fluids.
  • You need to take an antihistamine.

Traditional medicine

If a wasp sting occurred suddenly and you do not have a first aid kit, this will help ethnoscience:

  • Treat the wasp sting with fresh urine. Fresh urine from a healthy person is sterile, so traditional treatment For bites, scratches, and burns, fresh urine is often used.
  • The bite can be soothed with plantain. The plantain leaf needs to be thoroughly mashed so that it releases juice and is applied to the site of the wasp bite. Change several times a day. Plantain will help relieve inflammation and swelling, and helps against all insect bites.
  • Fresh dandelion leaves act in the same way as plantain.
  • A raw onion will help against a wasp sting. Cut the onion in half and apply it to the bite site. You can use a cotton swab soaked in onion juice.
  • Tea tree essential oil will help with wasp stings. It has a strong antiseptic effect and is good for treating bites from all insects.

First aid for allergy sufferers

It is not the wasp's bite itself that is dangerous, but the poison that it injects under a person's skin through its sting. This poison is very toxic, especially for allergy sufferers. If you have a predisposition to a disease such as allergies, always in the summer have antihistamines with you for first aid for a wasp sting: diphenhydramine, suprastin, tavegil, claritin, etc.

If after taking the pill the allergic reaction continues to intensify, you should urgently consult a doctor, because For some people, wasp venom is such a strong allergen that it is fatal. In such cases, an adrenaline injection will help save your life.

How do you know if you are allergic to a wasp sting? This is easy to do by taking a test for specific immunoglobulin E. All allergy sufferers should definitely do this test! If an allergy to wasp venom is confirmed, then in addition to antihistamines, you should always have an ampoule of adrenaline and a syringe with you for immediate administration of the drug after a wasp sting.

In what cases, if you are stung by a wasp, should you immediately consult a doctor:

  1. If, after a wasp sting, the victim shows signs of an allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth or throat, difficulty speaking, excessive skin rash, weakness, confusion, fainting.
  2. If the victim is a child or an elderly person.
  3. If more than 10-20 bites are found on the body.
  4. If the wasp sting is in the eye area, in the mouth or throat.
  5. If you have previously been diagnosed with an allergy to a wasp sting.
  6. If signs of infection appear - fever, increasing pain, the appearance of an abscess at the site of the bite.

source: http://www.web-zdrav.ru/index.cgi/article?id=36406

Consequences and treatment of wasp stings

Wasp stings are common, especially during the warmer months, and a wasp sting can cause quite serious discomfort, although most people recover from a wasp sting quickly and without complications.

About 10 percent of those who are stung by a wasp develop widespread symptoms of illness called "major local reactions." Three percent of people stung by a wasp experience severe allergic reactions that can be life-threatening.

Wasps, like bees and hornets, are equipped with a means of self-defense such as a sting. The wasp sting contains a toxic venom that is transmitted to humans through the bite. Wasps can sting several times during an attack because their stingers remain intact. (A bee can only sting once because the bee's stinger gets stuck in the skin of its victim.) However, even without the stinger in the skin, wasp venom can cause pain and irritation.

Symptoms

Most people who are not allergic to wasp stings will experience only minor symptoms during and after a wasp sting. The initial sensations of a wasp sting may include a sharp pain or burning sensation at the site of the sting. Redness, slight swelling and itching appear a little later.

You will almost immediately see the site of the wasp bite. A tiny mark in the middle of the light-colored welt shows exactly where the stinger pierced your skin. Typically, the pain and swelling from a wasp sting subsides within a few hours.

"Major local reactions" is a term used to describe severe symptoms associated with wasp or bee stings. People who suffer large local reactions may be allergic to a wasp sting, but their symptoms are not life-threatening, such as anaphylactic shock after a wasp sting.

Major local reactions to insects include severe redness and swelling, which resolve within one or two days after the bite.

Most often, large local reactions subside on their own within a week or so. Tell your doctor if you have a large local reaction to a wasp sting. Your doctor will prescribe antihistamines to reduce discomfort.

Having a major local reaction to a wasp sting once does not necessarily mean you will react the same way to future stings. It is likely that such a violent reaction will happen to you only once in your life. On the other hand, the location of the wasp bite will be a big problem for you every time, so try to avoid encounters with wasps in order to avoid possible problems.

Anaphylactic shock

Severe allergic reactions to wasp stings are called "anaphylaxis." Only about three percent of the total population is allergic to wasps, bees, hornets and other stinging insects.

Anaphylactic shock occurs when the body goes into shock in response to wasp venom. Most people who experience shock after a wasp sting do so very quickly.

It is important to get immediate emergency help to treat anaphylaxis. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to bee, wasp, or bumblebee stings include:

  • severe swelling of the face, lips, or throat
  • hives or itching in an area of ​​the body where the sting did not occur
  • difficulty breathing, such as wheezing
  • dizziness
  • sudden drop in blood pressure
  • loss of consciousness
  • nausea or vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • stomach cramps
  • weak or, conversely, “crazy” pulse

You may experience all of these symptoms after a wasp and bee sting, but you will likely experience at least some of them after a subsequent sting. Experts believe that people who experience anaphylactic shock after one sting have a 30 to 60 percent chance of having the same reaction in the future, so they should know exactly what to do after a wasp sting.

Many people who have a history of anaphylaxis should always have a treatment kit on hand, which should contain epinephrine injections to be given after a wasp sting. Adrenaline relaxes your muscles and blood vessels, helping your breathing return to normal.

Treatment

Mild to moderate reactions to wasp stings can be treated at home. Wash the bite area with soap and water to remove as much venom as possible. Apply a cold compress to the wounds to reduce swelling and pain. Keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection.

Attention!

If the itching or irritation of the skin becomes bothersome, use hydrocortisone cream or sunburn cream to control the discomfort of a wasp sting. Mixture baking soda and oatmeal are handy additional ingredients that soothe the skin, and can be used in baths or as a medicated skin cream.

Pain relievers such as ibuprofen can control the pain associated with wasp stings. Antihistamines, including the regular diphenhydramine, can reduce itching. Take medications according to the manufacturer's directions to avoid possible side effects such as stomach irritation or drowsiness.

Severe allergic reactions to wasp stings require immediate medical attention; do not wait for it to “resolve on its own”; immediately take medications against allergies or anaphylactic shock. Treatment for severe allergic reactions to wasp stings may include:

  1. adrenaline injections to calm your immune system
  2. intravenous cortisone to reduce inflammation
  3. cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if breathing is intermittently interrupted
  4. oxygen, steroids or other medications to improve breathing

Complications

In rare cases, wasp stings can contribute to complications related to the nervous system. Patients experience muscle weakness, dilated pupils, and motor aphasia after a wasp sting. Motor aphasia is a disorder of speech and writing. Sometimes a wasp sting can cause thrombosis. All of these serious reactions to a wasp sting are extreme and, fortunately, very unlikely.

source: http://moskovskaya-medicina.ru/sovety/ukus-osy-posledstvie-i-lechenie.html

What to do if bitten by a wasp

During the warm season, various insects are activated, including wasps. It is for this reason that at the end of spring and summer, as well as at the very beginning of autumn, people are often exposed to wasp stings. They are very painful and, although rare, can even cause death.

A fatal outcome is possible if a person was attacked by several dozen insects or is allergic to wasp venom, and help after the bite was not provided in a timely manner. It is also worth remembering that wasps pose a great danger to children, whose bodies can react to them very differently.

Frequent encounters with wasps occur because these insects are attracted to the smells of food, as well as ripe berries and fruits. As a result of this, the wasps large quantities find themselves near people. Insects attracted by the smell can climb into bags, packages and dishes.

Also, a wasp can often sit on sweet fruits and berries, feasting on their pulp. If a person does not notice this striped creature in time and even crushes it a little or simply frightens it with a sharp movement, then the wasp, in defense, stings, releasing its poison under the skin. In the case where the wasp was not noticed on the product and it was taken into the mouth, the insect bite can be regarded as extremely dangerous.

Unlike bees, wasps do not die after being stung, since their sting does not remain in the skin of the victim. As a result of this, one insect can inflict several bites in a row, which is why the dose of poison in the body becomes quite high.

For this reason, with a severe allergic reaction, a number of those bitten may develop a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention, without which the person is likely to die.

How it manifests itself

The first manifestation of a bite is acute pain at the site of its application. After this, swelling quickly increases. Its size depends on how strong the local reaction to the insect venom will be.

In one stung person, the swelling may be quite insignificant and form only at the site of the bite, while in another it can spread far from the wound and be very impressive, disrupting the normal rhythm of life. In the vast majority of cases, the victim’s health is restored within 1 hour.

In some patients, due to the penetration of poison into the body, the development of anaphylactic shock, which has 4 degrees, is observed. With a mild degree of such shock, this condition cannot be called life-threatening, and the patient feels normal within a few hours after the bite. In such a case, symptoms of the body’s reaction to the bite include:

  • headache of varying intensity;
  • lethargy;
  • general mild weakness;
  • rapid pulse.

The victim of a bite should immediately be kept at rest and, if possible, given an antiallergic drug. If no deterioration is observed, then there is no need to call an ambulance.

With an average degree of damage, the following symptoms are added to the above symptoms: Quincke's edema; drop in blood pressure; breathing disorder. In this condition, a person needs professional medical help. Without it, there is a high risk of serious health consequences and even death.

A severe degree of damage poses a direct threat to the patient’s life, and in the absence of timely assistance, the risk of death of the victim is very high. Symptoms of this condition are:

  1. development of rapid cardiovascular failure;
  2. fainting;
  3. severe breathing difficulties;
  4. convulsions.

The victim requires urgent medical attention. Before the ambulance arrives, he should be put down. If possible, the patient should be given an antiallergic drug, but heart medications should not be offered until the doctors arrive.

An extremely severe degree of aphylactic shock is manifested by the rapid development of laryngeal edema, as well as almost instantaneous cardiac arrest. In such a situation, even with timely medical care, there is almost 100 percent mortality. This condition occurs extremely rarely and most often after a massive attack of wasps and in the presence of a particularly strong allergic reaction to their venom.

General rules of assistance

You can self-medicate only if the wasp sting is single and does not occur in the mucosal area. There is no need to look for a sting at the site of the bite, since the wasp does not leave it. After an encounter with an insect has occurred, resulting in a bite, you should provide yourself (or another victim) with the necessary assistance as quickly as possible according to the following scheme:

  • treat the bite site with an antiseptic (ideally, medical alcohol);
  • apply cold to the bite site to reduce swelling;
  • take an antihistamine;
  • drink 2 glasses of water after treating the wound and the same amount after 30 minutes;
  • lie down (preferably in a darkened room) for at least 1 hour.

During this time, the body will have time to cope with the received portion of the poison, and a large volume of water will contribute to the rapid elimination of toxins. Urgent medical attention is required if, despite all the measures taken, the victim’s health remains unsatisfactory. This indicates severe intolerance to wasp venom and an allergy to it (despite taking antihistamines).

If the wasp's victim is a child

Children become victims of wasps much more often than adults, since their curiosity often leads to close contact with this stinging insect. At the moment of the bite, the child experiences a very strong, burning pain, due to which the stung child may experience severe fright.

Adults near the affected person should not panic, as allergies to wasp venom are uncommon, even among young children.

Immediately after a child has been stung by a wasp, he must be calmed down and given first aid. You need to act as quickly as possible in order to prevent the poison from spreading throughout the body. When providing assistance, the following actions must be taken in the specified order:

  • give an antihistamine (when relaxing with children in nature, you should always have allergy medications with you);
  • to prevent the spread of poison, apply a tourniquet for 10 minutes (until the antiallergic drug is absorbed) above the bite site, if it was in the arm or leg;
  • treat the wound with an antiseptic;
  • wipe the bite site with a cotton swab soaked in lemon juice, which helps neutralize the wasp venom.

Swelling and itching at the bite site may persist for up to 3 days, which is considered normal. If these troubles continue longer, then you should immediately visit a doctor.

The greatest danger for a child is posed by wasp bites on the throat, face and ears, since in these places the vessels are located close to the surface of the skin, and therefore there is a high probability of an acute allergic reaction to insect venom, which, in the absence of urgent medical care, can cost the baby his life.

What to do if wasp bites in different parts of the body

Wasps can sting anywhere on the body, but they most often sting the arms, neck and tongue. This happens because the insect is usually pressed by taking some object on which it is sitting, eating fruit, or, as they say, driving a fly off its neck. It is these bites that should be considered in more detail.

What to do if your tongue is affected. Wasp bites on the tongue are considered the most dangerous, as they can lead to death in a few minutes, and even with an urgent visit to the hospital, it is not always possible to save the patient’s life. In order to sting the tongue, the insect must penetrate the oral cavity, which in the vast majority of cases occurs when eating sweet fruits, if the eater does not notice the wasp sitting there.

A bite to the tongue is particularly painful. Its main danger lies in the fact that, quickly swelling, the tongue blocks the pharynx, preventing the flow of oxygen into the lungs, which causes acute suffocation. With such a lesion, self-medication is unacceptable, and you need to urgently call an ambulance.

If there is no way to get medical help, then the victim should immediately be given antihistamines and an ice cube for resorption (ice, although not much, will reduce the swelling).

Bite on the neck. In terms of danger, a wasp sting on the neck ranks second, second only to a sting on the tongue. With such damage to the body, very rapid swelling of tissues also occurs, which causes blockage of oxygen access to the lungs and death from suffocation.

Attention!

In order to prevent such an outcome of an encounter with a wasp, you need to take antihistamines and apply a cool compress to the affected area and go to the hospital. Only with timely medical assistance can dangerous consequences be avoided. If a medical facility is located nearby, then it is better to immediately go there without wasting time on the compress.

Bite on the arm and body. Such a bite, if it is single, is not particularly dangerous and can be fully treated at home. Having provided first aid general rules, to quickly eliminate the consequences of a bite, you should use various home methods. When there is no allergy to the poison, then all manifestations of the bite completely disappear after 2 days.

Home remedies for treatment

In order to reduce discomfort after an unsuccessful encounter with a wasp, you need to know simple home methods to improve the condition of the victim.

To quickly relieve itching and pain, you can use fresh mint leaves. For treatment, you need to take 2-3 leaves, grind them to a pulp (in extreme cases, you can chew them) and apply to the sore spot for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the juice of the plant will have time to penetrate as deeply as possible into the skin and underlying tissues and eliminate unpleasant sensations. Re-application of mint is usually not required.

Tea tree essential oil is an excellent aid in treating wasp stings. It is enough to simply lubricate the bite site with it, and the pain will begin to subside almost instantly. In addition, swelling will also decrease.

If necessary, you can use the oil once every 2 hours. This natural medicine not only relieves pain and swelling, but also produces a pronounced disinfectant effect, which is why it can be applied instead of an alcohol antiseptic.

To relieve itching, which can be very severe in some victims, you can use a soda solution. In order to cook medicinal composition, you should take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and dissolve it in 1 glass of water. After this, moisten a bandage in the resulting preparation and apply it to the affected area for 30 minutes.

If the bandage dries too much, re-wet it. The procedure is carried out no more than once every 3 hours. If the burning sensation from the bite is unbearable, then you can use a gruel rather than a solution. To obtain it, a tablespoon of soda is diluted with water to form a paste, which is applied to the bite site. Leave it on for only 10–15 minutes due to its particularly strong effect.

If you use a piece of sugar immediately after a bite, this will quickly remove the wasp venom. In order to extract the maximum amount of insect venom from the wound, you should take a piece of sugar and, lightly moistening it with water, apply it directly to the wound left by the sting. You need to keep the sugar for at least 25 minutes. During this time, it will draw out the poison, due to which it will be possible to avoid very severe swelling.

A bandage with vodka will prevent the bite from becoming infected and reduce swelling. It is enough to simply bandage the sore spot with a sterile bandage, generously soaked in the drink. When the bite site is very painful and hot, you can use tomato pulp to solve this problem. Vegetable small size simply cut in half, and a slice is cut from a large tomato.

Part of the tomato is applied to the sore spot and secured with a bandage. This natural medicine should be left on for 30–40 minutes. After removing the tomato, the sore spot is examined and, if severe pain is still felt, a new portion of tomato is added.

Parsley allows you to quickly remove pain and swelling after an encounter with a wasp. For treatment, several branches of this herbs You need to chew it well and apply the resulting mass to the sore spot. Parsley should be secured to the bite with a bandage or piece of cloth and left for 1 hour. In the vast majority of cases, after removing the bandage, the swelling almost completely disappears.

When in home medicine cabinet There are aspirin tablets; getting rid of the consequences of a bite is not very difficult. If 10 minutes have not passed since you received the bite, crush 1 tablet to a powder and add a little water.

The result should be a dense paste. It is applied to the sore spot and left to act for 1 hour. During this time, the drug will completely relieve pain and neutralize the effect of the poison as much as possible.

What is strictly forbidden to do

Often victims of wasps make mistakes that cause serious complications of the bite, which are quite difficult to cope with. Many people confuse a wasp sting with a bee sting and begin to actively look for the sting, picking at the wound and introducing infection into it. In no case should we forget that the sting is left only by the bee. In addition, the following actions in relation to a wasp sting are strictly prohibited:

  • squeezing out poison;
  • suction of poison;
  • scratching the bite;
  • thermal cauterization of the bite;
  • drinking alcohol internally.

All of the above will only worsen the patient’s condition.

How to prevent

Wasps almost never attack first and bite only for protection. Wasps consider aggression not only a direct attack on them, but also sudden movements, so you should be careful when driving away the annoying insect. To minimize the risk of a wasp sting, you should:

  • avoid being in places where wasps are crowded;
  • carefully inspect all products when they are consumed outdoors or after purchasing from an open counter;
  • refuse to walk barefoot in places where wasp dwellings may be located in the ground;
  • Do not leave open bottles of beer and sweet drinks unattended while outdoors. Their aromas are very attractive to wasps, and they can easily penetrate dishes, which can make trying to take a sip a turn-off. wasp sting into the oral cavity or even into the pharynx.

Since it is still impossible to completely protect yourself from wasp bites, you should always have antiallergic drugs and an antiseptic on hand. Wasps are found not only outside the city, but also in metropolitan areas, and therefore in warm season You should not forget about these medications when leaving home.


A wasp sting is dangerous for humans, so it is important to know what to do if this does happen.

When fruits and berries ripen, many wasps appear. They are especially aggressive in July and August. All you have to do is gape, and you've already received a bite. Wasps do not die after being stung, so they can sting repeatedly.

A wasp sting causes burning pain, swelling and quite often a severe allergic reaction. Let's figure out what exactly is the danger for a person, what are the consequences and rules of conduct in such cases.

What is the danger of a wasp sting?

A wasp sting can cause allergies

Unlike bees, which leave a sting in a person's skin and therefore can sting only once, a wasp does not die after stinging, but can inject poison with a high content of toxins several times. When administered once, it most often does not cause allergies. A repeated bite can cause allergies and sometimes death in the victim.

What are the consequences of a wasp sting?

Immediately after the bite, pain and swelling appear. The severity of the consequences depends on how sensitive a person is to wasp venom. Sensitivity can be congenital or acquired. No one is immune from the consequences of a bite.

An allergic reaction may not occur if a person is stung by a wasp for the first time. With subsequent bites the following symptoms develop:

  • tachycardia;
  • dizziness;
  • fever;
  • fainting.

Most often, the health status returns to normal fairly quickly. In the worst case scenario, a wasp sting causes anaphylaxis.


There are four degrees of severity of anaphylactic shock. The initial stage lasts from several minutes to several hours and is characterized by headache, rapid heartbeat, and lethargy. In the second degree, Quincke's edema is observed and blood pressure decreases. At the next stage, a person may lose consciousness, breathing becomes impaired, and acute cardiovascular failure develops. The most severe degree poses an immediate threat to the life of the victim and is characterized by immediate collapse, impaired lung function and cardiac arrest.

An attack by several dozen wasps poses a particular danger to humans.

What to do if you are stung by a wasp or bee

If there was more than one bite, you need to visit the hospital

If a wasp or bee stings once, you can help yourself. If there have been multiple bites, you should immediately go to the hospital.

First you need to decide who bit: a wasp or a bee, since when a bee bites, unlike a wasp, the sting remains in the skin.

If you are stung by a bee, you must remove the sting after first treating the sting site.

For any bite, do the following:

  • disinfect the wound;
  • To reduce swelling, apply a compress;
  • take an antiallergic drug;
  • lie down for a while;
  • drink plenty of fluids.

Actions to take if a child is bitten

The most dangerous places for children to be bitten are the ears, eyes, neck, face and throat

If a child is stung by a wasp, the adults around him should not panic. Most often, children do not develop allergies, since in most cases a wasp sting is primary for a child.

A wasp sting causes burning pain in a child. The stung area turns red, swollen and itchy. This may continue for a couple of days. If there is no improvement, you should consult a doctor.

To help an injured child you need to:

  • give an antihistamine in a dosage according to age;
  • apply a tourniquet;
  • disinfect the bite site;
  • Wipe the affected area with lemon, vinegar or saline solution to neutralize wasp poison.

The most dangerous cases for children are when the wasp stings in places with blood vessels close to the skin, such as the ears, eyes, throat, and face. This is due to the high likelihood of allergies. The following symptoms appear:

  • tachycardia;
  • fever;
  • fainting;
  • swelling of the larynx.

A bite to the neck can cause swelling, which can cause permanent breathing problems and be fatal.

If a child is predisposed to allergic reactions, parents should carry antiallergic medications recommended by the doctor.

Actions to take if a wasp stings your tongue

One of the most dangerous bites the wasp enters the tongue, this can lead to death due to suffocation

A bite to the tongue is dangerous because the swollen tongue will block the access for air, and this entails suffocation.

If you are bitten on the tongue, in order to avoid undesirable consequences, you must urgently seek help from specialists.

Actions to take if a wasp stings your hand

Most often, wasps sting on the limbs. Such bites can be considered the most harmless of all. If a wasp stings your hand, you can prevent the poison from spreading throughout the body by applying a tourniquet above the bite site. Treat the affected area. To reduce swelling, apply ice or something cold to the stung area. The victim should take an antiallergic drug and drink plenty of liquid.

Actions to take if a wasp bites you on the neck

A bite to the neck area is dangerous due to the possibility of suffocation. The person stung may experience wheezing or wheezing. In this case, a hollow tube is inserted into his throat to allow breathing. Sometimes the patient's front wall of the throat is cut.

A bite to the neck cannot be treated on your own. Qualified medical assistance is required.

What to do if the pharmacy is far away

Mint juice will help relieve swelling from a wasp or bee sting

Most often, wasps are found where there are a lot of tasty ripe fruits and berries, that is, in those places where they grow, are sold, and processed. A first aid kit with the necessary medications is not always at hand, and the nearest medical facility may not be close. Then the main assistants will be the folk remedies available.

In order to relieve swelling and reduce pain, you can do the following:

  • lubricate the bite site with mint juice;
  • apply an aloe leaf, previously washed, crushed, with the top layer cut off, to the affected area;
  • make a compress from a decoction of tansy flowers;
  • lubricate the stung area essential oil tea tree;
  • wipe the sore spot with the urine of a child or healthy adult.

What not to do after a wasp sting

It is important that the assistance provided after a wasp sting is competent. Strictly not recommended:

  • trying to find the wasp sting by picking at the wound;
  • squeeze out poison from a wound;
  • scratch the bite site;
  • exceed the dosage of antiallergic drugs;
  • limit fluid intake;
  • drinking alcohol.

How to prevent allergies and what to do if they occur

By taking suprastin you can prevent an allergic reaction from a wasp sting

An allergic reaction to a wasp sting can occur in anyone. A commonly available antiallergic drug such as Suprastin will help prevent allergies. Seeking help from a doctor is necessary if swelling increases, fever, urticaria, or nausea appear. If for some reason this cannot be done soon, you should take a stronger antiallergic drug such as diphenhydramine or prednisolone. In the event that the patient's condition continues to deteriorate, urgent hospitalization is necessary.

Doctors distinguish between moderate and acute allergic reactions.

With a moderate allergic reaction, the stung area swells and becomes covered with blisters containing a colorless liquid. The patient has a runny nose and tears flow.

Acute allergies are characterized by the following symptoms:

  • swelling of the face and neck;
  • hoarseness of voice;
  • nausea;
  • tachycardia;
  • decrease in pressure;
  • fainting.

If an acute allergy develops, there is no time to waste. To avoid a critical situation, you should urgently consult a doctor.

To avoid a wasp sting, follow the rules

The unpleasant painful sensations from a wasp sting in some cases pose a direct threat to life. Let's consider rules of behavior that will reduce the risk of a wasp sting:

  • Places where wasps gather should be avoided.
  • When you see a wasp, you should not make noise or wave your arms, thereby attracting its attention.
  • After a trip to nature, a trip to the market for fruit, baskets, packages, and bags should be carefully inspected for insects.
  • Do not use strong-smelling perfumes, as wasps are attracted to scents.
  • Man in clothes bright colors is also at risk due to the fact that wasps may mistake it for a flowering plant.
  • Fruits and sweet drinks are a source of attracting insects, so before putting them in your mouth, you must carefully inspect them for the presence of wasps.
  • In nature, you often want to take off your shoes and walk barefoot on the grass. This should be done carefully, as there may be wasp nests on the ground and there is a risk of stepping and being stung.
  • A person wearing loose clothing that does not fit the body runs the risk of being bitten, as wasps can fly under the shirt.
  • Wasps love empty bottles and soda and beer cans. Therefore, it is not advisable to leave them near you after drinking drinks.

A wasp sting is a fairly common occurrence in the summer months, so every person needs to know how to avoid it, and if this still fails, then knowledge about the consequences of a sting and first aid will come in handy. Competent, consistent actions will help avoid threats to the health and life of the victim.

It will be useful to watch a video in which the doctor will tell you how to provide assistance and what needs to be done if you are bitten by a wasp.

What to do if bitten by a wasp, don’t panic. In most cases, symptoms are limited to local symptoms and disappear within a few days. Don’t worry if a wasp bites your hand or stings your leg. The danger comes from a bite to the neck and face. It is imperative to take an antihistamine.

Symptoms of a wasp sting

The striped insect is often confused with a bee, especially if its bite came unexpectedly. A person intuitively rejects the pest without having time to discern the features. You can determine who bit by the consequences. , but no.

The insect injects, which instantly causes an allergic reaction of varying degrees of intensity. With strong immunity, the consequences of a bite are limited to pain and local irritation. Edema, swelling, redness occurs, later. A photo of a wasp sting on a human body is presented below.

In case of weakened or pathologically weak immunity, wasp venom, in addition to local manifestations, provokes severe general symptoms:

  • nausea;
  • vomit;
  • impaired coordination of movements;
  • fainting;
  • foggy consciousness;
  • blurred vision;
  • pale skin;
  • decreased blood pressure;
  • diarrhea;
  • cold sweat;
  • temperature increase;
  • difficulty breathing;
  • arrhythmia;
  • swelling of the larynx.

If an insect bites you on the head, the poison quickly enters the bloodstream. The functioning of the central nervous system is disrupted, increasing the production of histamine, which leads to tissue swelling, spasm of the respiratory organs, inflammation, and other serious consequences. If you are bitten on the tongue, the likelihood of swelling of the larynx increases. If a wasp stings on the lip or gets into the eye, severe swelling immediately appears; if it stings a finger, the entire arm or leg may swell.

On a note!

Wasp venom is a highly toxic substance. It is especially dangerous for elderly people and allergy sufferers. The likelihood of serious consequences increases if there are several bites from one individual or several. With an increased dosage of poison, a person can die from a wasp sting.

How to understand that an allergy has begun

Always present. Symptoms of severe allergies appear within 20 minutes.

What allergic manifestations look like:

  • the scale of inflammation increases;
  • pain and itching intensifies;
  • general health worsens.

Initially, a person may feel weak and dizzy. Then stool and digestion disorders begin, and a headache occurs. A photo of a severe allergy is shown below.

If you experience shortness of breath or breathing problems, you should urgently call an ambulance. IN in this case Emergency administration of adrenaline and an antihistamine will help to avoid angioedema and anaphylactic shock. Otherwise, the person risks dying.

On a note!

Local allergies are characterized by increased symptoms, an increase in the extent of the lesion, and an additional rash. The wasp sting takes a long time to pass, and suppuration and induration occur. The presence of ulcers and weeping wounds indicate the addition of a secondary infection. This situation is dangerous for a person due to the development of weeping and eczema. Requires the use of antibiotics.

First aid for a wasp sting

After an insect attack, you need to perform a number of specific actions to avoid serious consequences.

  1. Initially, you need to rinse the sore spot with clean water. At home, use laundry soap. Water will help get rid of dirt and poison residues on the surface of the skin. Used in the wild mineral water, any clean body of water. Cold water It also helps relieve swelling from a wasp sting and stop the inflammatory process.
  2. Disinfect the wound to prevent infection. After a wasp sting, use ammonia, medical, hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green, iodine, alcohol tincture based on medicinal herbs. Great option there will be calendula, valerian, motherwort, glod. If you anoint the wasp bite within half an hour after the pest attack, you will be able to avoid severe swelling and large-scale inflammation.
  3. Neutralize the effect of the poison. A toxic substance remains in the wound, which gradually enters the bloodstream. To neutralize the poison, use a vinegar solution - 1 teaspoon of the product per 100 ml of water, boric acid. A solution of Furacilin, Streptocide tablets - 1 tablet per glass of water. You can treat a wasp sting with a paste of baking soda - add a little water and apply to the sore spot until it dries completely. When a wasp stings, baking soda kills pathogenic microflora, neutralizes poison, and eliminates itching. In the wild, the juice of dandelion, celandine, and plantain is used. Lemon juice or acid helps against a wasp sting.
  4. Cold will help slow down the spread of poison. Apply ice cubes, a cold compress, a heating pad, a bottle of water, and meat from the freezer. Leave for 15 minutes.

On a note!

If an insect bites your leg or arm, apply a tourniquet above the sore spot. This will prevent the poison from spreading through the blood. After disinfecting the wound and neutralizing the poison, the bandage is removed.

What to do if you are stung by a wasp or a bee, an allergic reaction begins, you must urgently take an antihistamine. Be sure to take a pill if you have been bitten by a wasp and an increased dose of poison has entered your body.

Antihistamines for wasp stings

Produced in the form of drops, tablets, ointments, gels for external use. If you have a severe allergy to a wasp sting, take the drug orally and also treat the sore spot. Antihistamines reduce the activity of histamine, stop the inflammatory process, and eliminate external symptoms.

  • Claritin. Produced in the form of drops, baby syrup, tablets. Active ingredient: loratadine. The antihistamine effect develops within 2 hours after oral administration. Maximum properties last 8 hours. Take according to instructions taking into account age. An analogue is the drug Loratadine. Cost 555 rub.
  • Suprastin. Available in the form of tablets and solution for injection. The active substance is chloropyramine hydrochloride. Suprastin for wasp stings is taken 2 times a day with meals. The duration of therapy depends on the complexity of the symptoms. Children under 1 year of age are given ¼ tablet. Packaging price 140 rub.
  • Diazolin. Produced in the form of tablets, dragees. The active ingredient is mebhydrolin. Take 1-3 tablets per day. Price 43 rub. for 10 pieces.
  • Fenistil. Fenistil-gel drops for oral administration are available for sale. Apply a thin layer to the affected area. The product helps relieve swelling, reduce itching and redness. Stops the inflammatory process, blocks the allergic reaction. Cost 400 rub.
  • Zyrtec. Antiallergic agent for oral administration. Allowed for children from 6 months. The drug alleviates the course of allergies, prevents complications, stops the inflammatory process, and relieves itching. If the hand is swollen, treat 2-3 times a day, apply to the face once. Cost 320 rub.
  • Zodak. Available in the form of tablets, syrup, drops. The active substance is cetirizine dihydrochloride. The antihistamine effect begins within 20 minutes. The drug stops the pathological process and helps cope with external symptoms. Allowed for children from 6 months. Price about 300 rubles.

A contraindication to the use of medications is the presence of individual intolerance to the components. A wasp sting on a child without consulting a specialist for no more than 5 days. If there is no improvement within 3 days, you should see a doctor.

How to treat a wasp sting with severe allergies

For therapy, drugs based on hormones from the group of glucocorticosteroids are used. Drugs are quickly eliminated external manifestations allergies, stop the production of histamine almost instantly.

  • Sinaflan. A remedy for wasp stings based on a hormonal substance. Used for severe manifestations of allergies. Indicated if a leg or arm is swollen. Use on the face is not recommended. Ointment for a wasp sting quickly relieves external symptoms and stops the pathological process. Wounds that are swollen or inflamed are treated 1-2 times a day. The duration of therapy is no more than 7 days in adults, 5 in children. Not recommended for infants and children under 2 years of age. The cost of the tube is 22 rubles.
  • Prednisolone. Produced in the form of tablets and injection solution. It is a hormonal drug with an active substance of the same name. Prednisolone is 4 times more active than antihistamines and relieves allergies faster. It is recommended to take it for swelling of the larynx, difficulty breathing, weakening pulse, and decreased blood pressure. The dosage is calculated based on age. The maximum concentration in the blood is observed 90 minutes after ingestion. It begins to act within 20 minutes. Price 25 rub.
  • Dexamethasone. Hormonal drug in tablet form. It has a pronounced anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, decongestant property. Antishock, antitoxic effect is associated with the ability of the drug to increase blood pressure and reduce vascular permeability. Cost 190 rub.
  • Hydrocortisone ointment. Hormonal agent for external use. Can be used from birth. Apply a thin layer to the affected areas 1-2 times a day. Medicine for wasp stings is used for no longer than 7 days. Helps with puffiness and swelling. Price 30 rub.

Hormonal remedies for wasp and bee stings are used after consultation with a specialist. Contraindicated for use in case of individual intolerance to the components.

Means for treating bites with a normal reaction

Painful sensations are present for several days. The inflamed area itches and itches. In this case, it is allowed to treat a wasp sting folk remedies, pharmaceutical drugs.

  • Some herbs have anti-inflammatory, healing, regenerating, and decongestant properties. If the wound continues to bother or hurt, it is recommended to apply a compress against a wasp sting from a decoction of chamomile, calendula, celandine, St. John's wort, and thyme. The potion is poured boiled water, insist for 20 minutes.
  • Aloe juice accelerates tissue regeneration, eliminates painful symptoms, and relieves inflammation if the skin has become very red. They wipe the sore spot or make lotions. To eliminate swelling, you should first put the aloe leaf in the freezer for 15 minutes.
  • Menovazin will help relieve pain from a wasp sting. Produced in the form of a solution or ointment. Contains 2 pain-relieving components, menthol. Relief occurs already at the moment of application. Menovazin stimulates blood circulation in the damaged area and eliminates congestion. The bite can be completely cured in a few days.
  • Star. The balm contains camphor, menthol, a little clove, mint and other natural ingredients. Bites should be treated 2-3 times a day.
  • Panthenol. The product stops the inflammatory process, disinfects, and accelerates tissue regeneration. Treat the skin twice a day.
  • When a wasp stings, onion neutralizes the effect of the poison, disinfects, and stops inflammation. They make lotions, compresses, apply fresh vegetable. You can similarly relieve swelling and pain after a wasp sting with garlic juice.
  • Levomekol. A local antibiotic is used if suppuration, weeping wounds appear, or there are signs of a secondary infection.

On a note!

A wild wasp sting can be extremely painful. To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, external remedies should be used. Wipe with Menovazine, Lidocaine, as well as toothpaste with menthol, shaving foam.

What not to do

After an insect attack, you should not squeeze out the poison, as this speeds up the process of the poison entering the blood. It is forbidden to pick the wound with a needle in the hope of finding a sting. Such actions contribute to the penetration of secondary infection. You should not drink alcohol after a wasp sting, since alcohol spreads wasp venom through the blood faster, increasing the chance of developing a severe allergy.

You can avoid a wasp sting by being careful. When you see an insect, do not take any drastic actions or try to kill it. When the wasp dies, it releases a special enzyme that calls on other relatives to help. If there is a nest nearby, multiple bites will follow within a few minutes. Insects sting when there is a threat to their own life, as well as when protecting their hive.

In what cases should you seek help from doctors?

Vivid allergy symptoms appear within 30 minutes after the poison enters the blood. If during this time there is no deterioration in health, the sore spot is limited to slight swelling, you can treat the wound yourself.

You should urgently call an ambulance if your blood pressure drops, faints, cardiac dysfunction, swelling of the larynx, or difficulty breathing. Reasons for contacting a doctor include fever, chills, constriction of the pupils, pale skin, poor coordination of movements, and diarrhea.

Initially, you need to call the reception center, they will tell you what to do - go to the hospital yourself or wait for an ambulance. Treatment should be carried out by an allergist. In its absence, the functions may be assigned to a dermatologist or therapist.

IN summer period When ripe fruits and vegetables appear, there is a danger of being stung by a wasp. Many people do not know what danger the bite of this insect poses, how many times a wasp can sting and how to properly provide assistance in such a situation.

Previously, we covered the question of what to do if . In this article we focus on actions after a wasp sting.

Danger of bites

Having considered the composition of wasp venom, you can understand how dangerous their bite is. It consists of peptides, phospholipase, amino acids, histamine, acetylcholine, kinin, norepinephrine.

If you have an allergic reaction to one of the components, the following symptoms may occur:

  1. Nausea and vomiting.
  2. Weakness and headaches.
  3. Itching and hyperemia in the bite area.
  4. Pain and swelling.

The reaction to a wasp sting is divided into three degrees, which are accompanied by different symptoms.

Allergic effects on the body of the first degree are accompanied by:

  1. Chills.
  2. Increasing temperature.
  3. The appearance of urticaria.
  4. Quincke's edema.

The second is moderate severity, in which a person experiences the following symptoms:

  1. Cardiac arrhythmia.
  2. Spasms of the intestines, uterus, and bronchi occur.
  3. The mucous membranes swell.

The third degree is the most severe. This form of poisoning is dangerous because anaphylactic shock can develop. If medical assistance is not provided in time, death can occur within a few minutes.

In this article we looked at it in detail.

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Bite symptoms

When bitten hymenoptera insect Acute pain occurs and a strong burning sensation is felt, which can be compared to a burn. The area of ​​the stung area gradually turns red and swells, especially severe swelling occurs if it is in the area of ​​the face (eyelids, cheek, lips).

A characteristic symptom is itching in the affected area. A small rash may appear near the bite site or throughout the body.

Also, exposure to poison can sharply reduce blood pressure, leading to loss of consciousness. These symptoms may appear for several hours or may last for 2-4 days, after which they gradually disappear (if there is no allergy to wasp stings and complications with it).

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What to do if bitten by a wasp?

The first thing to do is not to panic, calm down and remember: if you are stung by a wasp, what to do and what measures to take. Then take the necessary items.

To carry out the procedure, the following things are needed:

  • Soap.
  • Alcohol.
  • Zelenka or iodine.
  • Hydrogen peroxide.
  • Antihistamines.

Bite treatment:

  • You should start treating the bite by removing dirt and poison from the stung area of ​​skin; it must be washed off with soap.
  • You can get rid of the poison using regular sugar, applying it to the redness. Since wasps do not leave a sting, you should not look for it, pick it out, scratch it, or squeeze it out.
  • Next, you need to disinfect the stung area with the above drugs. To prevent toxins from penetrating further into the body, it is worth applying a wet cold compress, for example, it could be ice, a small piece of cloth moistened with water. Then you should take medications that will prevent an allergic reaction from occurring.

When stung by a wasp, it is advisable to drink as much fluid as possible. It can be water or tea, but always with sugar. To avoid the spread of infections, you can apply a tourniquet just above the stung area.

What to do if a wasp bites a child?

Wasps are carriers of infections as they feed on waste from garbage dumps. Therefore, if a wasp has bitten a child, the first thing to do is to wash, disinfect the bite site and anesthetize it to avoid infection.

If there are no drugs at hand that can neutralize wasp venom, then in this case there may be healthy juice lemon or aspirin.

The tablet should be ground into powder, slightly wet the bite area and rubbed into the skin (if the child does not have allergic reactions to the medication). The action of aspirin will be aimed at relieving pain.

It is also worth applying a cold compress for 20-30 minutes and drinking sweet tea or water.

Features of wasp bites in different parts of the body

IN summer season There are a lot of victims of wasp stings.

So, a bee can bite in the following places:


It is advisable to go to the hospital after being stung by a wasp. There, doctors will prescribe medications that will help reduce discomfort, inflammation and swelling. As a rule, swelling begins to subside on the third day. Full recovery will be observed after a couple of weeks.

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First aid

If you are bitten by a wasp, help should be provided immediately to avoid complications and allergic reactions. It is believed that when a striped insect has inflicted three or more bites, you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance.

In cases where the bite occurred in nature and there is nothing at hand, you can provide first aid with the following items:

  • Wash the wound with plain soap.
  • Use vodka to disinfect the bite site.
  • Folk remedies (plantain, parsley, thoroughly washed beforehand).

If there is no worsening of the condition, you need to take the above measures. If any symptoms appear, you should seek help from a medical facility.

Folk remedies

In cases where there are no medications at hand, you can use folk remedies for hymenoptera insect bites. Such methods can be used if a person is not allergic to wasp venom.

Redness, burning and swelling can be relieved using the following means:

  • Freshly squeezed parsley juice. They blot cotton wool or a small piece of cloth, apply it to the bite site and secure it with a bandage.
  • Leaves of plantain or yarrow. They are also applied to the wound and tied with a bandage.
  • Aloe leaf. By lubricating the bite with pulp, you can relieve inflammation and swelling;
  • Onion, Bay leaf. By rubbing the bite area with these products, you can relieve pain, redness and itching.
  • Dandelion root is useful when applied to a wound.
  • Lemon juice relieves some symptoms.
  • Vodka and golden mustache. Such lotions will help relieve pain and inflammation.
  • Validol tablet. The product needs to be slightly moistened and applied to the bite.
  • Make a paste of soda and water and apply to the wound.

Some people believe that you can also relieve all symptoms from a wasp sting using urine. Apply this product to the skin that begins to swell and hurt. You need to do this every three hours. Thanks to small doses of hormones contained in the urine, the swelling will begin to subside.

When to go to the hospital?

After being stung by a wasp, you need to monitor the area and your general well-being. If all measures have been taken, and the condition only worsens, you need to call an ambulance or go to the hospital.

You should immediately seek the help of specialists if the bite occurs in places such as:

  1. Eyelid or eye.
  2. In the neck area.
  3. Oral cavity.
  4. In the area of ​​large veins.

It is also worth consulting a doctor if the swelling quickly increases and the overall condition worsens sharply.


When severe symptoms of allergic reactions are observed, the following measures should be taken to prevent complications such as anaphylactic shock:

  1. To free a person who has been stung by a wasp from tight and tight clothing, you can unfasten a few buttons to make it easier to breathe.
  2. Or you can take 1-2 allergy tablets.
  3. You should apply a cold compress to the place where the wasp stung and go to a medical facility.

The most important thing in situations where a wasp stings is not to panic and remain calm. You should not self-medicate, so as not to harm the victim; it is better for medical staff to provide assistance.

Emergency doctors will already begin to provide specialized care:

  1. The bite site is injected with adrenaline.
  2. 0.5 ml of adrenaline is injected into the victim's shoulder.
  3. Dexamethasone or prednisolone is injected into the other shoulder.
  4. If after 20 minutes the allergic reaction does not subside, it is worth injecting another 0.5 ml of adrenaline. The total volume of adrenaline administered should not exceed 2 ml.

What should you not do if you are bitten?

  • Drink alcohol. Such actions can aggravate the problem, and the swelling will be much greater than when sober.
  • Squeeze out the venom from the bite site. This can speed up the absorption process of the poison, and it will be distributed throughout the body.

Advice. When a wasp attacks and tries to sting, there is no need to wave your arms or try to smack it with your palm. Such actions will only anger the wasp, it will become even more aggressive and begin to attack. And by catching it with your palms, you can get even more toxins into the body by pressing the sac in which the poison is located.

How to protect yourself from a bite?

When in contact with a striped insect, you must behave calmly to avoid being bitten if the wasp lands on clothing or food. Sudden movements can provoke it and it will sting. In many cases, the wasp simply flies away without threatening the person.

It is strictly prohibited upon discovery vespiary, try to knock him down or cause any harm. In this case, the wasps will begin to defend their home and sting; in such situations, everything will not end with one bite.

And as stated above, a bite from more than three individuals can become a trigger for the development of severe symptoms. Consequently, the healing process will take longer than usual.

You can prevent the risk of being stung by doing the following:

  • Reducing the wasp population around the house.
  • Do not leave vegetables and fruits near an open window indoors;
  • Do not leave food outside the building;
  • Waste containers must be tightly closed;
  • If drinks are consumed from a glass, then care must be taken to ensure that the wasp does not get into the liquid and into the mouth with it;
  • When in nature, it is worth covering your food so that the smell does not attract wasps.

In the summer season, along with the air temperature, a person’s sweating also increases, which can attract a wasp.

Insects also perfectly hear the smell of perfume, which can cause increased attention to the owner of the scent. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the smell of sweat is not so noticeable to wasps, to observe the rules of hygiene, and to choose perfume that is not sweet or floral.

As the weather warms up, you need to be careful not to be stung by wasps. Observing simple tips, indicated above, you can protect yourself from these insects.

If you are stung by a wasp, you should not panic, calmly assess the situation and take first aid measures. If allergy symptoms appear, you should not hesitate and consult a doctor.