BEE STINGS
The great majority of insect stings cause only minor discomfort from a
local reaction. About 1 million Americans are severely allergic to the
venom of bees, hornets, yellow jackets, and fire ants. Those who are
hypersensitive to bee venom should exercise extreme caution in the
outdoors during months when bees are active. They should protect
themselves with long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and clothing of subdued
colors and patterns that do not attract insects. They should not apply
colognes or perfumes. If approached by a bee, sensitive individuals should
not panic, duck, or move suddenly, but should stay calm and slowly walk
away from the insect.
Hypersensitive individuals who spend a great deal of their time in
areas populated by bees (farms, orchards, rural parts of the country)
should receive desensitization shots. (See "Allergic Reactions and
Anaphylactic Shock" for symptoms of hypersensitive reaction.)
TREATMENT FOR HYPERSENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS
- Carry a bee sting (anaphylaxis) treatment kit at all times. (These
kits are commercially prepared and available by prescription.) Use a
syringe preloaded with adrenaline. After administering adrenaline,
call the emergency squad or take the person to the nearest hospital
emergency room.
- If a treatment kit is not available, take the person to the nearest
hospital emergency room or doctor immediately.
- If any signs or symptoms of generalized reaction to the bite occur
before reaching the hospital, tie a light tourniquet 2 to 4 inches
above the bite (between the bite and the trunk of the body).
- Remove stinger as instructed below.
TREATMENT FOR THE NONSENSITIVE
- Check the sting site for the venom sac (bee stings only) and
stinger. If these are embedded in the skin, remove by scraping over
the area with a knife blade, fingernail, or sharp object. Do not try
to grasp and pull the stinger out; this action is likely to release
more venom into the skin from the venom sac.
- Apply an ice pack to the sting site or flush it with cold water to
reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- Dab on calamine lotion or a nonprescription corticosteroid cream to
ease itching and swelling. Other remedies include unseasoned meat
tenderizer, which contains papain, an enzyme that breaks down toxins
in the venom. Aspirin or antihistamines may also be used to alleviate
moderate, localized reactions.
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