Bee Sting Treatment

Understanding bee sting treatment can be crucial when you find yourself faced with that unpleasant sting. Unfortunately, simply spending a few minutes outdoors can be just enough time to suffer the bee's wrath. Those first moments may cause some panic if you aren't sure what to do. Read on for the details – you'll be prepared whether it's you or someone nearby who's dealing with the sting.

Seek treatment immediately after being stung.

Bee stings may cause any number of symptoms, ranging from mild to extremely severe. Local reactions affect only the area that has been stung, and include:

• Instant itching, pain, redness and/or swelling
• Large bump or visible reaction larger than four inches

Other reactions are systemic, or allergic. These pose a far more serious threat, and may include:

• Anxiety
• Hives
• Allover body itching
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Low blood pressure that results in fainting spells or extreme weakness

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is imperative to seek medical treatment immediately.

The first and most important step you can take is to remove the stinger or any traces of it left in the sting. You can pluck it out or scrape what's left with a credit card if need be. The most important thing is to simply get it out. Follow these steps once it's been removed:

• Wash the injury site with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic treatment, such as Neosporin, to the wound.
• Apply ice to the sting site in 20-minute intervals every hour (as necessary). Place a piece of cloth between the ice and skin to avoid freezing.
• A dose of an antihistamine, such as Benadryl or Caladryl, is helpful if the itch becomes intolerable.
• Ibuprofen or Tylenol is helpful for pain.

These basic at-home treatments are helpful for the most basic stings – that is, those that experience local reactions. If you're dealing with more severe reactions, however, it's crucial to seek medical attention. If your symptoms are mild to moderate, you will likely be administered an antihistamine. Steroids or epinephrine may also be given, and regular observation will be necessary to ensure you're responding well to the treatments.

More severe reactions are life-threatening emergencies and will be treated as such. A breathing tube may be placed in the trachea, and antihistamines, epinephrine and steroids may be injected. Intravenous fluids will be given, as well. Close observation is necessary and the patient may be placed in the intensive care unit.

You've been given the all clear, but suddenly things start to worsen. If you experience any of these symptoms after you've left the hospital, seek medical attention immediately:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Difficulty urinating, a decrease in urination or dark colored urine
• Signs of infection develop at the injury site (including pus drainage, redness, swelling)
• Fever

Treating your sting to a little homemade TLC might also do the trick, as long as you aren't dealing with a systemic reaction. Try one of these tried-and-true tricks:

• Moisten an aspirin tablet and rub it on the wound. This will help lessen the bee venom's inflammation. Don't do this if you're allergic to aspirin, though!
• Make a thick, malleable paste with water and baking soda. Apply it to the wound for 20 minutes.
• Some allergists recommend ammonia. Simply dab it onto the wound to find relief from pain.

Following a few smart outdoor habits may eliminate the need to seek a bee sting treatment altogether! Of course, not all stings can be prevented – sometimes just being in the wrong place at the wrong time is all it takes. But following these simple rules may help keep your skin clear, happy and sting-free:

• Avoid wearing scented products outdoors, like soaps, perfumes, lotions and body oils.
• Avoid wearing brightly colored clothes or floral patterns – bees flock to them.
• Avoid leaving food out in the open. Bees are particularly fond of open soda cans, so trash it if it's been left unattended!
• Wear long, loose pants in areas that are likely to be populated by bees, and always wear shoes and even hats.
• If a bee does land on you, try gently blowing on it. Don't move rapidly or make any sudden movements; this will cause the bee to react and possibly sting you.

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