Bee Sting and Swelling

Many individuals have dealt with an uncomfortable bee sting and the swelling that accompanies it. Unfortunately, swelling is an inevitable reaction to a sting, but there are some things you can do to alleviate your discomfort.

Take action fast to diminish swelling.

If you've ventured outdoors during the summer, there's a great chance you've been stung by a bee or witnessed it happening to someone else. It's a normal occurrence and is usually not cause for overt concern. The primary reactions to a bee sting include pain, redness, itching and swelling at the wound site.

Occasionally, bee stings can cause systemic reactions that may result in much more serious medical concerns, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, hives, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, anxiety or low blood pressure. Systemic reactions can be fatal in some circumstances, so medical assistance should be sought urgently if any of these symptoms are present.

Though friends, family and general acquaintances may come bearing home remedies aplenty for your bee sting, rest assured that you don't need to do anything fancy or extraordinary to find relief. There are several basic steps you should take once you've been stung.

The first thing you'll need to do is remove the stinger. This is an essential step and should be done as quickly as possible. The faster it is removed, the less venom will be injected – and thus, the chances of suffering severe symptoms are greatly reduced. Contrary to popular belief, there is no particular method recommended over another for removing a stinger. Simply scraping or brushing it off will do the trick. The important thing is to get rid of it for good. Note that if any black dots or marks remain on the skin after removal, you haven't removed the entire stinger yet.

Once you've removed it, cleanse the area thoroughly with a mild, fragrance-free soap and water to disinfect the wound site. Depending on how your skin feels, you may wish to apply a cold compress or ice to the area, which helps diminish some of the inevitable discomfort you'll experience. You might also want to apply a topical hydrocortisone cream or antibiotic ointment. If you're dealing with uncomfortable itchiness, take an antihistamine (like Benadryl) to encourage relief. Finally, if you've experiencing a great deal of pain, don't hesitate to take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

When dealing with a bee sting and swelling, there are two types of reactions that may occur: localized and systemic. The swelling that accompanies these types of reactions can differ greatly, too. In localized reactions, normal swelling limited to the wound site occurs. Some individuals may experience larger swelling sites than others.

Others, though, may deal with swelling that builds up over the course of a day or two and becomes even larger. It may measure up to eight inches across or might even cover an entire region of the body. This allergic response is known as extreme local swelling. If you do suffer this type of response, it's important to seek medical attention immediately. Your doctor may prescribe a medication that will counteract this type of response in the future.

If you happen to be dealing with a decent amount of swelling or just want to get the area calmed down quickly, you may want to look into some of these treatments and home remedies. Individual responses will vary – take great care not to use anything you know you are allergic to.

• Make a treatment paste using baking soda and water. Leave it on the wound site for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Alternately, you may use a paste made with meat tenderizer, vinegar and baking soda.
• Crush one aspirin tablet and make a paste with water. Apply it to the wound site for relief of both swelling and burning.
• Dab a bit of apple cider vinegar to the wound site as soon as you have removed the stinger. This is known to minimize the occurrence of swelling and halt the venom from spreading.

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