Bee Or Wasp Sting - Swelling, Swelling And Allergies After A Bee Sting

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Swelling, edema and allergies after a bee sting, what to do?

Content:

• Bee sting symptoms
• Bee sting in the eye
• First aid for a bee sting
• How to remove swelling from a bee sting?
• Folk remedies

Symptoms of bee and wasp stings

Summer is the time for outdoor activities. In the heat, I just want to go to the lake or into the forest, but there various dangers await us. One of them is a potential encounter with poisonous insects. A large number of people annually become victims of attacks by wasps and bees. However, not many people think about the fact that there is a big difference between the bites of these insects.

Bees attack only for reasons of self-defense, when a person accidentally discovered and disturbed the nest. These insects have no reason to attack anything that moves. A bee sting is very painful. The sting remains inside the skin. It is jagged and resembles a harpoon that is firmly held in the victim's body.

After being bitten, the bee dies, having fulfilled its duty to protect against invasion of the family's territory. The danger of being stung by a bee increases when you are directly near its place of residence. Bees, together with poison, inject a special substance into the wound, the chemical nature of which resembles the communication hormones in insects. Thus, the signal to attack is given to other companions of the bee. There is evidence that bees feel fear. Therefore, they will certainly sting all those who are afraid of them. The reliability of such statements has not yet been sufficiently studied.

Although insects have long been proven to dislike human sweat. Traces of natural human activity increase the aggression of bees. But wasps are still more aggressive. Their unfriendliness reaches its peak during droughts, when the high temperature forces the wasps to leave the nest and set off in search of water. Unlike bees, wasps do not die when bitten, and do not make up their sting. Their attack weapon does not have jags, and accordingly they sting repeatedly.

Swelling from a bee sting

The tumor appears almost instantly. Even non-allergic people report redness at the bite site. Usually a sting remains there, the presence of which affects the degree of manifestation of symptoms. A wasp sting is accompanied by a sharp unpleasant pain, burning sensation. The skin at the site of the bite reddens and swells, there may be a small rash all over the body and around the area where the site of the insect attack is localized. Depending on the body's sensitivity to poison, the temperature rises, chills, convulsions appear. Sometimes the head starts to spin and vomiting is felt.

Swelling after a bite

Edema occurs in people with a pronounced allergic reaction to the venom of insects of the Hymenoptera family (wasps, bees, hornets, bumblebees). Usually, an anaphylactic reaction occurs within the first minutes after the bite. The more often an allergy sufferer has been bitten in the past, the faster the reaction develops. Heartbeat accelerates, breathing becomes difficult. There is a feeling of tightness in the chest area, the mucous membranes of the throat swell, which, as a result, leads to suffocation (the airways are blocked). The victim has difficulty breathing, often he loses consciousness.

Bite allergy

An allergy to a bite can begin with seizures and lead to cardiac arrest. Even healthy people can develop a similar reaction. Allergy to wasp stings occurs a little later, but has similar symptoms, and when attacked by a huge number of insects, it simultaneously leads to death.

Bee sting in the eye

The eye is a very sensitive organ that reacts to any influence from the environment with a pronounced reaction. An insect bite in the eye is accompanied by sharp pain and profuse discharge of tear fluid. Such a bite is much more dangerous than in other parts of the body, since the eye is on the face and is distinguished by an abundance of mucous membranes. Swelling of the eyelid easily affects other parts of the face, but swelling is not the worst consequence of a bite. Shortness of breath can lead to anaphylactic shock and will require immediate medical attention.

When a bee enters the eye, an allergic reaction does not necessarily occur; redness and a slight burning sensation may occur. A bee sting directly into the eyeball is very dangerous. Insect poison negatively affects the membrane of the eye, causes irritation of the mucous membrane. The protruding sting is removed carefully with tweezers. This procedure is carried out by a specialist. In the case of partial extraction of the sting, complications are sometimes observed that are resolved through surgery.

First aid for a bee sting

1. Immediately after the bite, the sting is removed. The longer it remains in the body, the faster and more efficiently the poison spreads through tissues and organs. After a wasp attack, there is no need to look for a sting. Removing the tip is a delicate job, it requires a special tool - tweezers. Before use, it is treated with alcohol or another disinfectant. After all, it is not always possible to remove a protruding sting with nails. In addition, nails are a place of accumulation of dirt and microorganisms. Do not squeeze poison out of the wound under any circumstances. Such an action will not reduce the amount of the toxic substance, and will only bring harm. The bite site will be unnecessarily traumatized, and infection is likely to join it.
2. Then they take a piece of gauze and moisten it in ammonia, hydrogen peroxide or a solution of potassium permanganate. A cold compress is an excellent way to reduce swelling. Low temperature dulls nerve endings and pain receptors, respectively, there is a slight relief.
3. The victim is given water or tea to drink, thus replenishing the body fluid. A person who is allergic to insect bites must have a special passport issued by a doctor. Such a passport contains the contact information of the patient, a description of the symptoms of an allergic reaction and the main methods of first aid. Allergy sufferers also carry a syringe and a set of medications. Their list is indicated in the passport. With the development of an allergic reaction, antihistamines are administered: claritin, tavegil, diphenhydramine, suprastin and others.
4. Complications of allergies require urgent action. The victim is covered with heating pads with warm water and covered with a blanket. To normalize blood pressure and respiration rate, give 25-30 drops of cordiamine to drink. The action of this drug is purely selective, and has a positive effect on the functioning of the respiratory system.
5. Ventilation of the lungs is enhanced by changes in the volume of respiratory movements. 2 tablets of diphenhydramine will help ease the allergic reaction. They promote pain relief and reduce stress on the circulatory system. In critical cases, diphenhydramine has the effect of anti-shock therapy and helps to start a stopped heart.
6. After providing emergency assistance, the victim is taken to the hospital. Only doctors will monitor the patient's condition and establish whether there is a threat to life.
7. Until the arrival of an ambulance, you must not leave the victim alone. There is a high chance of cardiac arrest. Then they use resuscitation actions: indirect heart massage and artificial respiration. For 30 clicks, two breaths are taken. It is very important not to break the ribs and sternum. Such damage will make breathing difficult and lead to negative consequences. It is better to replace artificial respiration "mouth to mouth" by breathing "mouth to nose". If there is swelling, then the tongue sinks, so the air does not enter the lungs. The correctness of ventilation of the respiratory system is checked by changing the volume of the chest.

How to remove swelling from a bee sting?

Bee stings are quite painful. In their place, a small wound remains, in which a sting is noticeable. Leaving it in the body of the victim, the bee dies. Together with the sting, she injects a special substance. Its chemical nature is similar to that of insect communication hormones. Thanks to this, other bees receive a signal that they are in danger, and also begin to attack a person.

Insects are especially aggressive if they smell sweat coming from people. There is also the belief that bees are susceptible to fear. If they feel that a person is afraid, they will definitely attack him. However, such information has not yet been confirmed in science.

After a bite, the main thing is not to panic. The increased amount of stress hormones leads to an increased heart rate and increased breathing. The poison begins to spread faster through the blood, thereby aggravating the whole situation associated with a bee sting.

In the absence of allergies and quality care, the symptoms are easily eliminated. Redness reaches a minimum, and the bite itself does not cause discomfort. In its place, after a few days, only a small red dot remains. An important task is to choose the right way to provide first aid. In case of allergic reactions, they act quickly and with maximum efficiency. It all depends on what medical supplies are at hand.

First aid for a bee sting

After a bee sting, the sting left by the insect in the wound is first removed. This will require tweezers, which should be previously disinfected with alcohol or any other special tool. They need to grab and gently remove the sting at the site of the bite. It is not always possible to do this without the help of tweezers with your hands, in addition, bacteria accumulate under the nails that can be carried into the wound.

Once the sting has been removed, it must be treated. To do this, a cotton pad or a sterile gauze napkin should be moistened with ammonia or a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then applied to the site of the bite. It is better if the compress is cold, as the low temperature minimizes pain.

Victims of insect attacks should be given water or tea to drink to replenish body fluids. Those who have an allergic reaction to a bee sting should have a special card with them. It is necessary to indicate the contact information of the patient, the peculiarities of the development of his allergies and possible methods of first aid. It is recommended, along with a special card, to have antihistamines with you, which are administered after a bite to prevent an allergic reaction.

If complications cannot be avoided, it is necessary to cover the person who was attacked by the bees with blankets and cover with heating pads filled with warm water. In this case, a drug such as cordiamine will help to normalize blood pressure and restore breathing rate. For allergies, diphenhydramine can also be taken to help ease pain.

Until the ambulance arrives, it is necessary that someone be with the victim at all times. A bee sting can cause cardiac arrest, and in such cases, resuscitation is required. Usually chest compressions or artificial respiration are performed. But even if first aid was provided competently and on time, it is necessary to call a doctor. He will conduct an examination and determine if there is a danger to the patient's life.

Bee sting tumor remedies

After providing first aid and visiting a specialist, you need to regularly check the site of the bite, as a tumor may form there, which does not necessarily appear on the same day. A tumor with a bee sting can form after a day. At the same time, it is important to notice it in time and take action. In case of severe edema, an urgent need to consult a doctor.

If the bite site has increased slightly, then there is no cause for concern. The means available to everyone will help remove the swelling from a bee sting. In this case, experts recommend using gels, for example, "Moskitol" or "Fenistil". If there are no such drugs, any antihistamine ointment will work to prevent additional damage to the skin and relieve irritation. If the patient has sensitive skin, then it is better to use psilo balm. It contains components that relieve redness and have a cooling effect, which minimizes discomfort.

To get rid of the tumor, you can use the means at hand. Activated carbon is an excellent absorbent to neutralize harmful substances. It is necessary to dissolve one tablet of activated carbon and aspirin in a glass of clean water, moisten a cotton pad in the resulting solution and attach it to the bite site. Processing in this way should be carried out until the edema subsides.

Folk remedies for a bee sting

Activated carbon and aspirin

It doesn't matter if you don't have antihistamines on hand. Knowledge of the properties of plants and the skillful use of available tools will help eliminate the effects of bee stings. Activated carbon is an excellent adsorbent of various poisons. In combination with aspirin, an activated charcoal tablet relieves pain. You can make a similar mixture by simply dissolving the tablets in a glass of water. Then a cotton pad is moistened and applied to the bite site.

Parsley

Parsley grows literally in every garden bed, and there is always a housewife at hand in the kitchen. The plant has long established itself as a natural healer. Few people know that it has excellent anti-inflammatory effects. It is worth applying parsley leaves, previously chopped or filled with boiling water (cell walls are destroyed, and active substances come out), as redness disappears and pain goes away.

Plantain leaves

Plantain leaves have a lesser effect. They are recommended to be used together with parsley. Instead of a cotton pad, a decoction of parsley is applied to plantain. The juice of this plant has long been known in medicine and helps to accelerate wound healing.

In folk medicine, for bee stings, a compress of plantain and yarrow leaves is often used. Both plants are ground and made into a decoction. A little slurry is placed on a gauze bandage. The compress is changed every 2 hours. Thanks to their bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties, these plants perfectly tone the skin and remove any irritation.

Olive oil

Chilled olive oil also soothes irritation and redness at the bite site. The presence of unsaturated fatty acids has a beneficial effect on the skin, producing a nourishing and regenerating effect. It is enough to apply small portions of oil to the damaged area several times, and its healing qualities will manifest themselves.

Onion

Despite the not very pleasant smell, onions have long been used to eliminate the effects of bee stings. Onion juice contains a number of substances that actively bind the components of the poison. The bactericidal properties of onions reduce the risk of infection. The slight burning sensation caused by the onion juice compensates for the pain. Within a few minutes, the redness goes away and the swelling is noticeably reduced. Onions are used both in chopped form (gruel) and almost whole (cut in half), the main thing is the intensive release of medicinal juice.

Aloe

As early as 3 thousand years ago, the medicinal properties of aloe were mentioned. Now this plant is widespread all over the world and is easily grown at home. It is not for nothing that they say about aloe: a home first aid kit. Aloe juice is used in a not too concentrated form, previously diluted with water.

Not only compresses with juice are applied to the bite sites, but also whole leaves. Previously, the skin is removed from them, thereby stimulating the release of biologically active substances. After applying aloe, puffiness decreases, itching and hives go away. The skin is noticeably healed, the bite heals faster.

Author of the article: Danilova Tatyana Vyacheslavovna | Infectionist

Education: in 2008 received a diploma in General Medicine (General Medicine) at the Pirogov Russian Research Medical University. Immediately passed an internship and received a diploma of a therapist