What to do with a hornet bite?
Content:
- Hornet bite symptoms
- The consequences of a hornet bite
- First aid for a hornet bite
- What to do with a hornet bite?
- Prevention of hornet bites
The hornet is a very dangerous large hymenoptera insect of the wasp family. A hornet bite is a threat to human health and can even be fatal. The severity of the consequences after a bite depends largely on the type of hornet. Some of the species are among the most poisonous insect representatives known today. Others pose a less pronounced danger to humans and their attack does little harm to the body.
People who are prone to allergic reactions are very difficult to tolerate bites, as they may experience anaphylactic shock. If timely medical assistance is not provided, then death occurs.
At the same time, the hornet bite cannot be called particularly painful. Despite their large size (more than 3 cm), they pierce the skin no more than an ordinary bee. You can come across these wasp representatives anywhere. They live in families in wooden buildings, both residential and household, in tree hollows, in bee hives.
Biting, the hornet can inflict several attacks in a row, while the sting will not remain in the wound. Single bites activate inflammation in the tissues, and multiple bites cause severe allergic reactions. The poison of an ordinary hornet is no more harmful than a bee, but when it gets into the skin in large quantities it causes pathological processes. The substance that poisonous Asian species secrete has serious consequences.
Hornet bite symptoms
These insects, unlike ordinary bees, can inflict attacks several times in a row. A mosquito net, which is worn to protect the face, will not protect from the hornet, since it is able to sprinkle poison through the fabric. The substance causes severe burns, especially if it gets into the eyes.
The bite is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- acute pain in the affected area;
- the appearance of swelling and redness at the site of the bite;
- feeling of nausea and vomiting;
- cooling of the limbs;
- the neck, lips and ears become bluish;
- the pulse quickens significantly;
- blood pressure decreases;
- dizziness is observed, and loss of consciousness is possible (in a situation where the victims are young children or adults with weakened immunity);
- speech difficulty is also accompanied;
- peeling and spotting of the skin appears (typical for allergy sufferers).
Only in isolated cases can a person endure a hornet attack without any special disturbances in the body and with a weak manifestation of its signs.
The consequences of a hornet bite
After an insect attack, people begin to intoxication of the body, which is expressed in the following consequences:
- Severe headaches.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Considerable perspiration.
- A sharp increase in body temperature.
- Shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
- Fever and chills.
- Convulsions (rarely recorded).
The consequences may differ in their severity, depending on the state of the victim's body, the protective properties of the systems, the tendency to allergies, age, and the presence of chronic pathologies. Small children are especially hard to endure the attacks of a hornet, their intoxication occurs more rapidly and is accompanied by a general deterioration in well-being.
If, against the background of the ingress of poison into the body, an allergy in the form of urticaria has arisen, then this may entail a complication (Quincke's edema). This disease is extremely dangerous, because the tissue of the larynx swells and the person becomes unable to breathe fully. Hives are indicated by extensive red patches on the body, which quickly spread to join and form a solid red zone.
Heart rhythm can also be disturbed, in some cases, cardiac arrest occurs. If anaphylactic shock has become the consequence of the bite, then immediate first aid measures must be taken. Otherwise, the death of the victim occurs.
See also: first aid for anaphylactic shock
The severity of the consequences may also differ due to the location of the attack. The most dangerous bites are in such areas of the human body: head, neck, areas of passage of large vessels and arteries.
First aid for a hornet bite
- After a person collides with this insect and attacks, it is necessary to carefully examine the site of the lesion for the presence of sting particles that sometimes get into the skin. If they are observed in the wound, then they should be removed using tweezers. In no case, do not squeeze out the sting.
- Rinse the affected area thoroughly with water and antibacterial or disinfectant soap.
- Apply an alcohol solution. Apply a copious amount of liquid to a cotton swab and wipe the bite site. This is necessary in order to eliminate the pathogens located on the hornet's sting.
- Apply cold (ice or some kind of frozen food wrapped in plastic).
- Consult a doctor for qualified help.
A visit to the doctor is not necessary if the bite was single and there is no significant deterioration in the condition.
A visit to a specialist is necessary if such factors are present:
- a sharp weakening of the body;
- swelling of the affected area and severe pain;
- the appearance of a pronounced allergic reaction;
- the victim is a child who is less than 16 years old;
- the attack was carried out by several insects at the same time.
At the moment when several hornets bite, the level of toxin penetrating into the blood increases significantly. Therefore, intoxication becomes more pronounced and qualified treatment will be required.
What to do with a hornet bite?
The list of recommendations that should be followed in case of an insect attack:
- remove sting particles from the wound if it breaks off and gets into the skin;
- gently squeeze out the insect poison;
- rinse with alcohol or manganese solution;
- apply treatment products that contain acid that neutralizes harmful substances (effective use of acetylsalicylic acid, squeezed lemon juice, onion, cucumber);
- take an antihistamine (Suprastin, Tavegil);
- call a doctor at home or go to a medical institution on your own.
In the hospital, the doctor will determine the severity of the condition and apply the necessary medications. In anaphylactic shock, the patient is injected with hemodynamic drugs and fluid is infused. Adrenaline is also used to widen the airways. It is considered advisable to take vascular drugs, such as Dopamine, Dobutrex. In especially severe cases, in order to remove the poison from the body, GS and plasmapheresis are performed.
Prevention of hornet bites
In order not to become a victim of such a dangerous insect, you should avoid visiting the habitats of bees, abandoned wooden buildings, forest impassable areas. If a hornet nest is found, you should contact the appropriate authority, whose workers will rid you of the unpleasant inhabitants.
It is not worth trying to burn out insects or use deodorants and various means against them on your own. This can greatly embitter the representatives of the bees, which will end badly for humans. When you see a hornet near you, you should not try to brush it off or drive it away, since most of them are already attacking for no reason. It is necessary to move as soon as possible to a decent distance or hide in a room or car. The use of popular mosquito and tick repellents does not work on these Hymenoptera and this must be taken into account when encountering them.
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
