Bee stings. Most of the time they are nothing more than an inconvenience, but for some people they can be deadly. And even if they aren’t fatal, they are still pretty painful. Here are some tips on how to alleviate the pain and recognize the danger signs of bee stings.
Remove the stinger
You’ve been stung. Now what? First things first, you are going to want to remove the stinger. The longer you leave the stinger in, the more venom will enter the body. Therefore, you are going to want to remove it as soon as possible. When removing the stinger do not pinch or squeeze it. This will also cause more venom to enter the body. There are many other ways that you can remove the stinger without using tweezers or irritating it. You can try scraping a finger nail or bank card over the area, or you can wipe over it with a piece of gauze. These methods will help you avoid adding the most amount of venom in the body.
Look out for an allergic reaction
The second thing to do is to watch for an allergic reaction. A little irritation is normal, however if the person has any of the following symptoms below, you should go seek medical attention immediately.
- Rapid Pulse
- Swelling of face, throat or mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Red, itchy hives on multiple areas of the body
- Feeling dizzy
- Restlessness and anxiety
- Difficulty breathing
- Low blood pressure
It is important to mention that bee stings can be a lot more dangerous and fatal for children, especially if the child experiences multiple stings. If you are concerned about swelling, mark the edge of the red area with a pen. Then wait an hour and look to see if the red area has enlarged more than 12 inches across. This can be a sign that medical treatment is needed as well.
Treatments
If the sting is not extreme, there are some simple home treatments that can be used to the alleviate pain and swelling.
First, you can take pain relievers, such as aspirin or acetaminophen. Topical creams and oral drugs are available at most local pharmacists. These will not only ease the pain but also it will also reduce the swelling.
Second you can apply any of the following home remedy solutions and see which one works for you.
- Apply ice, frozen bag of peas, or some other cold item wrapped in fabric to the afflicted area for 20 minutes
- Put toothpaste over the bee sting. The mint and tingling feeling should help eliminate some of the itchiness. Remove after about an hour and a half and reapply five hours later.
- Make a baking soda paste and cover the afflicted area.
- Apply hydrocortisone cream to the bee sting. Reapply in four hours.
There are many other remedies that you can find on the internet. However, these are the most common. If the sting is serious, don’t use one of these home remedies and don’t delay. The best thing to do is to see a doctor immediately. Serious stings can be fatal. In fact, more people die from bee stings than snake bites in America.
If you are concerned about a recent bee sting, call us at 801-724-9840. Our doctors will help you get the help that you need. If you have any questions comment below.