How to Treat a Bee Sting in children and adults

Bee stings are fairly common especially in rural areas. A bee sting usually leads to a reddish swelling and may rarely develop into an anaphylactic shock. A bee sting requires immediate attention.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use tweezers to remove the stinger from the bee sting wound.

2. Apply ice cubes or cold peas or a cold compress around the bee sting wound. This decreases the inflammation as well as shrinks the blood vessels so that the poison does not spread. Application for at least 30 minutes is recommended.

3. If you have access to calamine lotion or Benadryl cream, apply it to the local area. Other alternatives are baking soda or vinegar.

4. Give an oral dose of OTC Benadryl. This is especially necessary if an anaphylactic reaction starts developing. REMEMBER IF AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION OCCURS CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM IMMEDIATELY.

5. Intramuscular steroids or oral steroids are often used and prescribed by physicians to prevent an anaphylactic reaction. If you have an epipen and know how to use it can be used if an anaphylactic reaction occurs

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to see a physician after a bee sting ASAP if there is easy access.

[hiptoknit]

on 8/30/2009 I've never had a bee sting so I'm always curious about how to treat.

[hlejames]

on 8/28/2009 I got my first bee sting last month after managing to go 33 years without one. Good advice! Bee stings hurt! 5*s