Tis the season for bees!

What should we do when stung by a bee?
When a person is stung by a bee or wasp, venom is injected through a stinger into the skin of the victim. Honey bees have a barbed stinger that remains in the victim’s skin with its venom sack attached while wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets have stingers without barbs that are usually retracted upon stinging, and they can sting people multiple times.

Most people will have only a localized reaction to a bee sting but about 3% of people will have an allergic reaction, with less than 1% of bee sting victims experiencing the severe and life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

In the normal reaction to a bee sting, the skin is reddened and painful. Swelling and/or itching may also occur. However, in a systemic allergic reaction, the entire body is affected. This victim may develop hives, redness, or swelling at sites on the body other than the site of the sting. They can also become nauseous, dizzy, or experience wheezing, difficulty breathing, and a drop in blood pressure that leads to shock if not treated promptly. These types of reactions usually occur within minutes of the bee sting.

If you are stung by a bee:
• Call 911 if you have a history of severe reactions to insect stings or if you experience any severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea.
• Determine if the stinger is still present and remove it immediately if it’s visible in the wound. Use a straight edged object like a credit card or blunt knife to swipe over the area and remove the stinger. Especially with the honey bee, prompt removal of the stinger can reduce the severity of the sting.
• Clean the area with soap and water, and then apply either hydrocortisone cream or Calamine Lotion to the site. Alternative treatments include a paste made of unseasoned meat tenderizer and water or baking soda and water. Or even toothpaste can be used in a pinch!
• Taking an antihistamine such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can provide relief of symptoms as can non-prescription pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. (Stings in the mouth or nose, even in persons not known to be allergic to bee stings, require emergency medical attention, since they can lead to swelling that can interfere with breathing.)
• Apply ice or cold packs to the area ASAP to slow the spread of venom into the body.
• If you are an individual with a bee sting allergy, talk to your doctor about taking special precautions, including carrying an injectable form of the drug epinephrine or adrenaline.

How can one prevent bee stings?
First, make sure any bee or wasp nests around your home are removed and destroyed. Avoid flowery colognes, soaps, or lotions, or wearing brightly colored clothing, which attract bees. If a bee is near you, move away. Don’t swat at the bee, which may aggravate it. Lastly, be very careful about going barefoot on the grass. Hives can be in the ground or stray bees can be laying in waiting!

To your good health!
Dr. Larry Greenblatt
www.cmadoc.com