Bee Stings

Introduction
Bee, Wasp, Hornet, and Yellow Jacket Stings
Spider Bites
Tick Bites
Insect bites and stings: First aid
For mild reactions:
For severe reactions:

• A bee will leave behind a stinger attached to a venom sac. Try to remove it as quickly as possible. One way is to gently scrape it out with a blunt-edged object, such as a credit card or a dull knife.
Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to three times a day until the skin is healed. Apply a cold pack, an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a cold, wet washcloth for a few minutes. Give acetaminophen for pain. For pain and itching, give an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, if your child's doctor says it's OK; follow dosage instructions for your child's age and weight. You could also apply a corticosteroid cream or calamine lotion to the sting area.

A sting anywhere in the mouth warrants immediate medical attention. That's because stings in the mucous membranes of the mouth can quickly cause severe swelling that may block airways. You should seek medical care if you note a large skin rash, a large area of swelling around the sting site, or if swelling or pain persists for more than 72 hours. You should seek immediate medical care if you notice any of the following signs, which may indicate a serious or even potentially life-threatening allergic reaction:
• wheezing or difficulty breathing
• tightness in throat or chest
• swelling of the lips
• dizziness or fainting
• nausea or vomiting

• Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to three times a day until skin is healed.
• Apply cool compresses.
• Give acetaminophen for pain.
• To protect against infection, apply an antibiotic ointment and keep the child's hands washed.
• If you have any reason to suspect your child has been bitten by a black widow or brown recluse spider, apply ice to the bite site and head for the emergency room. Symptoms include:
• a deep blue or purple area around the bite, surrounded by a whitish ring and a large outer red ring
• body rash
• muscle spasms, tightness, and stiffness
• abdominal pain
• headache or fever
• general feeling of sickness
• lack of appetite
• joint pain
• nausea or vomiting

• Call your child's doctor. The doctor may want you to save the tick after removal (you can put it in a jar of alcohol to kill it).
• Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to your child's skin.
• Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go, then swab the bite site with alcohol.
• Don't use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill and remove a tick.

• Move to a safe area to avoid more stings.
• Scrape or brush off the stinger with a straight-edged object, such as a credit card or the back of a knife. Wash the affected area with soap and water. Don't try to pull out the stinger; doing so may release more venom.
• To reduce pain and swelling, apply a cold pack or cloth filled with ice.
• Apply 0.5 percent or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion or a baking soda paste - with a ratio of 3 teaspoons baking soda to 1 teaspoon water - to the bite or sting several times a day until your symptoms subside.
• Take an antihistamine containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Tylenol Severe Allergy) or chlorpheniramine maleate (Chlor-Trimeton, Teldrin).

Allergic reactions may include mild nausea and intestinal cramps, diarrhea or swelling larger than 2 inches in diameter at the site. See your doctor promptly if you experience any of these signs and symptoms.

Severe reactions may progress rapidly. Dial 911 or call for emergency medical assistance if the following signs or symptoms occur:

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your lips or throat
• Faintness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Rapid heartbeat
• Hives
• Nausea, cramps and vomiting

Take these actions immediately while waiting with an affected person for medical help:

1. Check for special medications that the person might be carrying to treat an allergic attack, such as an auto-injector of epinephrine (for example, EpiPen). Administer the drug as directed - usually by pressing the auto-injector against the person's thigh and holding it in place for several seconds. Massage the injection site for 10 seconds to enhance absorption.
2. After administering epinephrine, have the person take an antihistamine pill if he or she is able to do so without choking.
3. Have the person lie still on his or her back with feet higher than the head.
4. Loosen tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket. Don't give anything to drink.
5. If there's vomiting or bleeding from the mouth, turn the person on his or her side to prevent choking.
6. If there are no signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement), begin CPR.

If your doctor has prescribed an auto-injector of epinephrine, read the instructions before a problem develops and also have your household members read them.