The long-awaited spring and summer give unforgettable holidays or just a well-spent weekend in nature, surrounded by flowering gardens and fruit trees. The wholesome, sweet gifts of nature can be overshadowed by a bee sting. For some, this is just a temporary discomfort, while others are subject to serious consequences. The risk group includes children and allergy sufferers. It is better to be safe in advance by following simple rules than to treat the effects of bites.
Typical symptoms of a bee sting
Bee or wasp stings cause unpleasant sensations, in some cases they end tragically. At the same time, stung up to three hundred times suffer from severe poisoning, more than five hundred – is a lethal dose. The poison contains organic and inorganic components:
- pheromones;
- proteins;
- peptides;
- biologically active amines;
- Sahara;
- lipids;
- amino acids;
- mineral composition.
Symptoms of a bee or wasp sting:
- Sharp, sharp, burning local pain.
- A protruding sting at the site of the lesion.
- The appearance of redness accompanied by pain and itching.
- Swelling, reaching peak development after two days.
- Swelling of the affected area. For allergy sufferers, the symptoms are aggravated, swelling of the mucous membranes, shortness of breath, heart palpitations are possible.
People who are susceptible to certain elements of the composition of the products of the secretory activity of the glands of hardworking insects should definitely know what to do if a bee stings.
What to do at home
What to do if bitten by a bee and how to prevent the spread of poison? Calm down first. The main thing is not to panic, to follow the strict implementation of the recommendations. But what to do with a bee sting at home if there are no necessary medications nearby? Folk remedies will help:
- a solution of water-based aspirin and activated carbon tablets;
- baking soda;
- plantain leaves;
- onion puree;
- olive oil;
- succulent aloe vera leaves;
- infusion of lemon balm, mint;
- grated potatoes and parsley root.
First aid
First aid for a bee sting:
- Pull out the sting to prevent the spread of toxic substances. Treat the instrument with clean or diluted alcohol. It is not convenient to remove it with your fingers; on the contrary, you can deepen the sting or infect an infection.
- Treat the stung place with a disinfectant. Apply ice.
- Drink weak tea, juice, water, replenishing the fluid in the body.
- Be sure to take your allergy medication. Allergy sufferers are advised to have a syringe and the necessary medicine with them, a passport with a type of typical immunological process.
- If an acute reaction occurs, call for emergency help. Try to lower your blood pressure.
- Emergency assistance consists in restoring breathing, starting the heart.
How to treat a wound
For the treatment of wounds, preparations of complex action are suitable, which reduce symptoms, aimed at treatment. Disinfect with vodka, hydrogen peroxide, a weak solution of manganese. The remedies will reduce discomfort and help remove the swelling. Apply cold.
Folk remedies and recipes
If a bee stung, you can always use effective folk remedies that are always at hand:
- Baking soda gruel gives relief in ten to fifteen minutes.
- A decoction of parsley sprigs quickly removes the tumor. Three teaspoons of raw materials for two hundred milliliters of warm water. Apply lotions to the affected area.
- Compresses with onion juice help to draw out bee venom and prevent suppuration.
- Lotions from grated raw potatoes relieve puffiness from the face.
- The antidote can be table vinegar or sour berries and fruits. Just lubricate the sore spot with a cotton pad.
Dangerous situations
What to do if a bee is bitten in the eye
Call an ambulance immediately!
In case of damage to the organs of vision, severe swelling of the soft tissues occurs. The eyelid closes completely. It is necessary to seek emergency care in order to prevent complications such as conjunctivitis, purulent inflammation of the eyeball or chronic inflammation of the eyelids. An ambulance will facilitate difficult treatment and prevent the development of serious consequences.
Bee sting in a child
Children feel a bite much stronger than an adult. Parents are often confused. Recommended procedure:
- Try to calm down and lay in a horizontal position in bed, sit down in a quiet place.
- Avoid contact with the wound to facilitate removal of the tip.
- Gently wet with disinfectant.
- Pull out the sting as painlessly as possible.
- Perform processing.
- Apply a sterile bandage.
- Give anti-allergy medication based on age group.
- Continuously monitor the child’s condition.
- Drink water, warm tea, you can add pharmacy chamomile.
- Call a doctor if the symptoms persist, the pain does not subside, the temperature rises, chills appear, signs of intoxication.
With timely first aid, symptoms and discomfort disappear on the second day.
We treat the consequences
The reaction to the spread of toxic substances depends on the sensitivity to the poison. Reactions in the form of edema, urticaria, anaphylactic shock are possible. The allergic reaction of the stung is individual. Unpredictability of manifestations is a serious risk.
Edema
How to relieve swelling after a bee sting, preventing the formation of a tumor? Disinfecting the bite site and applying cold will reduce or completely relieve swelling. Treatment takes place with the intake of antihistamines in the form of tablets, ointments or injection solutions.
Allergy
There are three degrees of severity of bee venom allergy:
- Urticaria, accompanied by chills, fever.
- Edema of the mucous membranes, disturbed heartbeat, intestinal pain.
- Severe allergic reaction with the development of anaphylactic shock, which results in death.
Allergy sufferers should have an epinephrine syringe with them. This will save you from the consequences of a single bite. For multiple bites, seek urgent medical attention.
Medicines of specific blockade of histamine receptors effectively fight allergic consequences. Adults can take pills, for children they are released in the form of drops. The injections are administered intramuscularly by qualified personnel.
Tumor
How to remove a swelling after a bee sting, reducing discomfort? The tumor is caused by the response of the immune system to toxic substances and insect enzymes. The inflammatory process promotes the accumulation of lymph in soft tissues.
The condition lasts for several days. As the swelling shrinks, an itching sensation appears. Apply cold and topical antipyretic, ice and anti-inflammatory folk remedy.
How to avoid a bee sting
A harmless bee will never sting for no reason, only to preserve the hive and protect the queen. An emergency attack is deadly to the bees. To avoid becoming a target, it is important to adhere to a few rules:
- Do not make sudden, provocative movements.
- Be careful when eating sweets and fruits outdoors.
- When leaving for the country, give preference to neutral tones of clothing.
- A headdress, clothing that completely covers the arms and legs, protects from possible bites.
- Do not provoke strong aromas of perfume, alcohol, gasoline.
- Walk carefully in open shoes during the period of active flowering of meadows and herbs.
- The aggression of bees increases with active hand movements. Do not dismiss insects.
- Do not disturb the hives and approach them less than three meters.
- It is good to be safe with means that scare away insects.
- When caring for an apiary or visiting it, you must use protective equipment.
In the absence of allergic reactions to single stings, you can get benefits for the body from the healing properties of bee venom:
- increased tone, performance;
- lower cholesterol;
- increased hemoglobin;
- decrease in viscosity, blood clotting;
- improving blood flow to diseased organs in the area of the bite;
- increased appetite, sleep quality.
The body’s response to bee stings is individual. The consequences depend on the state of human health and age categories. In order to prevent dangerous situations, it is important to observe all safety measures for outdoor recreation, in a garden or city park during the warm season.
