the first thing to do after a bee or other insect sting is look at the skin. if there’s a stinger there pull it out. this will prevent the release of more venom into the skin and avoid a prolonged reaction to the stinger. people’s reactions after bee stings vary widely and so does the appropriate treatment. most people develop only a minor local reaction to a bee sting. redness and painful swelling up to around two inches across are normal. cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers are adequate treatment. about 10% of people develop what are called large local reactions. this is an ongoing reaction to the sting with a large area of inflamed painful swollen skin. the reaction and its symptoms can continue to get worse for 48 hours and take up to 10 days to resolve. call your doctor if symptoms are still getting worse a few hours after a sting or if the reaction looks alarming. prescription anti-inflammatory medicines like prednisone and topical steroids may help. at home cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medicines can also be used. the worst reaction to a bee sting is called a systemic allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. this is a whole-body life-threatening reaction to insect venom. it doesn’t occur often but when it does people often underestimate the seriousness of the symptoms: • itching or rash in areas of skin away from the sting. • hoarseness or shortness of breath. • lightheadedness. people can develop anaphylaxis even without a previous serious reaction to bee stings. if you have any of these symptoms of anaphylaxis after an insect sting seek immediate medical attention or call 911.
how should i treat a bee sting?