Anaphylactic Reaction to the Sting The main symptoms are hives with trouble breathing and swallowing. It starts within 2 hours of the sting. This severe reaction to bee stings happens in 4 out of a 1,000 children.
If you are allergic, you need to know that a reaction can occur either right away or up to 12 hours after the sting. Make sure you have your EpiPen with you during that time. If you have any of the following conditions when stung by a bee, call 911 and then use your EpiPen: Red welts on your skin (hives)
Reactions occurring more than four hours after a bee or other insect sting are classified as delayed reactions. There have been isolated reports of serum sickness-like syndromes occurring about a week after a sting.
If the reaction starts spreading, it's time to seek bee sting emergency treatment, particularly if you have a known allergy to bees or are suffering from multiple bee stings. Other severe allergic reaction symptoms to watch for include: Skin irritation such as hives, itching, and/or flushed or pale skin.
The riskiest symptoms to watch for are: Itching, hives, or swelling over a large part of your body -- not just where you got stung. Face, throat or tongue starts to swell.
A normal reaction sets off pain, swelling, and redness around the sting site. A large local reaction causes swelling that extends beyond the sting site. For example, a person stung on the ankle may have swelling of the entire leg. While it often looks alarming, it's usually no more serious than a normal reaction.
What kind of symptoms should I expect? The symptoms of a bee sting vary from person to person, but you may see a pink or red welt or swelling of the skin around the sting site. A central white spot usually appears where the stinger punctured your skin, Hottel says. You may also feel some itching around the area.
A toxic reaction to a bee sting happens when a person has the very bad luck of getting stung multiple times. Someone who's experiencing a toxic reaction may feel nauseous, vomit and develop diarrhea. Within 24 hours, muscle breakdown and renal failure may occur if left untreated.
Large Local Reactions and Bee Sting Swelling Days Later
A local reaction can produce very uncomfortable pain, itching, and swelling. Some of this swelling can be delayed, increasing over 24 to 48 hours.
Pain and other symptoms of a bee sting can worsen if you don't get the stinger out quickly. The longer the stinger stays in your skin, the more venom it releases, adding to your pain and swelling. This can also increase the chances of an allergic reaction.
The swelling and pain usually improve within a few hours. Approximately 10 percent of people develop severe redness and swelling after a sting. This is called a large local reaction. The area may become large (4 inches [10 cm] or more) over 1 to 2 days and then slowly resolve over 5 to 10 days.
If the sting is on an arm or leg, elevate it. Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease redness, itching or swelling. If itching or swelling is bothersome, take an oral antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine. Avoid scratching the sting area.
You probably won't have a severe allergic reaction the first time you are stung. But even if your first reaction to a sting is mild, allergic reactions can get worse with each sting. Your next reaction may be more severe or even deadly.
The most dangerous symptoms are low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness, all of which can be fatal. If you are unsure if you are experiencing a severe allergic reaction, it is generally better to use EpiPen®.
The majority of the time, the symptoms of bee sting serum sickness will improve on their own within 48 hours. As the chemical from the bee toxin is filtered out of your body, the sickness will begin to go away.
Normal reactions typically include intense pain, itching, and redness with swelling at the sting site up to the size of quarter. Large local reactions extend out from the site of the sting and involve redness with swelling that can at times involve the entire arm or leg.
Ordinarily, bee venom is not toxic and will only cause local pain and swelling. The allergic reaction comes when the immune system is oversensitized to the venom and produces antibodies to it. Histamines and other substances are released into the bloodstream, causing blood vessels to dilate and tissues to swell.
First, look at the stung area closely. You'll likely see a red bump. If a stinger was left behind, you'll also see a small black filament sticking out of the center. It may have a bulbous end, which is the venom sac.
In rare cases, a bee sting can become infected. Symptoms of an infection include redness, swelling, warmth, and pus drainage. It is important to seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible, as some people can experience an allergic reaction.
A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to bee stings is potentially life-threatening and requires emergency treatment. A small percentage of people who are stung by a bee or other insect quickly develop anaphylaxis.
Epinephrine is a medication that can help to reduce bee sting allergy symptoms. You may also need to be treated with antihistamines and cortisone through an IV. Your doctor will likely prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector to carry with you at all times.
Some people successfully deal with stings by treating the area of the sting with baking soda, honey, a wet aspirin tablet, even toothpaste. I recommend cleaning the sting area with soap and water, and you might want to use an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Zyrtec or Claritin to reduce itching and swelling.
Like baking soda and toothpaste, apple cider vinegar has been known to help neutralize bee venom and ease the swelling and pain. Pour apple cider vinegar into a basin and soak the affected area for at least 15 minutes. You can also use a piece of cloth: soak it in the basin and then dab it onto the affected area.