To treat the wasp sting: If you do this, do not pinch the venom sac at the end of the stinger. If this sac is broken, more venom will be released. Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Place ice (wrapped in a clean cloth) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes.
If the stinger is present, remove it by gently scraping over the area with a straight-edged object, e.g., a credit card, butter knife, etc. Never attempt to squeeze the stinger out of the skin, as this may inject more venom into the site. Wash the exposed area with soap and water.
Severe pain or burning at the site lasts 1 to 2 hours. Normal swelling from venom can increase for 48 hours after the sting. The redness can last 3 days. The swelling can last 7 days.
Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin)for pain relief as needed. Wash the sting site with soap and water. Placing hydrocortisone cream on the sting can help relieve redness, itching, and swelling. If it's been more than 10 years since your last tetanus booster, get a booster within the next few days.
Apply a cold compress to help reduce pain and swelling. Apply 0.5 or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, or a baking soda paste to the stung area. Take an antihistamine to reduce itching.
Soak a small bit of cotton wool in apple cider vinegar and place it on the wasp sting whilst applying a small amount of pressure. The acidity of the vinegar helps neutralise the wasp venom.
When to See a Doctor. Wasp stings can be painful, but, when treated at home, the pain usually lasts no more than a day. If you are experiencing persistent pain and continuous swelling over the course of a couple of days, you may have an infection.
Phase 2: Swelling
Bees and wasps also release histamines into their victim's bloodstream when they sting. These histamines mobilize the immune system against what it interprets to be foreign invaders, causing inflammation.
The pain and discomfort should go away in a few hours. With a more moderate reaction, swelling around the site of the sting may persist for a few days and even grow larger.
What should I do if the swelling from a wasp sting doesn't go down after 48 hours? If the swelling from a wasp sting persists after 48 hours, you should seek medical attention. Your doctor may prescribe a course of steroids or antibiotics to help reduce inflammation and prevent infection.
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. This article will go over how to remove a bee stinger and how to treat the sting.
For the average patient presenting in the office, swelling and pain caused by a wasp sting should peak at 48 hours, but may continue for a week and affect the entire limb. Clinical evaluation should include checking for the stinger and removing it, and assessing upper and lower airways.
Step 1: Take Out the Stinger
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. If the skin around the stinger is loose, pull it tight to get a better look.
Although they are painful, isolated wasp stings seldom cause serious problems. However, the venom contains toxins that can cause allergic reactions in susceptible people. Around one in 10 people who are stung two or more times become allergic, which means they will experience severe reactions to any subsequent stings.
The isolated compounds from wasp venom have shown several beneficial activities such as antimicrobial [4,5], anticancer [6], and anti-inflammatory effects [7].
Most bee and wasp stings cause symptoms such as swelling and discoloration that peak about 48 hours after the sting. The initial burning sensation and pain usually only lasts 1–2 hours. Discoloration can persist for 3 days and swelling for up to a week.
Protein-destroying polypeptide enzymes rupture the flesh and destroy blood cells, while histamines increase blood flow, flushing the venom further into the body, causing swelling and redness.
While both types of stings can be painful and cause swelling, the venom in wasps is typically more potent. This means that you may experience greater symptoms after being stung by a wasp. In addition to knowing how to treat a sting, it's also helpful to know how to avoid them in the first place.
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. Having a large local reaction does not mean that you will have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) if you are stung again.
Ice is a great way to help reduce the swelling from a wasp sting as well as both bees and hornet stings, the cold temperature slows down the blood flow to the insect sting. To treat insect stings using ice take an ice cube, or an ice pack and place it on the wasp sting for around 20 minutes.
Basic treatment
Most insect bites and stings cause itching and swelling that usually clears up within several hours. Minor bites and stings can be treated by: washing the affected area with soap and water. placing a cold compress (a flannel or cloth cooled with cold water) over the affected area to reduce swelling.
Toothpaste. If your bee or wasp sting is itchy, apply a thin layer of toothpaste to the affected area. This should be a paste, not a gel toothpaste. This creates a tingly sensation on your arm which satisfies your urge to scratch the area while also reducing itchiness.
Descriptions of the most painful examples were given, e.g.: "Paraponera clavata stings induced immediate, excruciating pain and numbness to pencil-point pressure, as well as trembling in the form of a totally uncontrollable urge to shake the affected part."