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.
Anaphylactic reactions include swelling of the mouth or throat, shortness of breath, difficulty in swallowing, and shock. These types of reactions typically occur within minutes or even seconds of being stung and are very rare. It is estimated that less than 1% of the population will have an anaphylactic reaction.
Stay Vigilant. Sometimes, severe allergic reactions occur up to 12 hours after an interaction. If your symptoms increase rapidly, don't wait. Call 911.
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.
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)
A moderate allergic reaction may cause symptoms such as hives and extreme redness. Swelling at the site of the sting may also gradually increase for a day or two. If you notice a moderate reaction each time you are stung, you should speak with an allergist.
Trouble breathing. Hives that appear as a red, itchy rash and spread to areas beyond the sting. Swelling of the face, throat, or any part of the mouth or tongue. Wheezing or trouble swallowing.
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.
Some people may have a stronger allergic reaction to an insect's venom, leading to bee sting side effects, such as a very large, swollen welt. The welt may grow in size over a 48-hour period. This reaction remains local to the sting site and doesn't spread to other areas of the body.
If you know you may be allergic, especially if you've had a severe reaction in the past when stung by a bee or wasp, seek immediate medical help. Take an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or a nonsedating one such as loratadine (Claritin) as soon as possible.
Delayed reaction.
Sometimes you may not experience a reaction until 4 hours or longer after the sting occurs. At that point you may begin to experience hives, fever, joint pain, swelling, and headache.
Epinephrine (adrenaline) to reduce your body's allergic response. Oxygen, to help you breathe. Intravenous (IV) antihistamines and cortisone to reduce inflammation of your air passages and improve breathing. A beta agonist (such as albuterol) to relieve breathing symptoms.
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. It may take 3 to 10 days for these symptoms to resolve.
These stings will look like a bad mosquito bite, with swelling at the bite site. The area will be red, the center may be white and there may be a small brown stinger still in your skin. A welt may also form.
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.
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.
Bites and stings may become infected. Signs of infection include redness, warmth, pain, redness streaking up the arm, drainage of pus, and swelling. Infections will need treatment with antibiotics and should get better over the next 10 days.
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.
You have signs of infection, such as: Increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the sting. Red streaks leading from the area. Pus draining from the sting.
To help alleviate the panic, it's important to know what to do — and not do — to treat a bee sting. The first thing to do is to get the stinger out quickly. The longer the stinger stays in the skin, the more venom it releases, adding to the person's pain 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.
However, in response to a sting, the body produces IgE that then causes inappropriate immune responses, such as hives, swelling, and respiratory problems the next time a person is stung.
Sometimes, swelling lasts more than 24 hours. Although it can be uncomfortable, it is normal for swelling to last for up to 7 days. Most people have a bee sting at some point in their lives. In most cases, they experience swelling and pain that go away on their own.
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.