Health

Everything You Need to Know About Wasp Stings, According to Experts

Everything You Need to Know About Wasp Stings, According to Experts


Summer’s right around the corner, and you know what that means: picnics, swimming, and encounters with annoying (and sometimes venomous) bugs. And wasp stings are some of the most painful of those run-ins, according to MedlinePlus, a resource of the US National Library of Medicine.

Wasps, like bees and ants, are part of the scientific order Hymenoptera, of which there are 150,000 different species. Both wasps and bees come with a stinger for self defense. That stinger contains venom, which is transmitted when a wasp stings you—that’s what can cause the pain you feel, along with a stinger that could get lodged in your skin after a sting.

First: What does a wasp sting look like?

Additionally, there’s typically a red mark that looks like pen prick in the center of the sting, Tania Mucci-Elliott, MD, an infectious disease, allergy, and immunology expert at NYU Langone, tells Health.

What are the symptoms of a wasp stings?

Once the stinger’s gone, wash the site with water and gentle soap, apply a cold compress to keep the swelling down and try an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen for pain, says Dr. Cameron. Dr Elliott also recommends keeping the area elevated and using an analgesic like Cutter Bite MD Insect Bite Relief stick to help with pain and itching.

What are the symptoms of a wasp stings?

While most should be able to treat a wasp sting at home, if you’ve been stung multiple times, going to your local urgent care clinic or another doctor’s office might prove beneficial, as an expert might be able to help you remove multiple stingers from your skin.

While many people will only have a minor local reaction to a wasp sting, the possibility of a serious allergic reaction is possible—especially if someone gets stung by a wasp for the first time.

It’s important to keep in mind the signs of a severe allergic reaction (listed above) in this case. “If swelling spreads to areas besides the sting location or if you develop difficulty breathing, nausea, widespread hives, dizziness, you should go to your local emergency department as this would be signs of a systemic allergic reaction,” says Dr. Cameron. There, they may treat you with epinephrine, which you can also keep on hand in the form of an EpiPen if you have a history of severe allergic reactions.

If you’re going to an outdoor picnic, consider bringing covers for any food and drink items you’ll have out, so that you can minimize the chance of attracting wasps. If you frequently notice wasps in your backyard—or another area near your home—you should regularly check for wasps’ nests in that location, Dr. Cameron says.

Additionally, it’s important to simply be mindful of where you’re hanging out when you’re outside. “Try to avoid areas where there will be wasps, like eaves of houses [and] near trash cans,” Dr. Elliott says.

To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter

To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter

To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter



Source link

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Read More