by T.Yeap

Created on: September 08, 2009

Although bees are beneficial insects to our environment, it also brings nuisance to human being from time to time. Bee sting for instance, can be painful and deadly to people that are allergic to it. However, for most bee stings, home treatment is sufficient and no specific medical attention is required unless multiple stings or an allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis occurs.

The bee jabs its singer with the attached venom sacs into your skin. The venom continue to release into your body and cause topical reaction, which is the red and swollen bump. Follow the step by step guide for the first aide treatment:

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT

1) Leave the area immediately, when bee sting, it releases chemical to attract other bees to come near you. Do not try to kill other bees because it may aggravate them into attack mode.

2) Remove the bee sting and its venom sac immediately. Use your fingernail or the edge of your credit card to scrape it off. Make sure you don't break the stinger and squeeze the venom sacs while trying to remove it. It can cause more venom to be release into your muscle and causes more severe reaction.

3) Wash the area with cold water and soap.

4) Apply cold pack or ice wrap with cloth on sting area to reduce swelling.

5) Apply hydrocortisone cream (can be easily obtained in pharmacy or grocery store) to help with the itching after the bee sting.

6) Take antihistamine pills (Benadryl) if the itching and swelling continues and does not improve after the cream treatment.

7) Remember not to scratch the sting area, it will cause the area to itch more and increases the chances of infection.

EMERGENCY TREATMENT FOR ALLERGIC REACTION

People that are allergic to bee sting usually carry an emergency epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, TwinJect). Make sure you check for signs and symptoms of anaphylactic shock, such as: hives, difficulty in breathing, and dizziness. The autoinjector is a syringe look-a-like that carry single dose of medication that needs to be administered in the thigh area when the allergic reaction occurs. Bring the person to the emergency room for a thorough check-up.

There's also test that you can take to determine if you are allergic to bee stings. If you are, there's also treatment for it called - allergy shots that is taken on a regular basis throughout the course of months or years depending on the different allergy reactions towards different bee venom.

TIPS TO AVOID BEING STUNG

1) Don't wear perfume, cologne, hairspray, scented deodorant as bees are attracted to sweet scent.

2) Don't wear bright color clothing especially with floral prints.

3) Cover your arms and legs with clothing when going to places where bees are more apparent.

Learn more about this author, T.Yeap.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.