Now is that time of year when everyone wants to be outdoors. Of course, with being outdoors comes a slew of possible health-related issues, one popular issue being bee stings.

A bee sting can vary from a minor annoyance to the grown-up, to a terror for a small child, to truly dangerous for anyone who's allergic. It is very important to watch a small child closely following a bee sting, especially if they've never been stung before, to gauge any allergic reaction which may occur.

Treatment is quite simple for bee stings:
-Remove the stinger as soon as possible by scraping it horizontally. You can use a credit card or piece of cardboard to do this. Do not pull it out with the fingers, as this will squeeze the venom out of the sac and into the body.
-Apply cool compresses on the sting.
-If you get your doctor's "ok", use an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl or topical hydrocortisone ointment for the itching.
-Use a paste of baking soda and water over the sting to help decrease itching.

Seek immediate medical attention if there is any trouble breathing, if your child becomes light-headed or faints, if hives develop around the sting or in other areas of the body, or if there is swelling in other areas such as the tongue, lips or eyes.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Morgan.
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