Have you ever been stung by a wasp before? Wasp stingers are able to inject venom into the swollen area around where they make contact giving that area of your body an allergic reaction which can produce some pretty awful symptoms. It will be hard to get to sleep and you have probably noticed that is it extremely prickly. These are just a few of the many symptoms you will notice for yourself. Wasp stings and bee stings are painful and your skin gets swollen when you get stung by a wasp or a bee. I’ve had a lot of experience with wasp stings, my grandpa had a hive in his backyard and got stung all the time. You will have to live with the feeling of pain if you don’t use the right treatment. Whether your allergic to wasp stings or know somebody who is, you’re not alone. Wasps are very common in both web and real life. Thankfully, wasps can’t sting through clothes so you don’t have to worry about being stung when wearing a thick jacket. You do however, want to make sure you don’t get stung while fetching the mail or playing out in the garden. People usually present with symptoms of anaphylaxis (which is an acute allergic reaction) when they are stung by a wasp. This article will look into the Black and Yellow Garden Wasp (Vespula germanica) – but also Wasp sting allergies in general as there are quite a few things that can cause this type of reaction. Whether your allergic to wasp stings or know somebody who is, you’re not alone. Wasps are very common in both web and real life. Thankfully, wasps can’t sting through clothes so you don’t have to worry about being stung when wearing a thick jacket. You do however, want to make sure you don’t get stung while fetching the mail or playing out in the garden. People usually present with symptoms of anaphylaxis (which is an acute allergic reaction) when they are stung by a wasp. This article will look into the Black and Yellow Garden Wasp (Vespula germanica) – but also Wasp sting allergies in general as there are quite a few things that can cause this type of reaction.

How To Take Care Of A Wasp Sting

Introduction

Getting stung by a wasp or bee is never fun, but luckily most stings can be treated at home. The first step in treating any sting is to remove the stinger—unless it’s a fire ant or jellyfish. Once the stinger is removed, you can treat pain and swelling with ice packs and over-the-counter antihistamines. If you’re allergic to insect bites, you should seek medical treatment for a sting as soon as possible.

Treat the sting site with ice.

• Ice

Ice is one of the best ways to treat a wasp sting. It helps reduce swelling and pain, as well as numb the area so that you don’t feel any discomfort. Immediately after being stung, apply ice directly to your skin for 5-20 minutes. Never apply ice directly onto your skin—use a towel or washcloth that’s been chilled in the freezer and place it over the sting site for up to 20 minutes.

Use a tweezer to remove the stinger.

Now that you’ve removed the stinger, you may notice that it still hasn’t stopped hurting. This is because the venom sac of a wasp continues to pump out venom for up to an hour after its death. To stop this from happening, use tweezers to pinch over where you pulled out the stinger and squeeze until all of the venom has been released into your body.

Do not use your hands for this purpose if possible; using hands can cause more damage than good because they have many small blood vessels in them which makes them ideal locations for venom to flow through quickly—and painfully—into your veins and arteries.

Don’t use teeth either; while they might seem like an obvious choice (assuming you’re not in pain), they are actually among one of the worst things you could do with regard to removing a sting without causing further harm or discomfort! The edges are sharp enough that they could easily cut through even thick layers of clothing or fabric which would then allow venom into any potentially sensitive areas under those items such as skin on arms or legs…or even worse: eyes!

Wash the sting area with soap and water.

• Wash the sting site with soap and water.
• Use a washcloth or your fingers to thoroughly scrub the area to remove any residue left by the wasp’s stinger.
• Rinse the area well with clean water, then apply an antihistamine cream or an ice pack (see below).

Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the sting site.

As you learned in the “What Do Wasps Sting?” section, wasp venom is designed to cause pain and swelling. Baking soda can help reduce both of these symptoms by neutralizing the venom as well as drying out the sting site. To apply this paste:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 tablespoons water until it forms a paste
• Use a cotton swab or other small piece of cotton to apply the paste directly to your skin at least once an hour for up to four hours

Take a pain reliever or antihistamine to reduce pain and swelling.

If you have a wasp sting, you may have swelling and itching. Painkillers or antihistamines can help reduce both the pain and swelling.

• Pain reliever: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil) will relieve pain that lasts longer than 48 hours. Although many over-the-counter drugs are available without a prescription, if your pain is severe or doesn’t improve with an over-the-counter medication, talk to your doctor about whether a prescription medication might be right for you.
• Antihistamine: If you’re allergic to wasp venom, an antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can relieve itching and other symptoms of allergic reaction.

wasp stings can be treated at home; bee stings can be too, but you should see a doctor if necessary

If you’ve been stung by a wasp, you may have wondered if you should see a doctor. Fortunately, the answer is usually no. Wasp stings are generally less painful than bee stings and are also less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Wasp stings are also typically smaller than bee stingers and therefore easier to remove.

If your symptoms include redness and swelling that does not go away after several days or if you experience any of the following symptoms: difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain; dizziness; nausea; vomiting; abdominal cramps; diarrhea; seizures (convulsions); fainting—seek medical attention immediately as these could indicate anaphylaxis (an extreme allergic reaction).

Conclusion

Bee stings can be a big deal, and you should always seek medical attention if you’re unsure of how to treat one. But wasp stings are usually less serious and can be taken care of at home. If you have an allergic reaction or feel unwell minutes or hours later, seek medical attention immediately.