How To React To A Wasp Sting? – Being Parents

Many of us have had the experience of the wasp sting before . And although it is usually not very serious,  it can be very painful. Whether it is us or our children who are stung by a wasp, it is advisable to know how to act in these times.

Find out below how to provide first aid for a wasp sting and under what circumstances it  can be life threatening.

Symptoms of wasp sting

A wasp sting  is a fairly common occurrence in many parts of the world. While all stings are painful and uncomfortable, they also depend a lot on the species of wasp that lives in your area. It only represents a danger when it comes to a swarm. Common symptoms of a wasp sting are:

• A tingling sensation in the lips, fingers and toes.
• Inflammation and a burning sensation in the area of ​​the sting.
• Slight dizziness.

With the exception of a pimple and a slight burning sensation which may persist for several days after the bite, the symptoms are mild and diminish until they subside considerably within a few hours.

In most cases, the treatment for a wasp sting involves cleaning the area and avoiding possible infection.

Symptoms of emergency care

This is because there are circumstances in which the wasp sting can become more dangerous and  requires immediate medical attention. A clinical case that requires seeing a doctor is:

• Fever.
• Difficulty in breathing.
• Loss of consciousness.
• The increased heart rate.

• Swelling of the face or part of the face.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness that does not go away.
• Bites in areas like the neck or nose that can interfere with breathing.

Some considerations on wasps

Before we move on to first aid, it is worth noting that wasps have some differences from bees. It is recommended to know them, at least for the subject that interests us.

Their different form, the ecosystem in which they live, their  diet,  among others, represent very rich and varied information. Regarding stings, what we need to know is that bees  die after having planted their sting in the skin,  unlike wasps.

The stinger is part of its reproductive system, which makes it more resilient, and in short, it allows a wasp to sting multiple times without dying.

Why tell you about this? To offer two pieces of advice, the first is to pay attention to a wasp that has just  stung,  assuming that it is going to die. The second is not to interpret the absence of a stinger in the bite as an indicator that it has remained stuck in the skin and is hidden by the blister. Your search to remove it may result in further injury.

First aid

For most injections, the prescriptions will be almost the same:

1. Try  not to move the affected area too much  to prevent the venom from the bite spreading into the blood.
2. Wash the wasp sting area thoroughly with soap and water. Do not try to squeeze the pimple that is starting to form in order to extract the venom. You can use ice first to try to reduce the swelling or relieve the pain.
3. Apply an antiseptic. This will mostly neutralize the action of the venom and pathogens present in the wasp sting, thus preventing the affected area from becoming infected.
4. If necessary, take a pain reliever to  relieve the stabbing pain in the area.

Respiratory emergencies due to a wasp sting

The  allergies  and certain diseases, can worsen symptoms when you are stung by a wasp. Asthma  is one of the cases where an injection can be fatal  if an ambulance is not called immediately.

Except in some cases of illnesses in which  the blood pressure drops or the heart rate gets too high,  most serious complications show up in a few people who get a wasp sting.

Serious problems are due to the body’s inflammatory reaction to the sting. Concretely, this inflammation can cause an  obstruction of breathing,  hence  the need to act quickly when  faced with any sensation of difficulty in breathing.