First aid for a wasp sting

When an insect bites or stings, it is not only unpleasant, but also painful, and sometimes even dangerous. Probably every person has experienced this at least once in his life. On the territory of our country, the wasp is considered the leader in biting after the mosquito. It differs from the bee in the presence of a thinner waist, as well as in typical stripes in the lower segment of the calf. What threatens an insect attack, and how is first aid provided for a wasp sting?

What to do with a wasp sting?

If the wasp nevertheless attacked and bitten, then it is better to immediately lubricate the affected area with any of such external preparations as Voltaren, Ketorol gel, Nimid gel, Dolobene, Dolgit, Menovazin, Ketonal, etc. Even the well-known Vietnamese Asterisk balm will do, which relieves pain and prevents the appearance of edema - provided that the product was applied to the skin immediately after a wasp sting.

Just in case, going to the country or to nature, it is advisable to take a first aid kit with emergency drugs. If such a first-aid kit was not at hand, and the wasp has already bitten, then you can use alternative recipes, which often show an effect no less than pharmacy products.

Immediately after a wasp sting, you need to carefully examine the damaged area. Not always, but in some cases, the insect leaves its own sting in the skin at the time of the bite: if it is not pulled out, complications may develop. You should try and remove a thin sting from the wound, and then treat the skin with an antiseptic (alcohol solution, hydrogen peroxide, furacilin or potassium permanganate solution). If there is no antiseptic at hand, vodka, cologne, soap or soda solution will do. In extreme cases, a plantain or celandine leaf washed in water is applied.

Ice cubes, as well as tincture of calendula or propolis, perfectly cope with pain and swelling. Tincture moisten the wound first every hour, then - 2-3 times a day, until a stable improvement in the condition.

Accelerates the healing of places bitten by a wasp crushed bay leaf, compresses from juice and yarrow leaves, as well as essential oils (little eucalyptus, rosemary, cloves will do).

If you are prone to allergies after a wasp sting, you should immediately take any antiallergic agent (Suprastin, Loratadin, Fenistil, Zirtek, Telfast, etc.), and drink plenty of fluids during the day - for example, water, tea, compote, which will contribute to the speedy removal toxic substance from the body. [1]

First aid for a wasp sting in the eye

A wasp sting always occurs unexpectedly, and it is impossible to prepare for the appearance of a problem. And it is especially unpleasant when an insect stings in the eye, which begins to hurt unbearably, swells, and the victim grows panic: what to do?

Try not to panic, but clearly follow these instructions:

• no need to climb into the affected eye with your fingers, rub and scratch it, as this contributes to infection and accelerates the spread of poison into the blood;
• with a tendency to allergies, you should urgently visit a doctor if possible, or take any antiallergic agent as soon as possible;
• you need to repeat the antiallergic drug every 4 hours;
• if the swelling of the eye grows, then it is better to attach an ice bag to it;
• if possible, after a wasp sting, the eyes should be disinfected (any anti-inflammatory eye drops, or a weak solution of furacilin or potassium permanganate, will do).

Polynadim eye drops, the composition of which is represented by diphenhydramine and naphazoline, perfectly cope with the problem. Drops can be used from 2 years of age, but not more than five days in a row, and only on the recommendation of a doctor.

What to do with a wasp sting in the arm, leg?

The moment of a wasp sting cannot be overlooked, therefore, first aid must be provided immediately after an insect attack. Important: if you were attacked by one or two or three wasps, then you can deal with the problem yourself. With multiple bites, it is advisable to seek qualified medical help - for example, in a hospital, emergency room.

Take a good look at the damaged area: sometimes you can find a sting, but it may not be there. Wasps, unlike bees, can use their sting multiple times.

If the stinging element still remains in your body, then you will need:

• tweezers;
• any antiseptic (vodka, brilliant green, furacilin solution);
• antiallergic drug.

Help and sequence of actions for a wasp sting is as follows:

• gently wash the affected area of the skin to get rid of visible dirt;
• carefully remove the sting with tweezers;
• apply an antiseptic to the wound;
• apply an ice bag (if any);
• take any antiallergic drug orally.

If everything is done correctly, as well as drinking enough liquid during the day, the swelling and discomfort from the wasp sting will pass within a few hours.

What to do with a wasp sting on the lip?

Doctors assure that wasp stings in the area of the face and mouth, and in particular, in the lip, can be the most dangerous. The fact is that the signs of an allergic reaction in case of damage to the soft tissues of the lips appear much faster than with bites on the limbs or other parts of the body.

So what to do if the lip has suffered from a wasp sting?

• First, you need to see if the wasp has left its stinger. If it is, then you will need small tweezers to remove it.
• A cold compress or a bag of ice cubes should be applied to the bitten area. This will slow down the spread of the toxic substance and reduce the swelling.
• To prevent inflammation, it is necessary to treat the wound with any antiseptic liquid, whether it be an alcohol solution, a medicinal tincture, or simply hydrogen peroxide.
• If there are no antiseptics at hand, then you can simply anoint the wound with a gruel of water and baking soda. Sometimes salt is used instead of soda.
• If possible, any antiallergic drug should be taken as soon as possible.
• Within 1-2 days after the bite, it is better to eat less, but drink more. Alkaline mineral waters, green tea, fruit and berry compotes and fruit drinks are perfect.

In the case when the lip is very swollen, it becomes difficult to breathe, the heart rate changes - it is necessary to urgently seek medical help. Delay in such a situation can cost not only the health, but also the life of the victim.

What to do with a wasp sting in the tongue?

Biting the tongue is always dangerous. The tissues of the tongue are sensitive and loose, so the sting penetrates deeply without hindrance, injecting the entire possible dose of the toxin. As a result - a rapidly growing severe swelling, burning pain, frequent allergic reactions. Many victims experience headaches and dizziness almost immediately. The external picture is also unpleasant: a person’s tongue increases, speech is disturbed, swallowing and chewing food is difficult. In severe cases, swelling of the larynx develops, suffocation occurs. Of course, there are few such problematic cases, but with a wasp sting, you need to be prepared for anything.

Ideally, if immediately after an insect attack, the victim should go to the nearest medical center, where he will be provided with all the necessary medical care. If this is not possible, then you need to perform the following sequential steps:

• calm down, do not panic;
• rinse your mouth with cold water, alcohol tincture (for disinfection);
• put a few ice cubes in your mouth, or hold ice water in your mouth;
• take an antiallergic drug.

If everything is done correctly, then the swelling will subside after about 2 days from the moment of the bite. However, at the first suspicion of an allergic reaction, it is important to visit a doctor as soon as possible.

First aid for a wasp sting at home

What can be done with a wasp sting if the nearest first-aid post is far away?

• quickly rinse the wound with cold water, apply ice;
• lubricate the bite with parsley juice, or attach mashed leaves of the plant;
• moisten the affected skin with urine - fresh, obtained from a healthy person, you can from a child;
• put a few drops of lemon juice on the bite site;
• apply acid to the skin - juice of sour berries, table vinegar, etc.;
• lubricate the swelling with "milk" of dandelion;
• attach a slice of an aloe leaf, an onion, a crumpled plantain leaf;
• lubricate with tincture of calendula.

For a wasp sting, follow this consistent treatment regimen;

1. Rinse the dirt from the skin, check for the absence of a sting.
2. Disinfect the affected area.
3. Apply cold.

It is great if it is possible to immediately take any antiallergic agent. In any case, you will need to drink large volumes of fluid throughout the day to speed up the elimination of the poison.

First aid for a baby wasp sting

As for the wasp bites of children, it is definitely recommended to seek qualified medical help. The fact is that the child's body is much more sensitive to toxic effects than that of an adult, the painful reaction develops faster, and its consequences are unpredictable.

The best solution is to call "emergency help", or go to the nearest medical center yourself. Before the arrival of doctors, you can try to wash the wound with a disinfectant solution and apply cold to block the spread of the toxic substance and relieve pain.

Salt lotion is considered a good blocker of toxin absorption:

• a cotton pad soaked in saline is applied to the wound;
• the solution is prepared by mixing 1 tsp. Salt and 200 ml of water.

Such a lotion will draw out the toxic substance and prevent the development of an inflammatory reaction.

If there are suspicions that the child has started an allergic process - for example, swelling, rash, blisters appear - then you need to urgently run to the doctor. At home, you should immediately give the baby any antihistamine in a dosage appropriate for age. Additionally, you can lubricate the bite area with any anti-allergic ointment - for example, Fenistil-gel.

A child with a tendency to develop diathesis and other allergic manifestations requires special observation. Such a baby should be immediately shown to the doctor.

What to do with a wasp sting during pregnancy?

For pregnant women, a wasp sting is no more dangerous than for any other person. The bite of one insect can provoke swelling and very unpleasant sensations, but such damage does not pose any threat to the life and health of the unborn baby. The only serious risk is the development of an allergic reaction in a woman.

Any type of pregnancy allergy should be treated by a specialist, whether it's a simple redness and rash or a serious reaction with respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. Having determined the essence of the allergic process, the doctor must quickly orient himself and administer a certain dose of an antihistamine to the victim.

What antiallergic agent will the doctor prescribe? It depends on the gestational age and how dangerous the wasp sting turned out to be. In the first trimester, it is undesirable to take antihistamines in principle. An indication for their use can only be a severe allergy with a high probability of developing anaphylactic shock. In this situation, a decision should be made and first aid should be provided quickly, without a second's delay. The priority is the life of a pregnant woman.

In the second trimester, antihistamines are used only in extreme cases, giving preference to Suprastin, Zyrtec, Desloratadine, Levocetirizine.

In the third trimester, drugs are used only taking into account all possible risks for the unborn baby and benefits for the woman. In special cases, Zyrtec, Claritin, Desloratadine are prescribed.

If it is possible to refuse to take antiallergic drugs during pregnancy, then it is better to do so. With a small reaction, vitamin B ₁₂ is introduced, which has a natural antihistamine effect. Safe products such as nicotinic acid, fish oil, linoleic and oleic acids are also suitable. Self-treatment of wasp stings during pregnancy is not welcome, especially when it comes to internal medication.

What to do with allergies with a wasp sting?

If pronounced general and local allergic manifestations are observed after a wasp sting, then the victim must be laid on a horizontal surface so that the shoulder girdle and head are in an elevated position. You can not rub, scratch and in every possible way irritate the stung wound. If the limb is affected, a tourniquet should be applied above the painful area by about 20 cm.

With a rapid increase in swelling of the face or neck, the victim should not be allowed to drink or take pills, as this can lead to suffocation: here it is necessary to act quickly and inject an antihistamine drug into the person. It is also important to immediately make a subcutaneous injection of adrenaline: cut off the wound area with 1 ml of a 0.1% solution.

With a normal and non-critical allergic reaction, first-generation antiallergic drugs are most often used for treatment, for example:

• Suprastin, Chloropyramine;
• Tavegil, Clemastin;
• Pipolfen, Dimedrol.

The second generation of drugs include:

• Astemizol, Loratadin, Claritin;
• Azelastine.

Dosages of drugs are determined individually. As a supplement, you can also use external anti-allergic ointments and gels - for example, Fenistil-gel.

What to do with a bite of a black wasp, earthen wasp?

The black earthen wasp is a special type of insect that looks like a hornet. It is also distinguished by a special danger: the bite of a black wasp is painful and can cause an unforeseen reaction of the body - in particular, in people prone to allergies. The black wasp has a large supply of poisonous substance and a sting of considerable size. In addition, the insect is characterized by increased aggression, which makes it even more dangerous. However, when attacked by a black wasp, no sting remains in the skin: after injecting a poisonous substance, the insect flies away.

The bite of an earthen wasp in terms of the degree of toxicity and severity of pain is often compared with a wound from a bite of a red ant: the affected area begins to hurt, swelling, redness, and severe itching appear. There is a high chance of developing an allergy.

If, being in nature, in the country or in the garden, a person feels that he was attacked by an earthen wasp, then the following actions must be taken:

• if a limb is affected, a tight bandage should be applied to the wound so that the poison does not spread through the bloodstream throughout the body;
• to relieve pain and itching, you can lubricate the wound with Elok ointment, either Advantan or Sinaflan.

If there are signs of an allergic reaction, you should immediately consult a doctor. For example, the following symptoms should alert:

• severe weakness, lethargy, dizziness;
• skin rashes, swelling;
• increase in body temperature;
• nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, increased heart rate;
• a sharp drop in blood pressure, a severe headache.

Any of these symptoms is considered quite dangerous, so you should consult a doctor without delay. An ambulance must be called if a person is attacked by a large wasp swarm: even in the absence of an allergic reaction, the victim may be in danger. Earth wasps are not particularly picky about food, so they can easily carry the infection.

What to do with numerous wasp stings?

If the bites are numerous, then you should not hesitate and expose yourself to unjustified risk. Doctors warn: when the number of wounds exceeds 3-4, then general intoxication of the body may develop. It is especially dangerous if the wasp has stung in the area of the mucous membranes of the mouth, face or neck. An edematous reaction after a bite can spread to the airways, leading to complications in the form of breathing difficulties.

A visit to the first-aid post should not be postponed in such cases:

• when the wasp infects the face area;
• when the wasp bit the lip, or entered the oral cavity;
• when the wasp attack was massive, and there were more than three bites;
• when a person suffers from hypersensitivity and a tendency to allergic manifestations.

Going to nature, to the country house or to the garden, you should always take a first aid kit with you. It should contain several antiseptic solutions, an antiallergic drug (two are possible - external and internal).

The main thing is to remember that first aid for a wasp sting should be immediate. The sooner and faster action is taken, the less painful the body's reaction will be.