First aid for wasp stings

When an insect bites or stings, it is not only unpleasant, but also painful, and sometimes even dangerous. Probably, every person has experienced this more than once in their life. In our country, the leader in bites after the mosquito is the wasp. It differs from the bee by the presence of a thin waist, as well as by typical stripes in the lower segment of the body. What is the threat of an insect attack, and how to properly provide first aid for a wasp bite?

What to do if you get stung by a wasp?

If a wasp does attack and sting, it is better to immediately lubricate the affected area with any of the following external preparations: Voltaren, Ketorol gel, Nimid gel, Dolobene, Dolgit, Menovazin, Ketonal, etc. Even the well-known Vietnamese balm "Zvezdochka" will do, which relieves pain and prevents swelling - provided that the product was applied to the skin immediately after the wasp sting.

Just in case, when going to the country or to the countryside, it is advisable to take a first aid kit with you with first aid medications. If such a first aid kit is not at hand, and the wasp has already bitten, then you can use folk recipes, which often show an effect no less than pharmaceutical 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 you do not pull it out, complications may develop. You should try and remove the 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. As a last resort, apply a plantain or celandine leaf washed in water.

Ice cubes, as well as calendula or propolis tincture, are excellent for dealing with pain and swelling. The wound is moistened with the tincture at first every hour, then 2-3 times a day until the condition improves steadily.

Crushed bay leaves, compresses from yarrow juice and leaves, and essential oils (eucalyptus, rosemary, and cloves will do) will speed up the healing of wasp-bitten areas.

If you are prone to allergies, after a wasp sting you should immediately take any anti-allergic medication (Suprastin, Loratadine, Fenistil, Zyrtec, Telfast, etc.), and drink plenty of fluids during the day - for example, water, tea, compote, which will help to quickly remove the toxic substance from the body. [ 1 ]

First Aid for a Wasp Sting in the Eye

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

Try not to panic, but strictly follow these instructions:

• You should not put your fingers into the affected eye, rub it or scratch it, as this will promote infection and accelerate the spread of poison into the blood;
• if you are prone to allergies, you should, if possible, visit a doctor immediately, or take any anti-allergic medication as soon as possible;
• the antiallergic drug should be repeated every 4 hours;
• If the swelling of the eye increases, it is better to apply a bag of ice to it;
• If possible, after a wasp sting, the eye should be disinfected (any anti-inflammatory eye drops or a weak solution of furacilin or potassium permanganate will do).

Eye drops Polinadim, which contain diphenhydramine and naphazoline, cope with the problem perfectly. The drops can be used from the age of 2, but not more than five days in a row, and only on the recommendation of a doctor.

What to do if you are stung by a wasp on your arm or leg?

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

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

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

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

The first aid and sequence of actions for a wasp sting are as follows:

• Gently wash the affected area of skin to remove visible dirt;
• carefully remove the sting with tweezers;
• apply an antiseptic to the wound;
• apply an ice pack (if available);
• take any anti-allergic drug orally.

If you do everything correctly, and also drink enough liquid during the day, then the swelling and discomfort from the wasp sting will go away within a few hours.

What to do if you get stung by a wasp on your lip?

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

So what should you do if your lip is damaged by a wasp sting?

• First, you need to see if the wasp left its stinger behind. If it has, you will need a small pair of 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 swelling.
• To prevent inflammation, it is necessary to treat the wound with any antiseptic liquid, be it an alcohol solution, a medicinal tincture, or simply hydrogen peroxide.
• If you don't have any antiseptics at hand, you can simply smear the wound with a paste of water and baking soda. Sometimes salt is used instead of soda.
• If possible, you should take any anti-allergy medication as soon as possible.
• For 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 excellent.

In the case when the lip swells greatly, it becomes difficult to breathe, the heart rhythm 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 if you get stung by a wasp on your tongue?

A tongue bite is always dangerous. The tongue tissue is sensitive and loose, so the sting penetrates deeply without hindrance, injecting the entire possible dose of toxin. The result is rapidly increasing severe swelling, burning pain, and frequent allergic reactions. Many victims almost immediately begin to have a headache and dizziness. The external picture is also unpleasant: a person's tongue increases in size, speech is impaired, swallowing and chewing food are difficult. In severe cases, laryngeal edema develops, and suffocation occurs. Of course, such problematic cases are few, but when bitten by a wasp, you need to be prepared for anything.

Ideally, immediately after an insect attack, the victim should contact the nearest medical center, where he will receive all the necessary medical care. If this is not possible, then the following sequential steps must be taken:

• calm down, don't 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 anti-allergy medication.

If you do everything correctly, the swelling will subside in 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 you do if you are stung by a wasp and the nearest medical center is far away?

• quickly rinse the wound with cold water, apply ice;
• lubricate the bite with parsley juice, or apply crushed leaves of the plant;
• moisten the affected skin with urine - fresh, obtained from a healthy person, or 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 dandelion milk;
• apply a cut aloe leaf, an onion, a crumpled plantain leaf;
• lubricate with calendula tincture.

If you are stung by a wasp, follow this sequential treatment plan;

1. Wash off dirt from skin, check for sting.
2. Disinfect the affected area.
3. Apply cold.

It is great if you can take any anti-allergic medicine right away. In any case, you will need to drink large amounts of liquid throughout the day to speed up the elimination of the poison.

First Aid for a Wasp Sting on a Child

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

The best solution is to call an ambulance or go to the nearest medical center yourself. Before the doctors arrive, 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.

A salt compress is considered a good blocker of toxin absorption:

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

This poultice will draw out the toxic substance and prevent the development of an inflammatory reaction.

If you suspect that your child has developed an allergic reaction – for example, swelling, rash, blisters – you should immediately run to the doctor. At home, you should immediately give your child any antihistamine in a dosage appropriate for his or her age. Additionally, you can lubricate the bite area with any antiallergic ointment – for example, Fenistil gel.

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

What to do if you are stung by a wasp during pregnancy?

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

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

What anti-allergic drug will the doctor prescribe? It depends on the pregnancy period and how dangerous the wasp sting was. In the first trimester, it is not advisable to take antihistamines at all. The only indication for taking them may be a severe allergy with a high probability of developing anaphylactic shock. In this situation, you should make a decision and provide first aid quickly, without delaying for a second. The life of the pregnant woman is a priority.

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 future baby and benefits for the woman. In special cases, Zyrtec, Claritin, Desloratadine are prescribed.

If it is possible to refuse taking antiallergic drugs during pregnancy, it is better to do so. For a minor reaction, vitamin B ₁₂ is administered, which has a natural antihistamine effect. Safe remedies such as nicotinic acid, fish oil, linoleic and oleic acids are also suitable. Self-treatment of wasp stings during pregnancy is not encouraged, especially if it concerns internal medication.

What to do if you have an allergy to a wasp sting?

If there are pronounced general and local allergic reactions after a wasp sting, the victim should be laid on a horizontal surface so that the shoulder girdle and head are in an elevated position. Do not rub, scratch or irritate the stung wound in any way. If a limb is affected, a tourniquet should be applied approximately 20 cm above the painful area.

If swelling of the face or neck increases rapidly, the victim should not be given anything to drink or take pills, as this may lead to suffocation: here it is necessary to act quickly and give the person an antihistamine as an injection. It is also important to immediately give a subcutaneous injection of adrenaline: inject the wound area with 1 ml of a 0.1% solution.

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

• Suprastin, Chloropyramine;
• Tavegil, Clemastine;
• Pipolfen, Diphenhydramine.

The second generation of drugs includes:

• Astemizole, Loratadine, Claritin;
• Azelastine.

The dosage of the drugs is determined individually. As an addition, external anti-allergic ointments and gels can be used - for example, Fenistil-gel.

What to do if bitten by a black wasp or ground wasp?

The black wasp is a special type of insect that resembles a hornet in appearance. It is also particularly dangerous: a black wasp sting is painful and can cause an unexpected reaction in the body, particularly in people prone to allergies. The black wasp has a large supply of poisonous substances and a sting of considerable size. In addition, the insect is characterized by increased aggression, which makes it even more dangerous. However, when a black wasp attacks, the sting does not remain in the skin: after injecting the poisonous substance, the insect flies away.

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

If, while outdoors, at a dacha or in a garden, a person feels that he has been attacked by a wasp, then the following actions must be taken:

• if a limb is affected, a tight bandage should be applied to the wound to prevent the poison from spreading through the bloodstream throughout the body;
• To relieve pain and itching, you can lubricate the wound with Elokom ointment, or Advantan, or Sinaflan.

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

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

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

What to do if you have multiple wasp stings?

If the bites are numerous, you should not hesitate and expose yourself to unnecessary risk. Doctors warn: when the number of wounds exceeds 3-4, general intoxication of the body may develop. It is especially dangerous if the wasp stung the mucous membranes of the mouth, face or neck. The edematous reaction after the bite can spread to the respiratory tract, which will lead to complications in the form of breathing difficulties.

A visit to the medical center should not be postponed in the following cases:

• when a wasp attacks the face area;
• when a wasp has bitten the lip or entered the oral cavity;
• when the wasp attack was massive and there were more than three stings;
• when a person suffers from hypersensitivity and a tendency to develop allergies.

When going out into nature, to the dacha 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 to remember is that first aid for a wasp sting should be immediate. The sooner and faster the measures are taken, the less painful the body's reaction will be.