What to do in case of a wasp sting? • macommune.info

It’s wasp season! This summer 2020, with very low rainfall, is conducive to their development. In addition, the heat facilitates the survival of insects, the wasps’ first food. So when is there a bite? What to do ? Uno wasp sting needs to be treated. For people with allergies, you must react very quickly, because a common sting can be fatal. Here are the tips.

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Wasp or bee stings can cause three kinds of reactions:

• a local reaction, the most frequent and which rarely requires the intervention of a doctor
• a toxic reaction that depends on the number of bites
• an allergic reaction that can start after a single bite.

Symptoms

The sting is painful. It is accompanied by local redness, swelling (local edema) of a few cm, a slight induration. This reaction is sometimes accompanied by itching. Produced by vasoactive amines and peptides, this reaction usually disappears within a few hours.

Depending on the location of the bite, the swelling may be greater: for example on the face (eyelids, wings of the nose, ears, lips) and on the neck. A sting in the mouth or throat may swell to the point where there is a risk of choking.

The symptoms will be more intense in the event of multiple bites: the quantity of venom injected is greater. General signs are added to the local reaction: vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, drop in blood pressure, more rarely convulsions and loss of consciousness.

In adults, hospital monitoring is advised if the victim has more than 20 bites.

• An allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock)

The allergic reaction does not depend on the dose of venom injected. A single injection is enough to trigger it.

The symptoms are:

• Skin: generalized hives, redness, itching and severe swelling.
• Respiratory: tongue edema, epiglottis and larynx edema, bronchospasm which is accompanied by a feeling of chest tightness, anguish and cyanosis (bluish coloration of the skin).
• Cardiac: drop in blood pressure, shock.
• Digestive: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
• Neurological: dizziness, loss of consciousness.

Treatments

First aid on site:

In the event of a sting, the pain is immediate and local edema develops rapidly

If possible, identify the insect that stung you.

The bees leave the sting and the poison gland clinging to the skin. The device thus continues to inject the reserves of venom. In this case, quickly remove the stinger with your fingernail or with the blunt edge of a knife (sliding parallel to the surface of the skin) or a credit card. Do not use tweezers, the venom gland may burst and release more venom.

Wasps sting without leaving a sting.

The hornet has a longer stinger. The sting is deeper. The venom can be injected directly into the blood vessels, thereby speeding up the reaction.

Remove the bands in case of a hand prick so as not to interfere with blood flow if swelling develops.

Disinfect well with soap and water, then apply an antiseptic solution: Hymenoptera are omnivores and fly from fruit trees to garbage cans.

If the pain is severe, take an oral pain reliever.

Some authors recommend approaching the stung area with a source of heat (hair dryer, hottest water possible) then a source of cold (ice). This would help decrease pain and swelling.

Check if you are in order for the tetanus vaccination.

Consult a doctor in the following cases

• If the local reaction (swelling, pain, redness) worsens in the days following the bite or if general signs of infection such as fever and / or chills develop. An infection can develop at the site of the bite.
• In the event of a sting in the mouth or in the throat: the swelling can be rapid and severe and cause breathing difficulties. Give an ice cube to suck, see a doctor immediately or go to a hospital emergency room.
• In the event of an allergic reaction, call 15 to alert the Samu. The allergy manifests itself as a rash with severe itching, swelling of the face, dizziness, pallor, difficulty in breathing, a feeling of suffocation. Lay the victim down and elevate their legs.
• In case of multiple bites (more than 20 in adults), hospital monitoring is advised.

The risks

In a person allergic to wasp or bee venom, a single sting is enough to trigger a serious reaction.

In a non-allergic person, the intensity of the reaction depends on the amount of venom injected and therefore the number of bites. The quantity of venom injected by a bee is of the order of 50 to 100 microgram and for the wasp of the order of 2 to 10 microgram.

A single bite can be very painful, but is usually not serious.

In the event of multiple bites, it is advisable to monitor the appearance of symptoms and seek medical intervention if necessary.

Preventive advice

• Do not walk barefoot in nature, especially in the grass.
• Do not wear substances that attract wasps and bees (perfumes, hairsprays, scented sunscreen, etc.)
• Avoid the vicinity of beehives or nests of course.
• Stay away from poorly closed garbage cans.
• Avoid clothes that are too bright in color that may resemble those of flowers
• If an insect is circling around you, stay calm. Avoid sudden gestures and disorderly movements, gently push it back.
• If you are allergic, avoid eating out.
• Outdoors, avoid canned drinks, you risk a throat sting if you swallow a wasp that has fallen into your drink.
• People with allergies can ask their doctor to prescribe an emergency kit consisting of injectable epinephrine (Epipen® 0.3mg type), an antihistamine (eg Zyrtec®) and an oral corticosteroid. Also warn those around you and friends of this allergic risk.

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