What to do when getting stung by a wasp or bee
Content-Team SWICA
As outside temperatures start to rise, wasps and bees become increasingly active, and they will invariably discover the smell of delicious food and sweet-smelling perfumes and sun cream. Moreover, bright colours can also attract small insects. For wasps and bees, stinging is a means of self-defence, but for us it causes swelling, itchiness and pain.
What happens in your body when you get stung by a wasp or bee?
When bees or wasps sting, the venom enters your body and the immune system identifies it as a foreign substance. The body attempts to fight off the venom, and this reaction can trigger an allergic response. For those with allergies, the symptoms are not due to the venom but are instead a result of the immune system's defensive response.
Wasp or bee sting?
A bee sting is quite easy to identify because the stinger and venom sack remain clearly visible at the place of the sting.
If the stinger remains in the skin, be sure to remove it as quickly as possible. But don't pull it out with your fingers, because this will cause the venom sack to empty into the wound. Instead, use tweezers or a tick card.
Quick measures
- Apply cold to the place of the sting quickly in order to reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain.
- Use a bite away, an electronic device that heats up the place of the sting, thus reducing the itchiness and swelling, or preventing it all together.
- Apply anti-inflammatory ointment, such as an antihistamine cream; or take an antihistamine tablet.
- Do not scratch the place, because this can cause bacteria to get into the wound and infect it.
- Stings to the neck and throat can result in life-threatening swelling of the respiratory tract, also in persons who are not allergic, and you would need to get emergency treatment in such a case.
Allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock
According to Agroscope, around 5% of Swiss people are allergic to insect stings. An allergic reaction involves symptoms that occur within only a few minutes – often also in a place far away from the sting. Some possible symptoms include:
- General itching
- Discomfort
- Swelling
- Hives
- Vomiting
- Heart palpitations
- A drop in blood pressure
- Breathing problems
In the worst case, the person may experience a so-called anaphylactic shock (cardiac arrest, unconsciousness, or respiratory arrest). One initial sign is a tingling or burning sensation on the tongue. It is essential to contact a doctor immediately in such a case. A doctor can also prescribe an emergency kit with medicines for alleviating allergic reactions and stabilising the circulatory system.
For SWICA customers: santé24 and Benecura
In the event of further health-related questions, SWICA customers can contact the santé24 online practice free of charge on +41 44 404 86 86. A telemedicine practice licence allows santé24 physicians to provide additional medical services in cases that are suited to a telemedicine approach.
SWICA customers can also use the Benecura medical app to carry out a digital SymptomCheck and receive recommendations about what to do next. During a subsequent phone call with santé24, customers can decide for themselves whether to release their information from SymptomCheck to santé24.
