My child was just stung by a bee, what should I do?

From Spring until Fall, bee (wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket) stings are quite common for children. Most common stings only cause temporary pain and swelling, but some individuals can have a more severe reaction that require special attention.

A serious sting:

• If your child is having difficulty in breathing, speaking, or swallowing, call 911 immediately - do not waste time by calling our office first!
• If your child has a sting in the mouth, hives, or multiple stings, call our office immediately

A common sting will have:

• Immediate pain at the sting site, usually lasting 2 hours
• Immediate redness and a small "bump" which will continue to swell for about 24 hours
• The stinger may still be in the skin

Home Treatment:

• Remove the stinger by scraping it off, DO NOT squeeze it
• Make a paste with meat tenderizer and water and apply to sting to relieve pain by neutralizing the toxin from the stinger
• Apply ice pack until meat tenderizer is available
• Ice packs can help swelling for the next 24 hours
• Use of over-the-counter diphenhydramine (Benedryl) may help swelling, but call our office for directions on use

Prevention:

• Encourage children to wear shoes when outside, especially in the grass Avoid drinking beverages from cans while outside
• Instruct children not to antagonize bees or other stinging insects

Call our office if:

• Swelling or redness continues to worsen after 24 hours after sting
• You cannot remove the stinger
• You have other concerns or questions