Bee Sting Reaction

Bees are commonly seen hovering around, looking for flowers and collecting nectar. The buzzing sound is very common during summers and springs. Bees mostly mind their own business generally, but an agitated bee may cause a nasty sting. The bee sting reactions require immediate management and medical help. This article will cover some information on bee sting reactions.

Bee Sting Reaction
There are about nine different chemical compounds in bee venom that together cause nasty bee sting reactions in those stung by a bee. When the bee venom is injected under the skin, the occurrence of bee sting symptoms may be immediate, that is, within 4 hours or one may experience delayed symptoms that take more than 4 hours to appear after the sting.

Bee sting reactions are classified as local bee sting reactions that can last for less than 24 hours. The large local reactions are those that affect an entire limb and last longer. All the bee sting reaction appears near the sting area. The allergic reactions that occur away from the area of the sting are known as systemic reactions. The fourth type of bee sting reactions are toxic reactions, due to multiple stings. These reactions are due to the direct effect of the bee venom and not due to allergic reaction. Next is the delayed bee sting reaction that is due to the body's immune system reaction. The body is preparing itself for future stings, but instead attacks the body. The sting by domestic honey bee, killer bees, bumble bee and paper wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets even ants (including fire ants) are called hymenoptera stings. This is because all these insects are classified under hymenoptera order.

Bee Sting Reaction Symptoms
The bee sting reactions is due to the venom injected and many times due to the stinger left behind in the skin. The venom may cause direct injury to the body and it is usually confined to areas close to the sting or stings. The bee sting reactions include:

• A two or three-inch area of swelling, redness and pain appears in case of local reaction.
• Hives
• Tightness of chest
• Generalized swelling
• Low blood pressure
• Breathing difficulty
• Anaphylactic shock

If the bee stings a person on the forehead, it leads to swelling of the eyelids. This is a type of large local reaction. Even a sting on the foot may lead to swelling of the eyelids. The large local bee sting reactions are rarely serious. The bee sting reaction symptoms in case of toxic reaction include:

• Fever
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pain

The toxic reactions are rarely serious, but lead to sensitization and may lead to future allergies in case of delayed reactions. The symptoms include:

• Serum sickness like fever, weakness, rash, swelling and intense itching that may be seen after about a week.
• Nephrotic sting, that is, inflammation of the kidney
• Neuritis, that is, inflammation of the nerves
• Inflammation in other parts of the body

Bee Sting Reaction Treatment
When someone is stung by a bee, the first thing to do is act IMMEDIATELY. You should take the person away from the be. A bee tend to release a scent that attracts more bees, when in danger. If you and the person stung stay in the same area, chances are you will fall prey to multiple bee stings.

Once in a safe place, you should remove the bee stinger. You need to use a credit card, fingernail or even a pair of tweezers to scrap off the stinger if it is still embedded to the skin. Do not squeeze the stinger, as you may cause the venom sac to release more venom. Next, you should carry out treatment for bee sting.

The area of the sting should be washed with soap and water. You should apply a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth. This will help reduce the swelling due to bee sting reaction. Then apply, hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease the itchiness, swelling and redness. You can give the person oral histamine pills containing diphenhydramine. These pills include Benadryl, Tylenol Severe Allergy. Do not allow the person to scratch the area, as it will increase the chances of infection.

If the person is allergic to bee stings, call 911 immediately. If the person has an emergency epinephrine auto-injector, inject a single dose of medication pressed against the thigh. Take the person to a medical center for further care.

This was some information on bee sting reaction. Not all show similar symptoms to bee sting reactions. You should take care and watch out for kids playing outdoors. Bees generally do not attack, but you never know what agitates them and leads to a sting. I hope you have found some useful information from this article on bee sting reaction.