What happens if a wasp bites you

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Emergency medicine specialist Baruch Fertel, MD , talks with us about how to deal with bees and wasps. Read on to learn how to prevent insect stings and what to do if you get stung.

The top culprit that brings all the bees to your yard is food. To keep bugs away:. Flowery or fruity scented products like lotions, perfumes and hair care attract insects who are searching for their next bit of nectar.

Your clothing is your last line of defense against stinging insects. Wear long sleeves, pants and closed-toed shoes to keep bugs from landing on your skin. Bright colors may also create buzz among bees and wasps. But bees do notice the rest of the rainbow and are especially drawn to purple, violet and blue.

And the commotion could increase the risk of getting stung. Your doctor may advise you to carry self-injectable adrenalin for example, EpiPen if you have previously been stung by wasps.

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction that can result in death from swollen airways. First aid suggestions include:. This technique is only for use in the instance of a severe allergic reaction to these stings. It prevents the venom from the sting entering the bloodstream and lymphatic system. It is strongly advised that you attend a first aid course to enable you to deal with an emergency of this nature.

If you have had a severe allergic reaction to a wasp sting, you will need specialist assessment for immunotherapy after your recovery. It is strongly recommended that you hire a licensed pest control operator to destroy any wasp nests on your property.

This is particularly important if you have experienced an allergic reaction to a wasp sting in the past or if you have never been stung and are unsure of your allergy status to wasp venom. It may help to locate the nest before you call your local council or pest control operators, since the nest may not be on your property.

Suggestions on how to locate the nest include:. You can reduce the population of European wasps around your home and reduce the risk of stings in a number of ways. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly. Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment. Severe allergic reactions anaphylaxis and asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid.

In an emergency, always call triple zero Allergies to insect stings and bites range from milder allergic reactions to life-threatening, severe allergic reactions anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that requires urgent medical attention. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.

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European wasp. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Bee and wasp stings are common and painful. They are usually no more serious than this, but some people can develop a life-threatening illness.

The most familiar sting is from honeybees, but some wasps and other insects can also sting. Yellow jacket wasps are the most common cause of allergic reactions to insect stings in the United States.

When a bee or wasp stings, the sac contracts, pumping venom into the tissue. The information below refers to bee stings, but it applies to stings caused by both bees and wasps. The symptoms, treatments, and dangers are the same. A bee sting is usually recognized by a sharp pain and a puncture wound or laceration in the skin. The venom contained in a bee or wasp sting induces a local toxic reaction at the site of attack.

Some stings may produce the following symptoms , referred to as a large local reaction:. However, some symptoms that develop after a bee sting signal a severe allergic reaction and need urgent medical attention. Without treatment, anaphylactic shock may occur very quickly.

This can be fatal. If any of these symptoms appear following a sting of any kind, emergency medical care is needed. Individuals who have experienced an allergic reaction to a sting in the past are more likely to have a reaction in the future.

This shot relaxes blood vessels and muscles, helping the body to deal with the response while medical help is called. Sometimes a sting can become infected. Consult a doctor if the area affected shows a pus discharge, or if there is an increase in the normal pain, swelling, and redness that was produced by the initial sting. Most bee stings can be treated without medical attention, but some products may help manage the discomfort.

These products are available online, including oral antihistamines and antihistamine cream. There are a number of different brands to choose from.