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Bee Stings (or Yellow Jacket)

Description

  • The child was stung by a honeybee, bumblebee, hornet, paper wasp. or yellow jacket
  • Over 95 percent of stings are from honey bees or yellow jackets
  • The sting involves injecting venom into the human from the bee's stinger
  • The main symptoms are pain, swelling and redness at the sting site
  • A severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one)

If not a bee, wasp or yellow jacket sting, see Insect Bites.

When to Call Your Doctor for Bee Stings (or Yellow Jacket)

Call 911 Now If:

  • Wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • Hoarseness, cough or tightness in the throat or chest
  • Difficulty swallowing or slurred speech
  • Thinking or speech is confused
  • Passed out or very weak
  • Previous severe allergic reaction to bees, yellow jackets, etc. (not just hives or swelling) (Note: anaphylaxis usually starts within 20 minutes, and always by 2 hours following a sting)

First Aid Advice for Anaphylaxis:

  • Give epinephrine injection if you have an anaphylactic kit
  • Inject it into the muscle of the upper outer thigh

Call Your Doctor Now If:

  • Your child looks or acts very sick
  • Hives or swelling occur elsewhere on the body
  • More than 10 stings
  • Sting inside the mouth

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:

  • You think your child needs to be seen
  • Sting looks infected (red streaking from the sting area, yellow drainage). (Note: infection and cellulitis don't start until at least 24-48 hours after the sting. Any redness in the first 24 hours is due to venom)
  • Swelling is huge (e.g., spreads beyond wrist or ankle)

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:

  • You have other questions or concerns

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):

Try to Remove the Stinger (if present)

Use a fingernail or credit card edge to scrape it off. Don't pull it off. (Reason: squeezes out more venom). If the stinger is below the skin surface, leave it alone. It will be shed with normal skin healing.

Meat Tenderizer

Apply a meat tenderizer-water solution on a cotton ball for 20 minutes. (EXCEPTION: near the eye). This neutralizes the venom and decreases pain and swelling.

If not available, apply aluminum-based deodorant or a baking soda solution for 20 minutes. For persistent pain, massage with an ice cube for 10 minutes.

Pain Medicine

Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen immediately for relief of pain and burning.

Antihistamine

If the sting becomes itchy, give a dose of Benadryl.

Expected Course

Severe pain or burning at the site lasts 1 to 2 hours. Normal swelling from venom can increase for 24 hours following the sting. The swelling disappears after 3 to 5 days.

Call Your Doctor If:

  • Develops difficulty breathing or swallowing (mainly during the 2 hours after the sting) (call 911)
  • Swelling becomes huge or spreads beyond the wrist or ankle
  • Sting begins to look infected
  • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright 2000-2006.