Bee stings are common and can cause swelling, redness, and pain. Some people are allergic and may experience anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition. It’s important to remove the stinger and seek medical attention if signs of anaphylaxis appear.
A bee sting is a sting from a poisonous insect. Correctly, the term “bee sting” should only be used to refer to bee stings, but many people use the term to refer to stings from wasps, hornets, and other stinging insects. Bee stings are very common injuries worldwide and, in many cases, are harmless, albeit irritating. However, a bee sting can have serious consequences for bee venom allergy sufferers.
The mechanical process of a bee sting varies, depending on the insect inflicting the wound. Some stinging insects have barbed stingers that wedge themselves into the flesh of their victims, injecting venom until they are removed. Others are able to remove their stingers to sting again another day, and some will sting their victims multiple times.
Many creatures react to bee stings because bees produce venom that is injected under the skin during the stinging process. A number of ingredients are present in bee venom, including melittin, which causes the body to become overloaded with histamine production. The sting site quickly becomes swollen, red, warm, and tender. After the stinger is removed, the area may continue to be swollen and painful for several days, before becoming itchy as the body slowly heals.
When stinging insects release a load of venom, they also produce pheromones, to alert the rest of the hive of a problem. As a result, insects usually flock to the area after someone has been stung, which is why it’s important to move around after being stung by a bee, so you don’t get stung by other members of the hive. After moving from the original sting site, you should remove the stinger to reduce the amount of venom that is released, and apply a cold compress to the site to reduce swelling. Topical applications, while popular, are largely useless, because the venom penetrates deep into the skin layers.
In some individuals, bee stings cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition. Many people who know they are allergic to bee venom will carry emergency syringes of adrenaline. They should also be taken to the hospital for medical treatment after a bee sting, as the syringe usually isn’t enough to prevent health problems. In people who are unaware that they have an allergy, signs of anaphylaxis including difficulty breathing, hives and disorientation can appear within five minutes to five hours. If signs of anaphylaxis emerge after a bee sting, the patient needs emergency medical attention.
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