And a percentage that is around 100 percent that of Italians hit at least once in their life by a wasp or bee sting. A little more rarely from hornets. There is generally no reason to be alarmed. Especially if there are no adverse allergic reactions or if the sting was made in ‘dangerous’ areas such as mouth, neck or throat. In the latter cases, it is instead a good idea to pay a little more attention. Here’s how to intervene in the event of a close encounter. Allergy to hymenoptera and vaccine
First of all it is good to know that there is a vaccine for people who suffer from frequent allergies – especially with full-blown allergies to this genus of insects. This is the Hymenoptera allergy vaccine, aka AIT. Vaccination is performed through small punctures on the arm that must be done periodically over a month. After that it continues once a month for the first year. The vaccine contains a purified form of hymenoptera venom (wasps, bees, hornets). It is good to say that the vaccine is free only in some regions of Italy. Life-saving remedies count bee stings
Always and only in the case of individuals at particular risk, a small device called an adrenaline auto-injector is available. This can get this substance into the bloodstream in seconds – usually the puncture is done on the inside of the thigh. The result
The allergy is eliminated in a very short time and, if necessary, a check-up visit to the ER can be requested. Your allergist, once the Hymenoptera allergy has been verified, can request that the auto-injector be provided completely free of charge. Symptoms of bee stings wasps and hornets
The most typical symptoms, if allergies do not exist, are mainly redness and pain at the site of the sting. In some people, the surrounding area may swell a lot for a few hours or even days. In general, especially if it is bees or wasps, the severe pain disappears within 10 minutes and completely subsides within an hour. The times, however, are very individual. Hornets also cause more or less the same type of wheal or pain which, in some cases, can be slightly higher in the first few minutes. Bee and hornet stings: when to call for help
It is essential to call for help if you suspect a serious allergy that could induce anaphylactic shock. Among the most common symptoms are difficulty in breathing, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, hypotension, fainting and swelling in the throat and neck. It is advisable to go to the emergency room even if the insect has hit risk areas such as the mouth or neck – even in the absence of allergic reactions. The hornet stings
Despite popular belief, hornet stings are easier to treat. This is due to the fact that, unlike bees, the stinger is not equipped with hooks – therefore it is smooth – and is retractable. This means that it does not get stuck in the skin, but it can sting more than once. On the contrary, the bee after having stung loses its sting and dies. However, it must be said that the hornet sting is rarer simply because it is not an aggressive insect. If it stings it is because you felt in real danger or you got too close. The hornet sting is lethal
If we are not talking about allergic subjects, it is very rare that the hornet sting can become lethal. The amount of poison that is inoculated, in fact, is minimal. In a child, more than 50 simultaneous punctures may be required, while an adult can reach several hundred. When to suspect a bee sting allergy
The substantial difference between the reaction – more or less intense – that occurs in a ‘normal’ subject and an allergic one is that the first has local manifestations and the other systemic. This is one of the most important parameters to refer to. If the area where you were stung is painful, red and very swollen it may be a strong reaction, but not an allergy. If other organs or other areas of the body are involved, it is good to seek medical attention. In these cases, generalized urticaria, fever, disorientation, dizziness, etc. may spread. The first aid intervention to extract the sting
The extraction of the stinger is generally only necessary for that of the bee. It is the only insect, in fact, equipped with stingers with particular hooks that remain stuck in the skin. The first thing to do, therefore, is to use tweezers – such as those for the eyebrows – to grab the stinger and try to extract it without breaking it. Be very careful, in this phase, never to crush the swollen part that you see in the sting: this contains poison which will be injected again into the bloodstream. After the extraction, you may not need to do anything else, however, if the pain and swelling are noticeable enough, an antihistamine ointment, corticosteroid, or pain reliever can be applied. If after 24 hours the edema does not hesitate to subside, go to your doctor for a check-up.Stings in the mouth or throat: first aid
In the event that a wasp stings in the throat or mouth it is essential to immediately suck on ice. If it is a bee that has left its sting inside, in an area that is difficult to extract, it is advisable to go to the emergency room. If the victim begins to breathe badly, place him in a safe lateral position awaiting the arrival of help. While waiting, it may be necessary to give artificial respiration (or mouth to mouth). Did you know that…
Bee venom is a mixture of several substances, including enzymes, lysolecithin, apamine and histamine. In addition to causing discomfort and pain, it seems that this mixture may have therapeutic virtues in particular anticoagulants, vasodilators, toning the cardiac system and antirheumatic. Natural remedies against bee, wasp and hornet stings
The simplest and fastest remedy is to apply a clay-based ‘mud’ and lavender essential oil to the injection site. This can be prepared in advance and closed carefully in a jar to be used if necessary. The clay has an absorbent effect of the poison, while the essential oil of lavender neutralizes it. This precaution, however, must be used practically immediately, otherwise the poison enters the bloodstream. So if you are in the countryside, always have a jar with the ‘healing mud’ available. Alternatively, to reduce pain, it is possible to use a homeopathic remedy called Apis Mellifica. It is used at the 15CH dilution and three granules are taken every 15 minutes.
