What You Should Know About Bee And Wasp Stings

Summer is in full swing and many New Yorkers are attending outdoor activities in parks and lakes in New York, and they are especially concerned about themselves as well as their children getting stung by bees or wasps.  For the most of them, stings are a minor annoyance, but for many others, they can be life-threatening.

An interesting study I read, quoted in  the Wall Street Journal stated that in "the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that 70% of adults who had an allergic reaction to a sting will have another.  Venom immunotherapy can reduce that to between 5% and 10%, and almost all of those cases are milder, the study found."

"People who get stung near houses or other structures are usually stung by wasps.  Bees hover  in the open, nearby in picnic areas, "reports Dr. Theodore Freeman, an insect-sting  expert and physician at the San Antonio Asthma and Allergy Clinic."

Most people who get stung experience mild symptoms such as localized pain and swelling.  Dr. Freeman recommends "applying meat tenderizer mixed with water to make a paste.  Or another treatment is baking soda and water.  Both neutralize the venom. "

However, in some people, a sting can mean an anaphylactic response and the symptoms are stronger such as:   hives, vomiting, feeling lightheaded, seizures and difficulty breathing.  If you have any of these reactions, make an appointment to see me immediately or go to your nearest emergency room.  If you have been prescribed an emergency epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, Twinject) use it right away.

Although severe symptoms can go away, they may reoccur  more severely during the next insect attack, so I recommend you see me for an appointment for immunotherapy to avoid a similar reaction the next time you get stung.

Read more about insect bites and stings here  Questions?  If you live in the NYC area, call my office for a consultation - 212/247-7447.