Stung Full Book
Sheila Cast
If you think that your child might have had an allergic reaction to an insect sting, call your doctor. The doctor can help you understand the difference between what usually happens with an insect sting and what happens with an allergic reaction. If your child does have an allergy, the doctor will prescribe epinephrine auto injectors to use in case of a severe reaction.
When someone is allergic to insect stings, the body's immune system, which normally fights infections, overreacts to proteins in the insect's venom. When stung, the body sees these proteins as harmful invaders.
The immune system responds by working very hard to fight off the invader. This causes an allergic reaction, in which chemicals like histamine are released in the body. This release can cause symptoms such as:
A serious allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis (an-eh-fil-AK-siss) can cause different symptoms at different times. A reaction is considered anaphylaxis if someone has:
Anaphylaxis can begin with some of the same symptoms as a less severe reaction, but these can quickly become worse. Anaphylaxis that's not treated can be life-threatening. A person with anaphylaxis needs treatment with injectable epinephrine right away.
If your child has been diagnosed with an insect sting allergy, always keep two epinephrine auto-injectors on hand in case of a severe reaction. If your child starts having serious allergic symptoms, like throat swelling or trouble breathing:
An epinephrine auto-injector comes in a small, easy-to-carry container. It's simple to use. Your doctor will show you how to use it. Kids who are old enough can be taught how to give themselves the injection.
Your doctor also might instruct you to give your child antihistamines in some cases. But always treat a serious reaction with epinephrine. Never use antihistamines instead of epinephrine in serious reactions.
Share emergency plans with anyone who cares for your child, including relatives and school officials. Together, agree on a plan in case of a serious reaction at school, including making sure that injectable epinephrine is available at all times. If your child is old enough to carry the epinephrine, it should be in a purse or backpack that's with your child at all times, not in a locker. Also consider having your child wear a medical alert bracelet.
If your child is stung and a stinger remains in the skin, use your fingernail or a credit card to scrape the stinger from the skin. Removing the stinger quickly can help prevent more venom from going into the body. Don't use tweezers because they can cause more venom to be released.
Talk with your doctor about whether your child should see an allergy specialist about getting allergy shots. These can help the body react less to insect venom, which can make a serious reaction less likely.
Note: All information on Nemours KidsHealth is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. 1995-2024. The Nemours Foundation. Nemours Children's Health, KidsHealth, and Well Beyond Medicine are registered trademarks of The Nemours Foundation. All rights reserved. Images sourced by The Nemours Foundation and Getty Images.
Bee, or honeybee, is the word many people use to describe any flying insect that has wings and a stinger. But honeybees are really only one of a group of insects that includes other bees, wasps, and ants.
Bees are fuzzy insects that feed on flowers. There are thousands of different types of bees worldwide, and they can be many different colors. The most familiar kind of bee is the honeybee. These bees build nests out of wax in old trees and manmade hives (like the ones that beekeepers take care of) and spend a lot of their time collecting nectar and pollen from flowers. Then they turn the nectar into honey for food.
Wasps are closely related to bees, but instead of only feeding on pollen and honey, wasps eat animal food, other insects, or spiders. They are not fuzzy like bees, but seem kind of smooth and shiny, and they have skinnier bodies. There are also thousands of different types of wasps in the world. Two common types of wasps are bald-faced hornets and yellowjackets:
Ants are small insects that can be brown, black, or red. Some have wings and others don't. Some ants can sting, like the fire ant. Fire ants are tiny and reddish-brown and live in nests under the ground.
Honeybees, wasps, hornets, fire ants, and yellowjackets may look different and have different homes, but they all sting when they are upset! If a person is stung by any of these insects, the sting will feel a lot like a shot at the doctor's office.
Wasps and many bees can sting more than once because they are able to pull out their stinger without injuring themselves. Only honeybees have special hooks on their stinger that keep the stinger in the skin after a person is stung. The stinger gets torn out of the bee's body as it tries to fly away. As a result, the honeybee dies after stinging.
If you think you have been stung by one of these insects, tell an adult immediately. Some people are allergic to stings from insects. The symptoms of an allergic reaction include hives (red patches on the skin that sting and itch), nausea, dizziness, a tight feeling in the throat, or difficulty breathing. A person who has these symptoms needs medical attention right away.
Call the doctor if you or your parent are worried about the redness, swelling, or itching. Sometimes, the doctor will suggest giving a medicine called an antihistamine to control these symptoms.
If someone has an allergic reaction to a bee sting, a doctor must immediately give a shot that fights the reaction. People who know that they are allergic to bee stings also sometimes carry emergency medicine that they can give to themselves to prevent a severe reaction from happening.
If you know you are allergic to bees or other insects, you'll want to take extra steps to avoid getting bitten or stung. You may want to avoid places where they spend time, like gardens or orchards in bloom.
The Village of Key Biscayne strongly advises residents and visitors to keep a safe distance from these marine creatures, which can deliver extremely painful stings. If you are swimming, remember to me mindful that they are near as Man o'war tentacles can be long and thin, sticky, and very hard to see.
The Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis), also known as the man-of-war, is a floating marine hydrozoan found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean that drifts along with the wind and waves, and packs a punch if touched. Although it superficially resembles a jellyfish, the Portuguese Man o' war is a siphonophore.
Can I touch a Man o'war?
If you see the creature on the beach, DO NOT TOUCH it, even if it is dead. A Portuguese man o'war can sting even days after its death. While it may be tempting to touch or poke it, you are likely to still get stung.
After a sting, the tentacles leave long, stringy red welts on the skin. There is local pain, burning, swelling, and redness. The welts last from minutes to hours. A rash may come and go for up to 6 weeks.
What to do if you get stung?
Vinegar is used to stop the venom in stingers. Caution: Do not use ammonia, urine, rubbing alcohol, freshwater, or ice. They all can trigger the release of more venom. If you don't have vinegar, move on to scraping off the stingers. If you have an allergic reaction, call 911 immediately.
A buzzing bee whizzing through the air must seem like a fun game to a cat, until they get stung. Head nurse Kate Locke wants cat owners in London to learn some basic first aid so they know what to do if their cat gets stung by a bee.
Wasps are long and thin, have little or no hair, and are distinctly bright yellow and black. Bees are typically furry. A hornet is much larger and more aggressive. Our nurses have found some fun facts and advice on how to tell the difference:
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