Ellen Campbell -Grizzle - PHARMACY TODAY MOST BEE or wasp stings cause unpleasant local reactions with redness, temporary pain, swelling and some itching. Beyond that, persons who experience fever, rashes vomiting or abdominal cramps associated with the episode should see their doctor.
A small portion of the population are allergic or hypersensitive to bee stings and are likely to suffer life-threatening symptoms such as tightness of the chest or throat, choking and trouble breathing. These persons need urgent medical attention.
Most bees sting to ward off perceived danger and use their stingers as effective weapons to inject venom and cause pain. The body reacts to this painful sensation by sending fluid to the damaged area to flush the venom. This causes redness and swelling at the sting site. If it is not the first time that a person is being stung by a specie of insect, the immune system will recognise the venom and enlarge its venom disposal response. This can lead to very large swelling around the sting site or all over the body.
Also, some persons produce excess antibodies following an initial sting that will combine with venom on the second occasion, resulting in severe allergic symptoms. Since the stinger is a modified egg laying apparatus, only females sting.
After the honey bee stings it dies. However, there is an alarm chemical at the base of its stinger that releases signals and causes other bees to attack. This can result in multiple stings. Wasps and other bees can sting repeatedly. Brush them off your skin promptly with a deliberate movement. In all cases, leave the location immediately. Bees are slow flyers (approximately 4 mph) so you will have sufficient time to move to a safe place.
New information indicates that it does not matter how you remove the stinger as long as this is done as quickly as possible. Venom continues to enter the skin from the stinger for 45 to 60 seconds following the sting. If removed within 15 seconds, the severity of the reaction is reduced.
The best advice is to avoid stings by staying away from places that attract stinging insects. The following tips will help:- bees or wasps may be attracted to odours in the environment; do not use perfume, cologne or scented soaps if you are going into an area of high bee or wasp activity; keep your feet covered in these areas and avoid brightly-coloured or patterned clothes; a bee may land on your skin to get water if you are sweating heavily or to inspect a smell. Keep still and gently brush it off with a piece of paper.
Stay calm if a bee strays into your moving car, bees usually fly against the window and rarely sting occupants. To avoid an accident, pull off the road safely, open the window and allow the insect to escape. Bees are more likely to sting in gloomy weather than on bright sunny days.
There are several household treatments that relieve a normal stinging reaction including ice, baking soda , papain, one to 2.5 per cent ammonia solution or aluminium-containing stick or roll on deodorant. Oral antihistamines and painkillers are also helpful.
Remember to protect yourself outdoors by wearing long sleeves, pants, shoes and socks. Keep an insecticide spray handy. If you are stung, remove the stinger immediately and relocate. Highly-sensitive persons should wear a medical alert bracelet and get to the doctor or hospital right away. If you want to know more about precautions and the best treatment to choose when the bee stings, ask your pharmacist, you have the right to know!
Ellen Campbell Grizzle, President of the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists (CAP) and Director, Information and Research, National Council on Drug Abuse, Kingston, Jamaica.
