Insect venom allergies: Short-term and long-term treatment.You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Then, apply ice to reduce pain and swelling: wrap an ice. Make sure their clothing is loose so they can breathe. Turn them on their side if they are vomiting or bleeding. We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Immediately after a bee sting, wash the area thoroughly to remove any remaining bee venom. Raise their feet about 12 inches and cover them with a blanket. Those should be soaked in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes and then placed on the bites. Chamomile or mint tea bags can reduce the sting, she adds. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. You can use that water to clean the area.

Learn more about allergen-specific immunotherapy here. This treatment can help people with existing bee sting allergies. After a while, a person’s body gets used to the venom, and it does not react to it as strongly. This long-term treatment prevents a serious allergic reaction in the event of a bee sting.Ī doctor injects small doses of the venom at regular intervals over a period of 3–5 years.

In some cases, a doctor may recommend allergen-specific immunotherapy, also known as desensitization. However, if the sting causes breathing difficulties or swelling in the mouth and throat, a person should act fast by self-administering an EpiPen injection into the thigh as quickly as possible or having someone do it for them. Aside from a reaction to venom, a bee sting can get infected. Of course, if you experienced another type of sting there will be no stinger. Less venom means less reaction and less pain later.

They may also prescribe topical steroids, oral steroids, or both. All natural remedies for bee stings work better if you were quick to remove that stinger. Wetzel notes that home remedies such as baking soda paste. Apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to help with pain and itching, and cover with a bandage. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to wasp stings include: severe swelling of the face, lips, or throat. Apply an ice pack for at least 20 minutes to control pain and swelling. It’s important to seek immediate emergency care to treat anaphylaxis. People having an allergic reaction to a bee sting should seek medical attention immediately.ĭepending on the severity of the allergic reaction, a doctor may inject emergency epinephrine. Wash the area with soap and water to remove residual venom and reduce the chance of infection.

Emergency home bee sting remedy