Bee or Yellow Jacket Sting

DEFINITION

• The child was stung by a honeybee, bumblebee, hornet, paper wasp, or yellow jacket
• Over 95 percent of stings are from honey bees or yellow jackets

• The sting involves injecting venom into the human from the bee's stinger.
• The main symptoms are pain, itching, swelling and redness at the sting site.
• Severe pain or burning at the site lasts 1 to 2 hours. Itching often follows the pain.
• Swelling: Normal swelling from venom can increase for 24 hours following the sting. Stings of the upper face can cause severe swelling around the eye, but this is harmless.
• Redness: Bee stings can normally become red. That doesn't mean they are infected. Infections rarely occur in stings.
• The redness can last 3 days and the swelling 7 days.

• A severe life-threatening allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis
• The main symptoms are difficulty breathing and swallowing starting within 2 hours of the sting
• Anaphylactic reactions to bee stings occur in 4 out of a 1,000 children
• The onset of widespread hives or facial swelling alone following a bee sting is usually an isolated symptom, not the forerunner of anaphylaxis. Your child’s doctor will decide.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If

•  Not a bee, wasp or yellow jacket sting, see INSECT BITES

• If you have epinephrine (Epi-pen or Twinject), give it now.
• Do this while calling 911 (Reason: life-saving advice).
• Over 66 pounds (30 kg): 0.3 mg. Auto-inject Epi-Pen or give 0.3 ml Twinject.
• 33-66 pound (15-30 kg) child: 0.15 mg. Auto-inject Epi-Pen Jr. or give 0.15 ml Twinject.
• Less than 33 pounds (15 kg) child: Give dosage recommended by your doctor. (or 0.1 ml if you have an epinephrine ampule).
• Inject it into the muscle (IM) of the upper outer thigh.
• Can be given through clothing if necessary.
• Benadryl: After giving epinephrine, give oral Benadryl or other antihistamine, if the child is able to swallow.

• Lie down with feet elevated.

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR BEE OR YELLOW JACKET STING

1. Try to Remove the Stinger (if present):
   • Only honey bees leave a stinger.
   • Use a fingernail or credit card edge to scrape it off.
   • If the stinger is below the skin surface, leave it alone.  It will be shed with normal skin healing.
2. Meat Tenderizer:
   • Apply a meat tenderizer-water solution on a cotton ball for 20 minutes (EXCEPTION: near the eye). This may neutralize the venom and decrease pain and swelling.
   • If not available, apply aluminum-based deodorant or a baking soda solution for 20 minutes.
3. Local Cold: For persistent pain, massage with an ice cube for 10 minutes.
4. Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen immediately for relief of pain and burning.
5. Antihistamine: If the sting becomes itchy, give a dose of Benadryl. (See Dosage chart)
6. Hydrocortisone Cream: For itching or swelling, apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to the sting area 3 times per day.  (No prescription needed)
7. Expected Course: Severe pain or burning at the site lasts 1 to 2 hours. Normal swelling from venom can increase for 24 hours following the sting. The redness can last 3 days and the swelling 7 days.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Develops difficulty breathing or swallowing (mainly during the 2 hours after the sting) (call 911)
   • Redness lasts over 3 days
   • Swelling becomes huge or spreads beyond the wrist or ankle
   • Sting begins to look infected
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.