Bee Sting Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
A bee sting occurs when a bee punctures human skin. Generally, the symptoms that arise are pain in the area of the sting. In general, bee stings are not life threatening. However, in people with a bee sting allergy, a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction can occur.
Generally, bee stings in people who do not have allergies, only cause minor skin reactions. This does not require emergency medical treatment and can be treated easily at home.
Bee Sting Symptoms
Someone who experiences a bee sting will complain of several symptoms, such as:
- redness. The skin of a person stung by a bee will become reddish to purplish.
- Swelling. The form of skin swelling that occurs is redness with a small white dot where the sting occurred.
- Sick. There will be pain or tenderness at the sting area which generally subsides within a few hours.
- Anaphylactic reaction. Someone with an anaphylactic reaction will complain of shortness of breath, decreased blood pressure, and unconsciousness. This condition is included in a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.
Bee Sting Reason
A bee sting is caused by a sting from a bee’s antennae. Bee stings can be caused by many different types of bees. Bees usually sting people who are considered a threat to their hive.
When stinging, the bee will insert apitoxin, which is a kind of clear fluid filled with protein. This toxin will cause an inflammatory reaction in the victim. Several types of bees have powerful stings, including the Vespid wasp and the Asian giant hornet, which attack to protect their hives.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a bee sting can be made by carrying out a physical examination of the person who was stung. Someone will admit to having a history of exposure to bee stings. When examining the sting area, you will see areas of redness and swelling.
If you want to find out if you are allergic to bee stings, then you can do a special examination. The examination includes an allergy test on the skin and a blood test. This test can also be used to determine the diagnosis of allergic reactions from bee stings.
Bee Sting Treatment
Treatment for cases of bee stings can be through the following actions:
- Remove the part of the bee’s antennae that is left behind.
- Apply a cold compress to the sting to reduce the swelling that occurs.
- If there is pain at the sting site, then giving painkillers can be considered.
- The use of antihistamines can be considered if there are complaints of itching.
- Special circumstances that need attention is the condition of an anaphylactic reaction. People who experience anaphylactic reactions require immediate treatment such as administration of epinephrine, beta-agonist drugs, and oxygen.
Prevention
Prevention that can be done so as not to get stung by bees is to avoid exposure to bees. If you are around bees or hives, stay calm and slowly leave the area. Don’t chase the bees away by hitting the bees or the hive. This will actually increase the risk of getting stung.