Allergy shots for insect stings put tiny amounts of the allergen (you may hear it called insect venom) into your body over time. How Can I Prevent an Allergic Reaction?Īllergy shots may help. In order to prevent drug interactions, tell your doctor about any medicine you take. You'll need a prescription from your doctor to buy one of these kits. You should still see a doctor ASAP after being stung. These let you give yourself medicine (epinephrine) right away if you’re stung, before you get to a doctor for treatment. For more information on where to get a MedicAlert bracelet, you can call 800-ID-ALERT. Keep an epinephrine kit on hand in case of an emergency, too. Avoid or remove insect-attracting plants and vines growing in and around the home.Īlso, if you're severely allergic, always wear identification that says you have an allergy. Spray garbage cans regularly with insecticide, and keep the cans covered.Ĩ. You may also want to use insect repellents when you’re outside.ħ. Consider using screens on windows and doors at home. If you have severe allergies, make sure you have someone with you if you hike, boat, swim, golf, or do other things outdoors, just in case.Ħ. Avoid wearing perfumes or brightly colored clothing. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes when in rural or wooded areas.Ĥ. Hornets and wasps make their homes in bushes, trees, and on buildings.ģ. Yellow jackets nest in the ground in dirt mounds or old logs and walls. Learn to recognize insect nests and avoid them. If you’ve ever had allergic reactions to an insect sting, carry epinephrine with you wherever you go. You may need to stay overnight at the hospital. You’ll still need emergency medical care, even if the symptoms seem to stop. Usually, this shot will stop a more severe allergic reaction from happening. If you have a severe allergic sting reaction, you’ll need epinephrine, which you can inject yourself before you call 911. Parents of children and people with medical conditions should talk with a pharmacist if they have questions about a medicine's use. You can also take an “NSAID” pain reliever such as ibuprofen. (If you’re pregnant, it’s best to talk to your doctor before you take any medicine.) Don’t give this medication to children under 2 years old or to pregnant women unless your doctor says it’s OK. Take an over-the-counter oral antihistamine to ease itching, swelling, and hives. If swelling is a problem, apply an ice pack or cold compress to the area. Wash the stung area with soap and water, then apply an antiseptic.Īpply a soothing ointment, like a hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion, and cover the area with a dry, sterile bandage. Don’t squeeze the sac or pull on the stinger, or more venom will get into you. Gently scrape the sac and stinger out with a fingernail or a stiff-edged object like a credit card. Remove the stinger within 30 seconds to avoid receiving more venom. If stung by a bee, the bee usually leaves a sac of venom and a stinger in your skin. Treatment if You’re Not Allergicįirst, if you’re stung on the hand, remove any rings from your fingers immediately. Many of these people are at risk for life-threatening allergic reactions. If you’re allergic to bee stings, you may also be allergic to yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets. How Common Are Insect Sting Allergies?Ībout 2 million Americans have allergies to the venom of stinging bugs. Get emergency treatment as soon as possible. Dizziness or a sharp drop in blood pressure.Swelling of the face, throat, or any part of the mouth or tongue.Hives that appear as a red, itchy rash and spread to areas beyond the sting.But when they happen, they're emergencies. Severe allergic reactions (also called an anaphylactic reaction) are not that common. What Are the Symptoms of an Insect Sting Allergy?Ī mild allergic reaction may cause one or more of these symptoms at the site of the sting: You'll need to get it treated right away. The most serious reaction is an allergic one (described below). Large local reactions peak at about 48 hours and then gradually get better over 5 to 10 days. While it often looks alarming, it's usually no more serious than a normal reaction. For example, a person stung on the ankle may have swelling of the entire leg. But in general:Ī normal reaction sets off pain, swelling, and redness around the sting site.Ī large local reaction causes swelling that extends beyond the sting site. The severity of symptoms from a sting varies from person to person. By knowing the difference, you can decide if you need to see a doctor. Those are the insect stings that most often trigger allergies. If you get stung by a bee, wasp, yellow jacket, hornet, or fire ant, would you know if you had an allergic reaction?
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