Wasp sting how long does it hurt

Getting a bee sting is no fun. For such a small insect, the pain of a sting can linger for days. Fortunately, although it can hurt, most people only suffer a mild reaction to the sting and heal completely within a few days. Honeybees and bumblebees generally only sting when provoked. After one sting, these smaller, hairier insects die. The more aggressive yellow jacket wasps that are common in our area have larger and smoother bodies than bees.

Toward the end of summer when their diet of small insects is harder to find, yellow jackets can be found around your garbage can or fallen fruit, at picnics and even inside soda cans looking for meat and sugary substances to eat. These hungry bugs want to defend their food and are more willing to sting to protect it. A yellow jacket will chase intruders for several hundred feet before returning to the food, so leave the area quickly if you are being stung.

A severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis can be life threatening and should be treated immediately at the emergency department. Research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that adults are more likely to have a serious reaction than children.

It is important to remain calm and remove a bee stinger from the skin as quickly as possible. Learn more. Bee stings are an unpleasant, although common, occurrence. Swelling can last more than 24 hours, and it can persist up to 7 days. Spider bites are uncommon, but they can be painful and sometimes dangerous. Read on to learn which spiders bite, when to contact a doctor, and more.

What to do if you're stung by a bee. Symptoms Complications Treatment Home remedies When to call a doctor Prevention We include products we think are useful for our readers. Share on Pinterest Insect bites and stings are common and usually only cause minor irritation.

Share on Pinterest Severe allergic sting reactions are treated with epinephrine adrenaline , either self-injected or by a doctor. Home remedies. Share on Pinterest When a honey bee stings a person, the barbed stinger is not pulled back out from the wound. When to call a doctor. Share on Pinterest A sting on the nostril comes out on top as the most painful location for a bee sting.

Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage. How can cat bites be dangerous? Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Rattlesnake bite: What you should know. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. The pain and discomfort should go away in a few hours. With a more moderate reaction, swelling around the site of the sting may persist for a few days and even grow larger.

There are also alternative home remedies that you can find recommended on the Internet like meat tenderizer and toothpaste. What I can say is that ice and anti-inflammatory medication are what most people need to get better. In rare instances, people who are severely allergic to bee stings can go into anaphylactic shock, a potentially fatal allergic reaction. Signs that you may be having a serious allergic reaction to a bee or wasp sting include wheezing, swelling of throat and tongue, rash or hives, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

If you are experiencing these symptoms you should call or seek immediate medical attention at the nearest emergency room.