Bee sting | |
---|---|
Other names | Bee bite |
The stinger of a honey bee separated from the body and attached to a protective dressing | |
Specialty | Emergency medicine |
Symptoms | Sharp pain followed by redness and swelling[1] |
Complications | Anaphylaxis[1] |
Diagnostic method | Based on history of events[2] |
Differential diagnosis | Cellulitis, folliculitis[1][2] |
Prevention | DEET[1] |
Treatment | Remove stinger, pain medication, apply cold, antihistamines, epinephrine[1] |
Prognosis | Generally resolve in hours to days[1] |
Frequency | Relatively common[2] |
Deaths | <100/yr (USA)[3] |
A bee sting is an injury caused by the stinger of a female bee.[4] Symptoms include a sharp pain followed by redness, swelling, and itchiness.[1][2] Over the next day a blister may form and the area of redness may expand over 3 days.[2][5] This is generally followed by improvement over hours to days.[1] In more than 90% only a local reaction occurs; while in up to 9% of cases diffuse symptoms occur.[1] Complications may include anaphylaxis.[1] Secondary bacterial infection is uncommon.[5]
Honey bees generally only sting when threatened while the Africanized bee may sing without provocation.[1] Generally a bee is only able to sting once.[2] It is a type of hymenoptera sting, along with wasps, hornets, and fire ants.[2] Diagnosis is based on the history of events.[2]
Prevention includes the use of DEET.[1] Treatment generally involves removing the stinger, simple pain medication, application of cold, and antihistamines.[1] The stinger is best removed by scraping it off with an object such as a credit card.[2] Those with severe reactions may be treated with epinephrine or corticosteroids.[1] In those with a history of severe reactions, venom immunotherapy may be used.[1]
Bee stings are relatively common.[2] Children are more commonly affected than adults.[2] Less than 100 deaths occur a year in the United States due to bee, wasp, and hornet stings; of which 80% occur in males.[3] Bee stings were used by Hippocrates around 400 BCE for claimed health benefits.[6]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Bee and wasp stings | DermNet NZ". dermnetnz.org. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Arif, F; Williams, M (January 2022). "Hymenoptera Stings". PMID 30085514.
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(help) - ^ a b "QuickStats: Number of Deaths from Hornet, Wasp, and Bee Stings, Among Males and Females — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2000–2017". MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2019. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6829a5. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Wilson-Rich, Noah; Allin, Kelly; Carreck, Norman; Quigley, Andrea (24 July 2018). The Bee: A Natural History. Princeton University Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-691-18247-6. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Bee, Wasp, Hornet, and Ant Stings - Injuries and Poisoning". Merck Manuals Consumer Version. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Grassberger, Martin; Sherman, Ronald A.; Gileva, Olga S.; Kim, Christopher; Mumcuoglu, Kosta (4 June 2013). Biotherapy - History, Principles and Practice: A Practical Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease using Living Organisms. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 79. ISBN 978-94-007-6585-6. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.