Bee stings – how to treat them, how long do they last and when should the swelling go down?
We're buzzing that we've found out everything you need to know about treating bee stings this summer...
SUMMER means bee season is upon us.
According to the , in the early summer the Queen bee is laying more and more eggs so it's peak time for everyone to get stung.
How do you know if you've been stung by a bee and how long will the sting last for?
When you get stung you will experience temporary sharp pain and a puncture wound.
This can then lead to redness, warmth, itching and swelling.
If you have any other symptoms such as swelling of the throat or nausea you may be allergic and should call 999 immediately.
If you are allergic you may suffer anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal.
As long as you're not allergic to bee venom and you remove any sting left in your skin your immune system should flush out the melittin chemical the bee releases with its sting within a week.
What's the difference between a honey and bumble bee sting?
Only bumble bee and honey bee workers and queens have a stinger.
The stinger of a bumble bee has no barbs unlike the honey bee.
Therefore the bumble bee can withdraw its stinger and sting again.
However when the honey bee tries to withdraw their stinger it tears loose taking the venom gland with it.
If you're stung by a honey bee remove the sting, wipe over it with a piece of gauze, or scrape a finger nail, piece of card, or a bank card over it.
Do not squeeze the stinger or use tweezers in an attempt to remove it, as this can cause more venom to be injected.
Once the sting is removed, you should wash the area with clean, warm soapy water.
How do you treat a bee sting?
So, there’s two ways you can go about treating a bee sting and these are 1) the NHS advised way and 2) home remedies.
The suggests you should do the following:
- For swelling – apply an ice pack to the area you were stung to reduce swelling and ease the pain.
- For pain – take ibuprofen to or paracetamol after it happens and at regular intervals if the discomfort persists.
- For itching – head to the pharmacy and get an over-the-counter cream like crotamiton or hydrocortisone.
The suggest home remedies such as:
- Honey – apply a small amount to the area and add a plaster over it for an hour – this should help healing and reduce pain and itching.
- Baking soda – mix with water to create a paste and apply a thick layer to the area and cover with a plaster for 15 minutes. This should neutralise the bee venom from the sting and reduce swelling.
- Apple cider vinegar – soak a cloth in the vinegar and apply to the stung area for at least 15 minutes. This should neutralise the sting.
MORE IN HEALTH
When will the swelling go down?
The team at suggests that "the swelling from a bee sting may peak at around 48 hours after you've been stung, but it usually should be completely gone within a few days and maximum a week".
You can speed up the healing process by applying a cold compress whenever it feels sore or swollen.
They also advise you to avoid scratching the area at any time.