Wasp Sting Treatment
Wasps are able to deliver multiple stings to their victim without dying like bees because their stinger doesn’t come off when they sting. Now it is crucial to establish that wasps sting you they don’t bite you. their stinger is located on the rear of its abdomen and contains a venom sac which direct the venom into you when the wasp stings you.
The main reason a wasp will sting a human being is because they feel threatened or you are working too close to their colony. What may look like an unwarranted attack on you for no reason look like you coming too close for the comfort of the wasp. Because they do not leave their stinger in you, you only have to contend with cleaning out their venom from the sting site.
Treating a wasp sting
When the wasp stings you it imparts its venom into the skin which causes the irritation and swelling. Some stings will not impart any venom but they are still quite painful. In people sensitive to insect stings and bites there may be an anaphylactic reaction leading to hospitalization. Elderly people and children are most susceptible to severe reactions.
But if you have a mild to moderate reaction just consider the following steps as adequate treatment.
Begin by washing the area where you have been stung with warm water and soap. Some people will tend to press the area to push out the venom but that really is not necessary because the sting doesn’t deliver the venom too deep into the dermis. A gentle wipe of the area with the water will suffice in removing the venom.
Next apply a cold compress to the area to take the edge of the sting and begin to cool and calm the area down. You need to apply the compress continually for at least fifteen minutes s we recommend packing he compress with ice. You will notice that you have to keep turning the compress around to find the cool areas as the sections used absorbed the heat from the sting site.
Now apply the calamine lotion onto the site and let it gently cool the area. Calamine lotion provides instant cooling relief to the site continuing the cooling effect that the cold compress started.
You can apply hydrocortisone cream fifteen to half an hour after applying the calamine lotion in order to reduce inflammation, swelling and the urge to itch the area.
Finally, take some over the counter pain medication like ibrupofen to help you mitigate the pain of the sting. This will definitely take a few minutes before it takes effect so be patient. Make sure you elevate the sting area if it is a limb to allow blood to circulate and reduce swelling.
