Bee stings can be annoying and in some cases, life-threatening. When a bee stings, they inject venom into their victim. While for most people this causes a painful, red, swollen bump in a localized area on the skin, for others the situation becomes a lot more frightening. Around 3% of people have more severe allergic reactions from hives to anaphylactic shock.
When it comes to bee stings and children, the situation can be miserable, especially if the child is not old enough to understand why they are hurting. Treating the bee sting quickly and safely is vital.
Here is a step by step guide to treating bee stings on a child:
- Determine the severity: Determine whether the child is having a localized or a more critical allergic response. Symptoms like vomiting or trouble breathing are signs of an allergic reaction. If this is the case, call 911. If the child is not allergic, remove the stinger. This can be done by gently scraping the stinger with a flat object, like a credit card. Do not pinch the skin, this can cause more venom to be injected into the body.
- Reduce swelling: Apply ice to the swollen skin. It is also important to remove any tight-fitting jewelry and clothing near the affected area, in case of severe swelling.
- Relieving the symptoms: Try taking an ibuprofen or Tylenol to treat the pain, or an antihistamine to help control the itching. There are also plenty of at-home remedies that you can use to reduce the pain and itching. Some basic household items like honey, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, tea tree oil, and toothpaste can aid in treating the sting site. Just apply a small dab on the affected area and let it sit on the skin for 15 minutes up to an hour. Then rinse and cover with a band-aid.
- Promote healing: Make sure to keep the skin clean as it heals to prevent infection.
- Prevent and Protect: Another step is to prevent bee stings before they happen. At Sage Pest Control we are dedicated to eliminating your pest problem, while also protecting the environment.
At Sage Pest Control we use only registered products from the Environmental Protection Agency for bee removal in Charlotte, NC. We offer affordable prices and the most advanced, effective products.