Bees are few of the insects that benefit humans. However, their bites can cause severe discomfort. Some people are even allergic to a bee sting. In mild cases, this condition does not pose a serious danger, but in the presence of intolerance to bee venom severe consequences are possible. Let us consider in more detail the symptoms of insect allergy and the rules of first aid.
Why is there an allergy?
On the one hand, bee venom has healing properties, on the other - it can be the strongest allergen. At the time of a bite, an insect releases a sting into the skin, which just contains protein compounds and biologically active components that have a toxic effect. The poison contains substances such as histamine, peptides, mellitin, phosphoric and hydrochloric acids, amino acids, acetylcholine.
Normally, the human body copes with the poison contained in the bee sting in 10-15 minutes, limiting the spread of substances. Only a swelling and soreness of the skin will remind you of an insect bite. However, with a weak immune system, the reaction can be unpredictable. Therefore, such a disease very often affects people with a history of diabetes mellitus, infectious and viral pathologies, hormonal disruptions, and autoimmune ailments.
Quite often there are cases of hereditary allergy to a bee sting. If at least one parent has a similar problem, then the risk of developing an allergy in a child increases.
Symptoms
Reactions to bee venom in the human body can be immediate or occur after some time. In almost all cases, local symptoms occur in the form of edema, soreness and redness at the site of the bite. The sting is in some ways an irritant, and therefore the negative reaction of the body will only intensify if it is not removed in a timely manner. Local reactions pass within a few days.
Severe cases
How is an allergy from a bee sting manifested in more severe cases? With intolerance to the components of the insect venom, local reactions can occur: redness and swelling covers a large area of the skin, there is severe itching, soreness, weakness, a general breakdown.
The most severe variant of the course of the disease is a systemic reaction of the body. The following symptoms indicate the development of such a condition:
- redness and itching appears;
- swelling of the face and limbs (angioedema Quincke edema);
- dizziness occurs;
- blood pressure drops;
- weakness, nausea appears;
- possible loss of consciousness;
- a rash appears on the skin (urticaria);
- there is a feeling of lack of air;
- runny nasal discharge appears.
What is the danger?
The third severity of a bee sting allergy is the most dangerous for humans. Almost immediately after the poison enters the general bloodstream, severe reactions develop in the form of acute heart failure, edema of the internal organs, anaphylactic shock. In this case, it is extremely important to quickly provide the patient with first aid and call a team of doctors.
Treatment
If a person is allergic to a bee sting, what should be done to prevent severe reactions? First of all, you need to remove the sting as soon as possible - the source of poison. Many people use tweezers for this, but such an instrument can only worsen the situation. The fact is that when the sting is squeezed, a larger amount of poison comes out of it, which will cause even more severe allergic reactions.
To remove the sting, it is best to use a plastic bank card or needle. The reddened area of the dermis should be pre-treated with an antiseptic solution to avoid infection. The skin around the sting needs to be carefully scraped off with a needle or card, and then carefully pull out the sting without pressing the bag of poison. The wound must be cleaned using warm water with soap or alcohol.
Bee Sting Allergy: First Aid
After removing the sting, you can proceed with further treatment aimed at preventing the occurrence of an allergic reaction. To relieve discomfort and pain, a cold compress should be applied. In addition to reducing the severity of pain, it will also help reduce the speed of spread of the poison. A tourniquet can be applied to the area above the site of the bite (but not more than two hours in the summer).
How to relieve swelling? A bee sting leads to a swelling. To eliminate or at least reduce inflammation, it is recommended to attach an ice pack to the focus as soon as possible.
If you are at risk of developing allergies, you should drink quick-acting antihistamines. It can be medicines in the form of tablets or drops. The following drugs are considered most effective in such cases:
- "Desloratadine."
- Tavegil.
- "Cetirizine."
- "Erius."
- Telfast.
- Zirtek.
For the speedy removal of the toxic components of bee venom from the body, it is recommended to take enterosorbents: Enterosgel, Polysorb, Atoxil.
After a bee sting, how to relieve swelling with local drugs? If an ointment containing hormonal components is at hand, it can also be used to get rid of swelling. Effective will be hydrocortisone and prednisolone ointment, an external agent in the form of a Fenistil gel.
Emergency help
A single bee sting can trigger the development of dire consequences. Of particular danger is insect venom for people with allergies. Heart rhythm disturbance, swelling of the mucous membranes, anaphylactic shock - symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
In severe cases, the patient needs to be injected with Prednisolone (or Dexamethasone) and Adrenaline (0.1%) intramuscularly as soon as possible. “Eufillin” will help eliminate bronchospasm. Similar events are carried out in cases where the bite fell on the neck, head, eye, mucous membranes. This helps prevent the spread of toxic components of the poison and stop the development of an allergic reaction. Further actions aimed at helping the injured should be carried out already in the hospital.
Will folk remedies help?
Traditional medicine offers a wide selection of recipes that can significantly improve a person’s condition after a bee sting. However, they can be used only in the absence of intolerance to insect venom. Otherwise, there is a huge risk of complications and worsening.
Olive oil will help relieve minor swelling caused by an allergy to a bee sting. It is applied in a small amount to the site of inflammation after sting removal. The relief will bring and the application of a swab dipped in a solution of baking soda.
Prevention
The consequences of a bee sting can be the most unpredictable. To avoid the development of severe allergic reactions, an antihistamine should be taken as soon as possible. People who have acute intolerance to bee venom need to protect themselves as much as possible from aggression of insects. To do this, it is recommended to avoid wearing clothes of bright colors when camping, not to use perfumes (a sweet aroma attracts insects), and take food in the fresh air with caution. When working on the garden site, it is imperative to use mittens and wear as much as possible closed clothing, a hat.