Taking the Sting out of Bug Bites

SATURDAY, Sept. 14, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- Forget about the Ides of March. It's the wasps of fall that you need to guard against right now.

Yellow jacket hives have been getting larger all summer, and are at their biggest size now. That means there are more of them. And they're getting more ornery and likely to sting as the days grow shorter, the weather cools and their food supplies start to run low.

Yellow jacket stings can be more than painful, they can be deadly for people who suffer allergic reactions to insect stings.

Here are some safety tips from pediatric allergist Dr. Dan Atkins and patient education expert Ann Mullen, both from the National Jewish Medical Research Center.

They say that more than 1 million Americans report allergic reactions to insect stings each year, and about 50 people die after being stung. Yellow jackets, yellow hornets, white-faced hornets, wasps and honeybees are the insects most likely to put the sting on you.

People who are sensitive to insect stings may have an immediate or a delayed reaction. An immediate reaction happens within four hours of a sting. It includes localized pain, swelling and skin redness that lasts for several hours at the sting site.

Some people experience a large, local reaction that includes swelling in a larger area around the sting area and may also include low-grade fever, mild nausea, tiredness and aches.

The most severe form of immediate reaction is anaphylaxis. In these cases, the person turns red and suffers itching, hives, swelling, sneezing, runny nose, throat swelling, breathing problems, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Anaphylaxis can be so severe that it results in irregular heartbeat, shock and death.

A delayed reaction to a sting occurs more than four hours later -- sometimes it can happen a week after the sting. Symptoms include hives, fever, joint pain and fatigue. People who suffer a delayed reaction may be at risk for anaphylaxis if they're stung again at a later date.

Atkins and Mullen offer the following advice for treating insect stings:

• If you have no history of allergic reactions, take aspirin for pain and use ice to reduce swelling.
• If you've had a previous reaction to a sting, take an oral antihistamine that doesn't cause drowsiness.
• If you have a history of severe reactions or anaphylaxis, wear a bracelet that identifies your sensitivity to insect stings. Learn to give yourself injections of epinephrine. Keep epinephrine and antihistamines with you. Call 911 after you take the medications.
• If you've had a delayed reaction to a sting, you might consider immunotherapy -- a series of shots against allergies to insect venom that can protect you against future reactions to stings.

Do your best to avoid stings by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts while you do outdoor activities such as hiking or mowing the lawn. Wear gloves when you garden. Choose shoes instead of sandals.

Don't wear dark clothes or clothing with flowery designs. They're more likely to attract insects than white or light-colored clothing. Use unscented deodorant and avoid strongly-scented perfume, cologne, hair products or lotions. Wash off sweat after you exercise and use insect repellant.

If you have a picnic or barbecue, cover your food and garbage so they don't attract insects.

More information

Here's some stinging details about bees and wasps.