Although a wasp sting is usually harmless. Nevertheless, the short-term unpleasant consequences of a wasp sting can often be alleviated or even avoided with known home remedies.
What helps against wasp stings?
Schematic illustration of the pharynx when insects enter the respiratory tract. Click to enlarge. First, a stung person should make sure whether the sting is from a bee or wasp. Unlike bee stings, a wasp sting does not remain in the skin. In the case of wasp stings, the affected area of the skin should be cooled for one to two hours with a cooling pad, an ice cube wrapped in a cloth, or with water, otherwise a ten-centimeter region around the sting will usually swell. In the case of a puncture inside the mouth, ice cubes help to bridge the time until a doctor arrives. Cooling the puncture site also causes the venom to spread more slowly, as blood vessels contract in the cold. To prevent frostbite, however, cooling elements should not be applied directly to the skin. People allergic to insect venom are advised to always carry an emergency kit containing antihistamines, which counteract the effect of the body’s own histamine and thus counteract tissue swelling. The emergency kit should also contain a cortisone preparation, a venom aspirator, a suction plunger, and adrenaline (in spray and syringe form) in case of respiratory distress. As a preventive measure against wasp stings, it helps to avoid jerky movements, which wasps interpret as attacks. You should also refrain from blowing on a wasp, as the carbon dioxide contained in its breath makes wasps aggressive. To prevent wasps from being attracted to food scraps, children should wipe their mouths after eating. Tight-fitting clothing will prevent wasps from becoming trapped. Placing a halved onion on the sting site has an anti-inflammatory and soothing effect. Before drinking, it is important to make sure that there are no wasps in the drinking vessel. Preferably, glasses should be covered. Since the smell of sweat is attractive to wasps, a shower should be taken immediately after exercise. Shoes should be worn near fruit trees, flowers or lawns to be on the safe side. In public areas, special care should be taken near trash cans and waste baskets.
Quick help
Wasp venom can be destroyed by skin application of a cloth at least 40°C hot, placed on the sting site for about 30 seconds. Scratching the sting site should be avoided to prevent wound infection. Disinfection of the fresh sting site is recommended. The wasp venom should be squeezed out of the wound, but not sucked out, so that it does not spread through the mucous membranes. Ideally, the removal of the wasp venom is done with a suction plunger. A small plastic syringe with the tip cleanly cut off is also suitable for sucking out the wasp venom to prevent it from spreading through the body. In the case of wasp stings in the oral cavity, which can cause rapid swelling of the mucous membranes, resulting in a risk of suffocation, as well as wasp venom allergy, remain calm and call a doctor or ambulance immediately. A person affected by such a wasp sting should not drive a motor vehicle themselves to avoid the risk of an accident. In addition, a doctor must decide which hospital (e.g. for the treatment of children) is suitable. If allergic shock occurs, the allergic person must be laid flat on the floor. His legs must be elevated. In case of respiratory arrest, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is required.
Alternative remedies
For wasp stings, poultices with cold vinegar water or acetic clay help. Saliva applied to the sting site is said to be able to neutralize wasp venom. Beekeepers often use warm salt water, which they dab on the skin with a cotton cloth. The anti-inflammatory and soothing agents of ribwort plantain are applied to the puncture site after rubbing the leaves between the hands. Ribwort plantain grows along the edge of many hiking trails and can be recognized by its pointed and narrow foliage leaves, which stand together in rosette form near the ground. After a wasp sting, the globules “Apis mellifica” or “Vespa D6” are also used.A halved onion can be rubbed over the puncture site, which, if applied immediately, will soon relieve pain and significantly reduce inflammation. Onion application should be for a period of at least ten minutes. Similarly, citric acid drizzled on the puncture site immediately helps. A sugar cube moistened with saliva can also be applied, which draws moisture from the sting wound and thus inhibits swelling and pain. Suitable disinfectants after a wasp sting include citronella, an oil derived from lemongrass, and tea tree oil. Essential oil applied to the skin (such as citronella or cedar oil) will deter wasps.
