Wasp Sting: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

A wasp sting is usually painful, but harmless. It only becomes problematic for allergy sufferers. For them, wasp venom can cause anaphylactic shock, which in the worst case can be fatal.

What is a wasp sting?

Schematic representation of the pharynx when insect enters the respiratory tract. Click to enlarge. Wasps belong to the insects, more precisely to the hymenoptera. They live together in large colonies and are distributed worldwide. Wasps, like hornets or bees, have a venomous sting with barbs that can easily penetrate human skin. If they feel threatened or disturbed, they sting and inject the venom into the skin, causing swelling, redness and pain. Normally, a wasp sting is painful but harmless. Wasp stings only become dangerous after several hundred stings. However, people with wasp allergy can develop more severe symptoms, which in the worst case can become dangerous even with a single wasp sting. Anaphylactic shock can become life-threatening. Wasp stings in the mouth and throat area can also become dangerous because the airways can become swollen shut.

Causes

Wasps sting when they feel disturbed or threatened. Since they do not disdain human food such as cake or sausage, especially in late summer, they seek the proximity of people and often become very intrusive. Fall fruit is also eaten with preference by wasps, so that in late summer and autumn many wasps can also be found on the ground. Unlike bees, wasps can sting as often as they like and inject venom into the wound. Therefore, they are more aggressive and sting faster than bees. If the wasp venom gets into the human skin, it causes redness, swelling and pain. The severity of the reaction depends on the amount of venom and the site of the sting and therefore varies greatly. In allergic patients, the immune system overreacts to the invaded venom, triggering a reaction that can range from mild general reactions or increased swelling to anaphylactic shock.

Symptoms, complaints, and signs

A wasp sting may cause brief pain and swelling. Pictured: sting of a wasp to the buttocks. A wasp sting causes a burning pain at the site of the injection. However, depending on how much venom was injected, this may subside after a few minutes. Usually, the reaction is strongest about two to three days after the wasp sting. Wasp venom is not life-threatening to humans until several hundred stings have occurred, and yet even a single sting can lead to a life-threatening situation, especially for allergy sufferers. The main symptom of a wasp sting is also a strong itching around the sting site as well as a clear swelling. Anyone who is allergic to the wasp’s venom should seek medical attention immediately. In these patients, a wasp sting may not only be accompanied by severe swelling and redness, but also shortness of breath or severe circulatory problems are common symptoms. Under certain circumstances, anaphylactic shock may occur, which is accompanied by palpitations and/or unconsciousness and may even lead to death. Under certain circumstances it can happen that the sting of the wasp is still in the puncture site. Unlike the bee, wasps do not lose their sting. So it may be possible that there are multiple stings by just one wasp.

Diagnosis and course

Diagnosis of a wasp sting usually takes place by direct observation. If there is no allergy, a wasp sting is comparatively harmless. The skin around the sting site hurts and swells. The swelling is often most severe on the second or third day and does not subside for several days. A wasp sting is usually not dangerous. The venom is not strong enough to actually be dangerous to humans. The situation is different for people who are allergic to wasp venom. In the first hours after the sting (usually very early), they experience a much stronger reaction. Severe swelling, headaches, nausea or extensive skin reactions are possible. If anaphylactic shock occurs, it becomes life-threatening. In this circulatory shock, the blood pressure drops so massively that vital organs are no longer supplied with sufficient blood.Complete circulatory failure and then death can occur if life-saving medications are not given quickly.

Complications

In most cases, a single wasp sting, while uncomfortable and painful, is rather harmless and rarely leads to complications. The situation is different if the wasp accidentally enters the oral cavity with a drink and stings the mouth or throat. The sting causes the tissue in the respiratory tract to swell quickly and triggers life-threatening respiratory distress. If medical attention is not provided within a very short time, death by suffocation is imminent. The risk of complications increases with the number of stings. Children may be more sensitive than adults. When around wasps, it is advisable to remain calm and not lash out wildly because they are more likely to sting when they feel threatened. Wasp stings are particularly dangerous for people who are allergic to wasp venom. For them, even one sting can be enough to trigger a life-threatening anaphylactic shock. If someone reacts to a wasp sting with dizziness, shortness of breath, feelings of anxiety and rapid heartbeat, an emergency physician must be called immediately. People who know they are having an allergic reaction should always carry an emergency kit so that a quick response can be made in an emergency. However, an emergency physician should always be called in case of shock.

When should you go to the doctor?

In most cases, a wasp sting is not a reason to see a doctor. It heals on its own within a few days or a week, and the initial pain, while uncomfortable, is harmless. Likewise, the redness as well as the swelling are not a cause for concern. However, such individuals who are allergic to wasp venom should immediately notify an emergency physician if symptoms beyond swelling and pain at the sting site appear after the sting. This is true even if there are only mild symptoms. Finally, symptoms, which include circulatory and respiratory issues, can worsen in allergy sufferers for some time after the sting. Even people who do not have a known wasp venom allergy but show symptoms of one should see a doctor. Likewise, wasp stings that do not heal should be evaluated by a primary care physician or dermatologist. Stings to sensitive parts of the body, such as the eye or throat, may also require medical attention. However, this depends on how bad the pain and swelling are after the sting.

Treatment and therapy

A common wasp sting should be cooled as soon as possible to keep the swelling down and relieve the pain. If an allergic reaction occurs, emergency medication must be given immediately. Usually, three different medications are used depending on the severity: Antihistamines, corticosteroidsand epinephrine. These drugs are contained in a so-called emergency kit, which allergy sufferers are prescribed by their doctor and should carry with them at all times. If stronger allergic reactions occur or adrenaline from the emergency kit has to be injected, emergency medical treatment is necessary. If there are signs of shock (for example, sweating, nausea, and a flat pulse), the patient should be placed in a lying position with the legs elevated. This allows blood to flow from the legs back to the upper part of the body, where the vital organs are located. In the long run, the risk of an allergic reaction to wasp venom can be reduced by immunotherapy. Over a period of three to five years, the immune system is repeatedly exposed to minute amounts of the allergy-causing wasp venom in order to accustom it to it.

Prevention

The risk of a wasp sting can be reduced by taking certain precautions. Aggressive movements should be avoided, for example, wagging or swatting at the wasps. Allergy sufferers should take other precautions, such as not consuming sweet drinks or sweet foods outdoors, avoiding fallen fruit, and possibly avoiding long skirts or loose sleeves so that wasps cannot get caught in them. In addition, allergy sufferers should always carry an emergency kit. This is prescribed by the doctor and can save lives in the event of anaphylactic shock.

Aftercare

For people with an allergy to wasp venom, it is exceedingly important to stay as far away from these insects as possible.Caution is advised especially in late summer, when wasps are particularly active. Grilled meat, sweet foods and sweet drinks are very attractive to these insects. Allergy sufferers should therefore be extremely careful when eating outdoors. It is also advisable to stay away from waste containers in public areas such as swimming pools, parks or rest areas. Simple household remedies often help to actively ward off wasps: wasps find the smell of lemon or orange slices laced with cloves extremely unpleasant. Tomato plants, lavender and basil also have a deterrent effect on the insects. Inside the house, insect nets attached to windows help protect against wasps. People with known wasp allergies should not leave the house in the summer without an emergency kit. The emergency kit contains three medications: an antihistamine, which ensures rapid decongestion and reduces the allergic reaction; a cortisone preparation, which also has a decongestant effect; and a pre-filled adrenaline syringe, which stabilizes the circulatory system if necessary. Affected persons should definitely familiarize themselves with these medications in advance, in order to be able to treat a wasp sting within a few minutes in an emergency.

What you can do yourself

A suitable home remedy to relieve pain, swelling and redness after a wasp sting is cooling. An ice cube provides relief. A cooling pad placed on the sting site for a few minutes is also suitable. Human saliva is also suitable as an immediate measure after a sting, it has a disinfecting effect. A similar effect has sugar, which is given to the affected area. An onion half or some lemon juice has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces further skin irritation. Alternatively, garlic can also be used. If you want to remove the fresh poison to avoid swelling, use a clean cloth with hot water and press it lightly on the skin. Basically, any home remedy must be clean and free of contaminants to avoid infection or further swelling. The same applies to the hands, which are thoroughly disinfected before each treatment. Essential oils are another home remedy to treat a wasp sting yourself. Peppermint oil cools the skin and disinfects the sting site, while tea tree oil reduces any swelling present. Clove oil helps reduce itching. Essential oils can cause allergic skin reactions and should therefore only be tested in small amounts on another skin site. If severe itching or skin irritation occurs, this home remedy is not suitable for treating a wasp sting yourself.