Wasp sting: dermatologist warns of allergy if swelling is greater than ten centimeters
Created: 08/09/2022, 12:00 p.m
By: Natalie Hull Drawbar
Wasps are unpopular with many people as they are considered more aggressive than bees.
How do you know if you are allergic to wasp stings?
Towards the end of summer, wasps commonly become more aggressive as they seek food for themselves and their offspring.
Basically, wasps are always seen much more frequently than bees when people are enjoying delicious food outdoors, on the terrace, in the garden or on the balcony.
In contrast to bees, wasps primarily feed on meat, insects and sweets.
Bees are vegetarians and love pollen and nectar.
Some people react little to a wasp sting, while others react more strongly.
At what point is the reaction to the wasp sting no longer "normal" but possibly an allergy?
Wasp sting: dermatologist warns of allergy if swelling is greater than ten centimeters
If the wasp feels disturbed or attacked while eating, it can happen that it stings.
Some people have an allergic reaction without even knowing it.
(symbol image) © agrarmotive/Imago
"Don't wave your hand around!", "Leave the wasps alone, they'll leave you alone", "Don't blow on them!" - We like to hear this or similar advice when the meanwhile unpopular wasps join us.
But despite all the tips, wasp stings happen again and again, and they can be extremely painful.
Heat or even a so-called heat pen have proven to be quick help immediately after the wasp sting.
Some people only show a local reaction with slight redness and swelling after a wasp sting, others even have an allergic reaction after the insect bite, which can affect the cardiovascular system and the respiratory tract.
If the spot where the wasp stung the skin swells more than ten centimeters, an allergic reaction can be assumed.
"If wheals still appear on the body, if you feel unwell and have shortness of breath, if your circulation drops and your heart starts racing, in the worst case people can die from it," explains Dr.
Yael Adler in
the
ZDF
television garden
.
In the event of severe reactions or allergy symptoms, the emergency doctor should be called.
It is advisable to carry an allergy emergency kit with you in months when there is a high incidence of wasps, especially if an insect allergy is known.
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If you have a wasp sting in your mouth or hand – what to do?
If a wasp stings your mouth or throat, you need to act quickly: the mucous membranes and tongue can swell in a very short time and narrow the airways or even completely close them, as described on the
portal
www.hno-aerzte-im-netz.de
.
This means that in the worst case, the stung person can suffocate.
Allergy sufferers are particularly at risk because their mucous membranes swell particularly quickly.
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In the event of a wasp sting in the throat, the following applies in any case: call emergency services to avoid danger to life.
Until the emergency services arrive, areas affected by the sting—cheeks, neck—should be treated with ice cubes or ice cream on the inside and cooling pads on the outside to minimize swelling.
If someone is stung by a wasp, dermatologist Dr.
Yael Adler has a valuable tip: "Remove all rings immediately, because if the finger swells, you can really pinch it off." In the worst case, tissue can even die if the blood flow is interrupted by rings or other constricting objects.
To prevent the sting from happening, simple tips can often help to drive the wasps away.
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This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
