Story. Allergy to insect bites

What do you need to know if you or your loved ones suffer from an allergy to insect bites?

An allergic reaction to a wasp sting does not develop the same type every time. And if your symptoms are moderate or mild, no one can guarantee that the next bite will not cause more serious consequences. In order to minimize health risks, train yourself to follow these rules:

• Every time before leaving home, check that you have an allergy passport. It is better if all the necessary information is on a special bracelet or in a medallion, access to which is not difficult due to clothing. Your passport must indicate your allergy status; what are you allergic to; allergy medications you take; what first aid equipment you need; your home address and telephone number of your attending physician.
• An anti-allergic (anti-shock) first aid kit should always be with you. Regularly, once every 2-3 months, check the expiration date of first aid medications. If you lead an active lifestyle and are often outside your apartment, pack several first aid kits, each of which will be kept at home, at work, in the gym and other places you most often visit. One of the first aid kits should be with you at all times.
• In the period from April to October, when traveling to nature, to the country, etc., use special insect repellents. Try to wear clothing that is as closed as possible, and do not use perfumes and cosmetics with fruity and floral scents. During the warm season, avoid eating outdoors (summer cafes, picnics, etc.), as this significantly increases the risk of swallowing a stinging insect.

By following these simple rules, you will prevent insect bites and, accordingly, you will be able to avoid allergic reactions.

Preventive actions

If a wasp sting and an allergy are two inextricably linked concepts, a number of measures should be followed:

• do not relax outdoors in places where insects accumulate;
• do not wear bright clothes outside that attract hymenoptera;
• do not use perfumes with a strong aroma in the summer;
• when working on a personal plot, choose the right clothes (long sleeves, hats, gloves, closed shoes);
• protect your home windows with a mosquito net;
• do not eat fruits and sweets on the street, the smell of food can attract insects;
• do not kill bees and wasps, do not wave your limbs when they approach;
• Always carry an antihistamine with you.

Relatives of an allergic person should be aware of the presence of allergies and be able to provide first aid. During the warm season, allergy sufferers need to carry instructions from their doctor with information about the disease and an algorithm for administering antihistamines. By taking preventive measures, serious consequences can be avoided.

Actions in the first minutes after the bite

Perhaps the first thing you should do immediately after a bite is to make sure that it was a wasp and not a bee that stung: some fundamental aspects of first aid after an attack by these insects vary significantly. So, for example, if you are bitten by a wasp, you should not waste precious time looking for the sting - unlike a bee, this insect never leaves it in the skin.

The task of the initial stage of first aid for a wasp sting is to minimize the amount of insect venom injected under the skin at the site of the bite. There are several ways to do this.

To begin with, you need to try to suck out as much venom as possible from the bite site: this can only take 1 minute, since the skin around the puncture site usually tightens very quickly, and further attempts will no longer be effective.

Don’t be afraid of getting wasp venom into your mouth - it won’t cause any harm, the only important thing is not to swallow it, but to spit it out

There is another more or less effective way to partially neutralize the insect toxin. Wasp venom has an alkaline reaction, so acids are its neutralizers. In order to reduce the amount of the active form of poison in the wound, you should apply a cotton swab moistened with 9% table vinegar, a slice of lemon, or a piece of apple or orange to it for a minute.

In some cases, especially brave victims burn the wasp bite with an extinguished match, cigarette or hot coal. Typically, exposure to high temperature is considered as a first aid method for bites from snakes and some poisonous spiders - that is, when there is a real threat to life. When cauterized, the toxins of the poison located close to the surface of the skin disintegrate and simply do not have time to cause any harm.

Such first aid, of course, will give a certain effect in the event of a wasp sting, but you need to clearly understand that this method, firstly, is very painful (sometimes even more sensitive than the bite itself), and, secondly, a trace of the resulting burn may remain for life. Probably, the only case when it makes sense to seek such help is when the victim is obviously prone to severe insect allergies, and he knows about it himself, but does not have a special injector with adrenaline with him.

In addition to all of the above actions, at the initial stage of first aid, you can put a kind of compress of wet sugar on the wound, which will also draw out the poison from the wound.

Further first aid actions for a wasp sting should be aimed at preventing the poison from quickly entering the bloodstream, reducing the likelihood of developing a severe allergy and relieving symptoms of intoxication of the body. For example, to reduce the rate of spread of poison and reduce swelling at the site of the bite, you need to keep a cold compress for as long as possible - this could be a piece of ice, frozen meat or a bottle of cold water. Just under the cold compress there may be the above-mentioned piece of wet sugar, the hypertonic solution of which will additionally draw out the poison from the wound.

First aid

Of course, the difficulty is that stings most often occur in nature, far from medical stations. That is why you need to know thoroughly what to do if you are bitten by a wasp, bee, or other poisonous insect.

First aid algorithm:

1. It is necessary to quickly remove the sting, since, while in the wound, it continues to produce toxic substances. Extraction is carried out extremely carefully, so as not to crush the bag of poison, using previously disinfected tweezers. If there is no suitable tool at hand, and the incident occurred in nature, then the fingers and nails of the working hand are treated with alcohol (preferably vodka) and the sting is pulled out. You need to act with lightning speed, since every minute of delay leads to toxic substances spreading into the tissues. Usually the sting remains after a bee sting, but a wasp can also leave its weapon in the victim’s skin.
2. It is advisable to treat the wound with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia.
3. Take an antiallergic drug (suprastin, loratadine, cetrin, etc.).
4. Lubricate the itchy papule with a special product: fenistil-gel, psilo-balm, etc.
5. Drink plenty of fluids to help cleanse your body of toxins.
6. You can prevent the spread of toxic components through the lymphatic system by applying ice to the injury.

In general, bee venom can be neutralized using alkali

– for example, it is recommended to carefully wash the bite site with boiled water and soap, while wasp toxins are destroyed in an
acidic environment
– ​​it is advisable to apply a cut lemon slice or a cloth soaked in vinegar to the wound.

An ambulance must be called when:

• a person was attacked by several stinging individuals (high concentration of poison in the blood);
• symptoms such as:

• spasms and swelling of the larynx;
• labored breathing;
• shortness of breath and tachycardia;
• severe vomiting;
• generalized urticaria (when there is a rash all over the body);
• severe swelling at the site of the bite;
• loss of consciousness;

• the insect stung me in the eye, neck, and mouth area.

2 tablets of diphenhydramine will help maintain the normal functioning of the body. To stabilize the patient’s condition, the doctor will inject adrenaline 0.1% and prednisolone intramuscularly; the remaining resuscitation measures are carried out in the hospital.

After a bite, you should never rub the bite site, as this will either lead to the rapid spread of toxic substances through the lymphatic system or lead to infection of the wound.

Causes of bee sting allergy

“Bee sting” is a very conditional name, because a bee cannot bite, it stings.
The sting is a modified ovipositor, which is located at the rear end of the body, and is used for attack or self-defense. A bee stinger has barbs that get stuck in human skin. As a result of this, during an attack, it is torn off from the insect’s body, dooming it to inevitable death. Thus, a bee can only “bite” once. But wasps and hornets have a smooth sting, thanks to which they can sting several times in a row. The sting releases poison into the human blood, which is a mixture of many biologically active substances, including the pro-inflammatory mediator histamine, various proteins (enzymes phospholipase, phosphatase, etc.), peptides, amino acids, etc. It is proteins that in most cases turn out to be allergens that can provoke an inadequate immune response. When they enter the blood of a person suffering from hypersensitivity, a large amount of IgE antibodies are produced, triggering a cascade of reactions that lead to typical manifestations of allergies.

When the poison first enters the body, the allergic reaction may be barely noticeable, but all subsequent ones will lead to more serious symptoms, since antibodies to the allergen remain and accumulate in the blood.

Why are some people so sensitive to bee venom? The answer to this question is not so simple. The reason lies in the imperfection of the immune system, which recognizes a certain foreign protein (allergen) as potentially dangerous.

People who are hypersensitive to the poison also cannot tolerate honey, wax and other bee products. This happens because all these substances contain impurities of bee enzymes.

At the same time, some people cannot eat honey, but the bites do not cause them any symptoms that are not normal. In this case, one can suspect that a hypersensitivity reaction to honey is provoked by pollen contained in large quantities.

Causes of an allergic reaction to a wasp sting

The body's allergic reaction to a wasp sting is due to a hereditary predisposition. According to statistics, 10% of the world's population suffers from this disease, and in 1.5% of ordinary people the allergic reaction can be acute, in the form of bronchial asthma or Quincke's edema.

At the first sting of a wasp, in response to the poison that has entered the body, protective proteins, that is, antibodies, are produced. No allergies are observed in this case. It appears when the bite is repeated, when the antibodies meet the poison. Their entry into the blood causes an abnormal reaction of the body, which manifests itself as unpleasant symptoms, and in some cases, endangers a person’s life.

Common symptoms of normal and allergic reactions

Despite the differences in chemical composition, the general symptoms of a normal body reaction to a hymenoptera bite are approximately the same:

• Burning pain;
• Papule surrounded by swelling and redness.

On average, these symptoms last from 1 to 5 days.

Allergic reaction

It usually develops from bites on the hands, neck, face, or tongue. When bitten on the legs or chest, the reaction develops much less frequently.

Allergic reaction to a wasp sting on a guy's face. Before and after the reaction (can be increased)

According to the extent of symptoms, allergies are classified as general and local.

The local reaction is relatively safe for life, develops in the bite area, and is manifested by swelling, itching and redness of the entire affected limb.

A generalized or generalized allergic reaction is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Local reactions rarely develop against the background of general reactions.

The classification of general allergies according to the severity of manifestations includes three degrees:

• First degree (mild). It manifests itself as urticaria, Quincke's edema (swelling of the lips, tongue, larynx, ears), low blood pressure. Edema of the larynx leads to hypoxia or asphyxia, which can lead to death.
• Second degree (medium). In addition to the symptoms described above, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bronchospasm are added, low blood pressure is manifested by general weakness and periodic loss of consciousness.
• Third degree (severe). Anaphylactic shock is a rapidly developing and most dangerous manifestation of allergies. In the first minutes after the bite, a severe headache appears, itching spreads from the bite site throughout the body, bronchospasm develops, and soon the person loses consciousness. In this case, convulsions and involuntary urination are possible. The skin is pale, cyanotic, cold sticky sweat appears on the skin, blood pressure drops to 80/40 mmHg. Art., collapse develops, the pulse is practically not palpable. Death occurs within a few hours or even minutes due to hypoxia of vital organs.

Photo: allergies after a wasp and other stinging stings

A swollen hand after a bite and a healthy one

Reaction to a bumblebee sting on the leg

Systemic reaction - rash all over the body after a sting

Quincke's edema is a serious systemic reaction

Swelling on the lip after a sting

Hyperemia at the bite site

Toxic reaction

Along with an allergic reaction, a toxic reaction can develop to the sting of a bee and other hymenoptera insects, since their venom has high biological activity.

A toxic reaction can occur in both an allergic person and a healthy person.

And if for an allergic reaction one bite is enough, since the main role in it is played by the antibodies in the body, for a toxic reaction the amount of poison in the body, depending on the number of bites, plays a decisive role.

A toxic reaction, just like an allergic one, is divided into local and general. Local is manifested by slight swelling, redness, itching, which lasts up to a week.

Clinical symptoms of general intoxication:

• heat,
• nausea and vomiting,
• headache,
• in severe cases, convulsions and delirium,
• inhibition of the blood coagulation system,
• increased vascular permeability.

Please note: Resistance to bee venom is individual for each person and depends on gender, age, and body weight. A one-time sting from more than five hundred bees almost always leads to death.

Special cases

Acute allergic reaction - Quincke's edema (can be increased)

What could be the consequences if a bee (or other insect) stings you on the head?

A bee sting on the head poses considerable danger - the consequences can be quite serious (encephalitis, neuritis, etc.). Swelling occurs from a few minutes to several hours after the bite. Therefore, if a bee stings your head, you should immediately contact a medical facility.

Sudden allergy to bee venom. And is it an allergy?

Many people are interested in the causes of a sudden allergy to bee venom (and is it an allergy?). Cases have been described where the bite initially did not cause significant manifestations of allergies. But subsequent insect bites were accompanied by such terrible symptoms as anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema.

In this case, the first insect bite is a kind of “acquaintance” of the body with the allergen. With subsequent bites, the immune system reacts more aggressively. Sometimes the opposite process occurs: sudden desensitization, which manifests itself in such a way that the reaction becomes weaker with each new bite

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to a wasp sting

All manifestations of allergies to the bite of this insect can be divided into 2 types - moderate and severe symptoms. A moderate allergic reaction is characterized by the following symptoms:

• redness and swelling of the bite site;
• swelling of a significant area around the bite site;
• the formation of bubbles with clear liquid around the bite;
• severe itching in the affected area;
• allergic runny nose with watery discharge;
• lacrimation.

A severe allergic reaction manifests itself with symptoms such as:

• swelling of the throat, neck or face that appears in the first minutes after the bite (lips, tongue and cheeks may be swollen, and the skin may look tense);
• hoarseness and hoarseness of the voice (possibly impaired articulation, in which the words spoken by a person are difficult to understand);
• disturbances of nervous activity (lethargy or excessive excitement);
• diarrhea and vomiting;
• cardiopalmus;
• decreased blood pressure;
• breathing problems (shortness of breath or feeling of suffocation);
• severe dizziness or loss of consciousness;
• paralysis, convulsions, and in exceptional cases, death.

As a rule, the more severe the allergic reaction, the faster it develops and the greater the risk a person is exposed to. A patient in such a situation needs urgent medical care.

The Ministry of Health told what to do if you are bitten by a wasp or a bee

How to help a person who has been bitten by a wasp or bee? The Ministry of Health published a special memo in which it told what to do if you are bitten by stinging insects - in addition to bees and wasps, these also include bumblebees, hornets, and gadflies.

Attention! Department experts report that even one bite from such an insect in a few minutes can lead to death if a person suffers from allergies. 500 bites can lead to death in a person who is not prone to an allergic reaction, although there are cases of lucky people who survived even after 2000. Doctors say that the less time passes before symptoms develop, the worse the prognosis

The reaction usually occurs within a few minutes (up to an hour). There may be short-term pain, redness around the bite site, itching, fever

Doctors say that the less time passes before symptoms develop, the worse the prognosis. The reaction usually occurs within a few minutes (up to an hour). There may be short-term pain, redness around the bite site, itching, and fever.

Redness of the skin, the appearance of hives, limited swelling of the lips, tongue, sore throat, shortness of breath, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea should alert the victim - these are alarming symptoms. Doctors include greyish-bluish skin color, convulsions, loss of consciousness and inability to breathe due to swelling of the respiratory tract.

It is because of this swelling, when a person cannot breathe, that 40-60% of deaths occur. Doctors advise people prone to allergies to wear a medical bracelet or necklace just in case, which would indicate their possible reaction to bites. Bites to the eye or mouth, as well as multiple insect bites, are especially dangerous for them.

For others who don't have allergies, bites to the throat pose a danger - for example, if they swallowed an insect that got into their food or inhaled a wasp that flew too close to their open mouth. In this case, swelling of the airways may also occur.

Ministry of Health experts advise providing first aid to victims of stinging insects as follows.

• Inspect the bite site and make sure there is no sting left in the skin. It can only remain after a bee sting. If necessary, remove the sting, because poison continues to be released from it for 2-3 minutes after the bite. Pry the sting with your fingernail or the blade of a knife or scissors - do not squeeze the end of the sting protruding above the skin with your fingers.
• Wash the bite with soap and water or wipe with alcohol.
• Apply an ice pack for 15-20 minutes to slow the absorption of the poison and reduce pain.
• To reduce pain and itching, take analgesics (paracetamol). This is usually enough.
• The bite site can be lubricated with an ointment or cream containing corticosteroid hormones (hydrocortisone) to relieve itching and swelling. With early use, antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Suprastin, Claritin) can eliminate local symptoms.

Observe the victim's condition for at least 30 minutes, paying attention to the development of signs of an allergic reaction. A victim prone to allergies can be given Prednisolone or other antihistamines

But doctors warn: antihistamines in tablets are best taken for prevention - they act too slowly, so they cannot help with a life-threatening allergic reaction.

For severe allergy sufferers, Adrenaline can help (without a severe allergic reaction, it cannot be administered for bites) - the drug does not act for long, so if necessary, it is administered every 15 minutes, monitoring the patient’s condition and recurring signs of an anaphylactic reaction.

What to do after a bee sting?

After a bee sting, you need to wash the sore spot. Next, you should wash your hands and disinfect the tweezers. Find the sting and carefully pull it out. You can't squeeze it out! The venom may spread further and the bite site will swell more. Disinfect the wound again. You can use hydrogen peroxide or ammonia diluted in a ratio of 1 to 5. Apply a cold compress to the sore spot. This could be a piece of ice or a towel soaked in ice water. Then the person needs to take an antihistamine.

Bee sting to the head

, as well as in the oral cavity and chest, is considered quite dangerous. Therefore, you need to especially carefully monitor the condition of the person who was bitten there. Usually, complications begin to arise within a few minutes (in rare cases, after a few hours). The sequence of actions for a bite to the head is the same as for a bite to any other place. If there is significant swelling and deterioration of the condition, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

The consequences of a bee sting can vary. Ulcers may appear on the sore spot. The patient may have an increase in temperature, fever, and pain.

The risk group that may experience deterioration in health after an insect bite includes children under 12 years of age and the elderly. You can avoid being stung by knowing what attracts bees. They usually fly towards cloying smells, sweets and bright clothes. When they appear, you should not wave your arms so as not to provoke the insect. Try to behave calmly, step aside or, as a last resort, knock down the bee with improvised means.

Bee stings are the most common triggers for insect sting anaphylaxis. We will tell you how to treat a bee sting in this article.

Only one or two people in 1,000 are allergic or hypersensitive to bee stings. Bee stings are incredibly common and incredibly painful. Death from bee stings occurs 3 or 4 times more often than from snake bites.

The African bee, or killer bee, is the most aggressive and attacks in swarms, causing a stronger reaction.

A bee's sting is a modified apparatus for oviposition and is found only in females.

Bees live in colonies and their job is to vigorously defend the nest.

The main chemical element

What causes
pain if stung by bees
is
melittin
.
It stimulates the nerve endings of pain receptors in the skin.

, such as a sharp pain that lasts several minutes and turns into a dull pain. The tissue around the affected area remains tender several days later.

The human body reacts by releasing fluid from the blood to flush out the poison components. This causes redness and swelling

.
If this is not the first time a bee sting has occurred, then it is likely that the immune system will recognize the poison and improve the “healing” procedure. This can lead to itching, very large swelling
around the affected area or an entire part of the body.

Try not to rub or scratch the area because germs from the surface of the skin will enter the wound and lead to infection.
When stung by a bee, the venom continues to be pumped from the sting for 45-60 seconds, the wound will pulsate

.
You will want to relieve the pain as quickly as possible. So how to treat a bee sting? - you ask. Some substances have proven to be effective, but you must act quickly
for these methods to work.

Cold

– An ice pack, or even just an ice cube, placed over the bite can reduce swelling and keep the venom from spreading.

Warm

– Oddly enough, heat can also make you feel better by neutralizing one of the chemicals that causes inflammation. Just take a hairdryer and point it at your wound or run it under hot water.

Onion treatment

Ammonia

– sometimes ammonia applied to the bite site helps significantly. If it works, it will relieve pain very quickly.

Baking soda

– Apply a paste of baking soda and water.

Bees are beneficial insects. They pollinate plants, which is why we have berries, vegetables and fruits on our table. Don’t forget about such a wonderful product as honey, which appears only thanks to the activity of bees. And in medicine, bee stinging, scientifically called apitherapy, is widely used to treat various diseases.

Meeting bees in life brings not so much joy as pain and disappointment. People predisposed to allergies may have a severe reaction to bee venom, even death. Let's try to figure out what a bee sting brings - benefit or harm. Let's get acquainted with the rules of first aid and treatment.

Why is a wasp sting dangerous?

The danger posed by a wasp sting lies in the possible repeated injection of poison, and the wasp has plenty of it. Unlike bees, wasps, especially hornets, are capable of inflicting more than one bite, each time injecting a toxin into the human body.

Why is a wasp sting dangerous? The unusually high concentration of biologically active components in the poison with a single injection, as a rule, does not have a toxic effect. However, repeated entry into the bloodstream can provoke a severe allergic reaction, the consequence of which, at best, will be Quincke's edema, at worst, anaphylaxis and death.

In addition, wasps are considered predatory insects; they do not engage in productive activities like bees. On the contrary, wasps not only willingly attack their living counterparts - flies, spiders, and other insects, they also happily eat carrion in various garbage bins and other unattractive places. When attacking a person, the wasp uses a sharp sting to damage the skin, resulting in a small, but still wound. Various bacteria can get into it, which most likely covers the wasp's weapon. This is how inflammation develops at the site of the bite, which often develops into a purulent infectious process.

An allergic reaction to a bite also looks threatening, which in clinical practice is diagnosed as a reaction of grade III severity. Vascular collapse, myocardial ischemia, bronchospasms, hemiparesis (partial paralysis), damage to the central nervous system, systemic necrotizing angiitis (vascular pathology), Henoch-Schönlein syndrome (hemorrhagic vasculitis) - this is a far from complete list of answers to the question - why is a wasp sting dangerous? To avoid these threats, you should be careful and try to minimize the possibility of attracting wasps. It's pretty simple to cover your food, avoid insect-provoking scents, and screen your windows, at least during the summer.

Traditional methods for bee stings

In case of minor reactions (redness or swelling of a small area), as well as in the absence of other medications, treatment (provide first aid) can be carried out using improvised means. For example, by dissolving one tablet of aspirin and activated carbon in a glass of water, you can obtain a product that adsorbs insect venom. If you soak a cotton pad or cotton-gauze swab in this solution and apply it to the wound immediately after a bite, you can reduce the amount of poison in the body.

• Onion juice has the property of binding the components of the poison, so it can also be used by applying halves of the vegetable or its pulp to the wound.
• Bee stings can be treated with aloe juice. They need to lubricate the wound up to five times.
• Calendula tincture and baking soda solution are suitable as an antiseptic. Soda dissolves in a ratio of 1 teaspoon per glass of water.

Are insect bites dangerous?

Many are sure that the only thing a victim can remember about an insect bite is a tumor. However, the realities tell a completely different story: the mortality rate from Hymenoptera bites is more than 3 times higher than the mortality rate from poisonous snake bites. The reason for these indicators is that 80% of the world's population is allergic to proteins that enter the human body along with the saliva or venom of Hymenoptera.

How else can insect bites be dangerous? Firstly, these creatures are often carriers of various microorganisms that can cause severe diseases in the bitten person, such as typhus, West Nile fever and leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness and dysentery, Lyme disease and encephalitis. This is not a complete list of diseases that can be transmitted by blood-sucking insects, which include fleas, lice, mosquitoes and mosquitoes.

Composition of insect venom and level of aggression

Most often, wasps and bees bite; hornets and bumblebees sting less often. The level of aggressiveness of insects depends on their size - the larger its mass, the more difficult it is to sting. Large Hymenoptera are slower, and due to their size they are easier to notice.

The appearance of these small animals is quite frightening and is unlikely to make you want to get close to them. Wasps and bees are smaller and are constantly in search of food, so they are frequent visitors to flowering meadows and gardens and enjoy eating sweet vegetables and fruits.

They are attracted to fallen fruits, cut melons and watermelons, open compotes and kvass. Insects are light, fly well and actively respond to sudden movements. Their aggression is especially high in the immediate vicinity of the nest.

Bees

Bee representatives are more peaceful, unlike wasps. The latter sting more painfully and more often. When a honey bee stings, a stinger remains in the body with a reservoir of poison torn out from the abdomen, so after a few minutes the insect dies from loss of blood.

The sting has teeth directed with the tip in the opposite direction from the tip of the sting itself, so it gets stuck in the human body. Watch the suggested video in this article. It shows a bee stinger lodged in the skin immediately after a sting.

It is easy to notice that the stinging apparatus contains a small container of poison, which is pumped into the skin by special contractile muscles, while the sting itself constantly deepens. It is recommended to quickly remove the sting, but you should not squeeze the bag, because this way the poison is squeezed out into the soft tissue.

It is best to use your fingernails, tweezers, or simply scrape the skin with a sharp object for this purpose. Bee venom, unlike other insects, is considered beneficial and is used for medicinal purposes.

It contains the following active substances:

1. Proteins are the main components of poison. It is they that cause a violent reaction of the human immune system, which instantly reacts to the appearance of foreign proteins. Hyaluronidase promotes the penetration of poison into the lymphatic system, while the group of phospholipases enhances inflammatory processes.
2. Histamine, dopamine, norepinephrine increase allergic manifestations, provoke redness and pain, which after 2-6 hours (usually within 24 hours) turns into itching.
3. Peptides exhibit a toxic effect: tertiapine - irritates nerve endings and blocks muscles, melittin - destroys red blood cells, apamin - excites neurons, cardiopep and a number of others;
4. Pheromones increase the aggression of other insects and encourage them to attack (sourish odor when biting).
5. Lipids, carbohydrates and other biologically active substances.

Important. The reaction to an insect bite can vary. It depends on the type of hymenoptera, the time of year (at different times the concentration of poison is not the same, for example, bees sting more painfully at the end of summer), the age of the person, his body weight and state of health. Insect venom is most dangerous for young children and people with heart disease.

Wasps and hornets

All representatives of aspens are very aggressive, very susceptible to irritants (they are disturbed by sudden movements and loud speech). The number of insects increases towards the end of summer, especially in hot and dry years.

At this time, water and food are needed, so they are much more likely to enter homes or circle around tables laden with food. A sting is more painful than a bee sting; swelling and discomfort last longer.

Wasp poison is not beneficial. Its main component is wasp kinin, which dilates small blood vessels to enhance the penetration of poison into soft tissues, significantly increases pain, and the poison also contains phospholipases (A and B), which disrupt the integrity of red blood cells.

The sting has very fine serrations, which allows the wasp to remove it from the skin. All presented wasps can sting repeatedly, so there may be several bites. Doctors note that wasp stings are much less likely to cause anaphylactic shock, unlike bee stings.

Hornets or large wasps are not so much peaceful as they are less likely to interact with humans, avoiding contact. There are some quite aggressive species, especially when it comes to protecting their nest.

These insects can bite the skin and sting in an open wound. The amount of poison in this case is not much more than with a wasp sting, despite the rather impressive size of the insect. The composition of the poison is indicated in comparative table 1.

Table 1. Stinging Hymenoptera:

Important. Typically, insects bite because of provocative odors, such as perfumes. Sudden movements and shouting increase aggression. Bees react negatively to woolen products and black colors.

What to do if you are stung by a wasp?

In order to minimize the consequences of a wasp sting, the first thing you need to do is try to suck out the poison from the wound (without spending more than 60 seconds on this after the insect attack), then treat the affected area with an antiseptic and apply a cold compress as soon as possible

Cold will constrict the blood vessels and reduce the penetration of poison into the bloodstream - for allergy sufferers this is very important, since while the poison is localized, the negative effect it has on the body is generally minimal, and the active components of the poison continue to be continuously destroyed in the tissues

Subsequently, the affected area can be treated with Fenistil gel or Advantan ointment.

Further consequences of the bite can develop in three scenarios, each of which requires taking appropriate measures.

The first case is the most favorable: a small tumor remains at the site of the wasp bite, which itches or hurts, but the general condition of the bitten person is normal, he does not have a fever, no headache, and the bite does not interfere with ordinary daily activities.

In this situation, it is recommended to treat the affected area with a suitable ointment or balm for insect bites. This way the wasp sting will go away as quickly as possible. However, when choosing a product, you should always carefully read the instructions for it, because it may turn out that it is contraindicated for you.

For example, Advantan ointment has a hormonal effect, which precludes its use on large areas of skin and on the delicate skin of babies under 4 months of age. Hydrocortisone ointment works in much the same way; but the drug “Fenistil” is considered the most universal in this regard - it can be used even in children older than one month.

The second scenario is the most common, although less pleasant: there are no severe allergy symptoms, but the pain at the site of the bite is quite severe, the swelling and swelling have spread throughout the surrounding tissues. The pain in this case may interfere with the person's ability to work and rest normally, and the swelling may become too large.

In this case, the role of a cold compress is especially important. It can also be useful to treat the affected area of ​​the body with antihistamine or hormonal ointment - Fenistil-gel, Advantan, hydrocortisone ointment. All of them have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, inhibit tumor development and relieve pain. It is advisable that the ointment be on the skin at the site of the bite constantly until the tumor has subsided significantly.

It is also necessary to consult a doctor (by phone) regarding taking antihistamines in tablets (Suprastin, Diphenhydramine). If the pain syndrome is too severe, then you can additionally use Menovazin, as well as painkillers in tablets.

In this situation, the victim needs to drink as much as possible so that all the products of tissue damage are quickly eliminated from the body, without leading to a deterioration in well-being.

And finally, the rarest, but also the most severe and dangerous case is the development of a severe allergic reaction. Often the situation first develops according to the second scenario, with rapid tumor growth and severe pain, and then more severe symptoms begin to appear. They can be different: headache, nausea, fever, rashes on the body, swelling in places remote from the bite site, allergic runny nose, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, heart pain, sometimes diarrhea or vomiting.

The appearance of these symptoms is a signal to take emergency measures:

It is important to understand that sometimes severe allergic reactions develop not just quickly, but with lightning speed. In the practice of many doctors, there were situations when the patient experienced anaphylactic shock before the doctor had time to take an ampoule of adrenaline out of the box and give an injection

Therefore, at the first alarming symptoms, you need to immediately begin transporting the bitten person to a doctor, so that in the most severe condition the person is already under the control of specialists. This is exactly the situation when a person’s life can directly depend on your correct and timely actions.

How to prevent wasp attacks and what to do in critical situations

It is not an exaggeration to say that wasps are one of the most aggressive species of insects that become active in the summer.

For this reason, it is important to know what to do when attacking this creature. The tactics described below will help you avoid serious consequences of an attack.

Allergy to insects

The main forms of insect allergies are:

• local skin reactions to insect bites;
• systemic anaphylactic reactions to stings;
• respiratory allergic reactions to inhalation of insects and substances released by them.

There are immediate reactions, which occur within a few seconds or minutes and last several hours or days, and delayed allergic reactions, which appear 1-2 days after the bite.

Toxic reactions are observed after being stung by a large number of insects.

Causes of insect allergies

Stinging insects are classified as Hymenoptera. Most often, severe systemic reactions occur to bee and wasp stings. Mosquito bites rarely cause severe allergic reactions, since they do not inject poison, but a secretion from the salivary glands, which can cause a local allergic reaction. With an abundance of mosquitoes, midges, beetles, and butterflies in the summer, it is possible to inhale small insects or wing scales, which can cause respiratory allergies.

Pathogenesis

An unusual reaction to an insect bite may be mediated by IgE or IgG2 reagins. The main allergenic components of the poison are phospholipase A2, hyaluronidase, melittin, a high-molecular fraction with acid phosphatase activity and allergen C. In addition, poisons and insect saliva may contain histamine, acetylcholine, kinins, other biogenic amines and their liberators, enzymes. In this case, the reaction is pseudo-allergic in nature.

Symptoms of an allergy to insects

A pronounced local reaction is manifested by severe swelling and erythema (over 10 cm in diameter), lasting more than 24 hours. At the same time, other signs of an immediate allergic reaction may appear - urticaria, angioedema, facial redness; nausea, vomiting; difficulty breathing caused by swelling of the nasopharynx, vocal cords, larynx, trachea, bronchospasm; abdominal pain, diarrhea; arthralgia.

Anaphylactic shock is the most severe allergic reaction to insect bites. Anaphylactic shock can develop from a bite to any part of the body, but when the head and neck area is affected, its likelihood increases. In most cases, symptoms of anaphylactic shock appear within the first 15 minutes, although a later onset of the reaction is possible. The clinical picture of anaphylactic shock is as described below.

The more severe the initial reaction to the bite, the higher the likelihood of its recurrence.

Within 7-12 days after the bite, reactions resembling serum sickness may occur.

Diagnosis of insect allergies

Diagnosis is usually based on medical history. Skin testing is carried out with an extract of bee and wasp venom. It is possible to determine specific IgE in vitro.

Treatment of insect allergies

Carry out nonspecific symptomatic therapy. Remains of the sting stylet are removed from the skin, cold compresses, antipruritic and anti-inflammatory ointments are applied locally, antihistamines and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are taken internally.

Specific hyposensitization is carried out when the indications are strictly determined by one allergen or a mixture of several poisons. Duration of treatment is 3-5 years.

Preventing insect allergies

Prevention of reactions to insect bites in susceptible individuals includes the following basic rules:

in the summer months, go outside in clothes that cover the body as much as possible, choose light, soft colors of clothing; do not make sudden movements when insects appear; do not walk barefoot (especially on grass); wear a hat; Be careful when eating outside; exclude the use of drugs containing propolis. Parents should be trained to provide first aid in case of reaction to insect bites

Parents should be trained to provide first aid for reactions to insect bites.

Medical Expert Editor

Portnov Alexey Alexandrovich

Education: Kiev National Medical University. A.A. Bogomolets, specialty - "General Medicine"

First aid for a wasp sting

As a rule, few people know what to do in case of an insect attack. In a situation where a wasp stings, a person needs first aid

This is especially important for people suffering from dermatitis or bronchial asthma. If there is a delay, such victims may experience an allergic reaction in the form of angioedema with all the unpleasant consequences arising from this condition.

Plus, it’s important to be able to differentiate between bee and wasp stings, which is easy to do once after seeing a photo of these creatures. It should be said that, unlike honey-bearing workers, their aggressive relatives do not die after an attack and do not leave a sting in the human body

Basic knowledge about the rules of behavior in the event of a wasp sting will help both the patient and the people around him to take timely everything necessary to reduce the fruits of animal aggression. So, what to do if a person is bitten by a wasp:

1. Rinse the affected area thoroughly.
2. Disinfect the wound.
3. Apply a salt compress to prevent the absorption of wasp venom.
4. Take an antihistamine to prevent the formation of edema in the form of a large, dense tumor.
5. Drink plenty of fluids.
6. Take an analgesic if the pain is severe.

If a wasp bites you on the lip

The area of ​​the face and neck is considered more dangerous in terms of the likelihood of negative consequences of an attack by this creature. At the same time, if you do not know what to do after a wasp sting, then it is best to contact a medical facility. This is especially true for those who have been stung on the lips by the aggressor. The skin-muscular folds surrounding the entrance to the oral cavity are equipped with a large number of blood vessels, which only contributes to the rapid manifestation of the clinical picture in the victim after a wasp sting.

For the same reason, a poisonous secretion can quickly penetrate into nearby respiratory tracts and cause suffocation, as a result of which victims sometimes even die. The areas of closest spread are usually considered to be the tongue and nasopharynx. If these areas are affected, treatment should begin with antihistamines. It is also possible to relieve the symptoms of a bite by applying local anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of ointments and gels with a cooling effect.

If a child is stung by a wasp

A child's body is more susceptible to insect venom, which can provoke the most unpredictable reaction. As a result, if you are currently looking for information about what to do if a child has been bitten by a wasp, it is better to immediately go to the hospital, where the wound will be thoroughly treated. In case parents have an idea of ​​​​how to combat the consequences of insect aggression, it should be additionally taken into account that the general symptoms of intoxication in a child can be relieved by drinking plenty of salted boiled water.

Dr. Komarovsky advises that if a child has a pronounced allergic reaction, apply ointment with corticosteroids to the wasp bite area. If symptoms of difficulty breathing appear, immediately administer prednisolone or dexamethasone intramuscularly to the little victim, and then immediately go to the hospital. In the normal condition of a non-allergic child, the situation, according to the pediatrician, can be resolved at home.

Allergic reaction therapy

Immediately after an insect attack, you need to take an antihistamine. Use Diazolin, L-ceta, Eden tablets, Fenistil drops. If breathing becomes difficult or there is swelling of the larynx, you should call an ambulance. The antihistamine is administered intravenously or intramuscularly. In case of anaphylactic shock, the patient is injected with 2 ml of Cordiamin in the arm, 2 ml of Tavegil or Suprastin in the buttock, 1 ml of Dexazone intramuscularly, 2 ml of Prenisolone. All these drugs are administered one after another, drawn separately into a syringe; they cannot be mixed. Additionally, 0.1 ml of Adrenaline is administered.

If the situation is not so critical, the victim should drink 2 tablets of Diphenhydramine and the same amount of Activated Carbon. Relieves muscle spasms, improves breathing with soothing tinctures - Valerian, Motherwort, Glod. Mix 10 drops. It should be taken three times a day until you feel completely normal.

The victim should be covered and placed in bed with heating pads. Provide plenty of fluids. Further treatment of bee allergy is symptomatic. For headaches they give painkillers, for diarrhea - Smecta, to remove toxins - activated charcoal or Enterol, after severe vomiting - Regidron.

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When to see a doctor

Despite the abundance of modern ointments and folk remedies, it is not always enough to simply anoint a wasp sting at home. In some cases, you need to contact a doctor and the sooner the better.

You need to go to the doctor if:

1. There is a bite from not one, but several wasps on the body. If a person is bitten by several wasps or bees at one time, then he should immediately go to the hospital, since general toxicity of the body is likely to begin.
2. If the wasp has bitten the tongue, mouth, larynx or lip. In this case, you cannot waste a minute, since the swelling from the bite will spread throughout the entire larynx and this will lead to suffocation.

It is also worth contacting a specialist if you are stung by a wasp. Such a bite does not have such terrible consequences, but you still need to visit a doctor.

If you are in doubt whether to go to the doctor or not, then choose the first option. After all, just a 15-minute appointment with a doctor can significantly alleviate the condition, and in some cases even save a life.

Few people do not know what a wasp sting is: its consequences are familiar to almost every adult, many from childhood memory. Severe pain, redness, swelling and itching - this is the standard reaction to a wasp sting.

Meanwhile, the consequences of attacks by these insects can be much more severe. Why is a wasp sting dangerous? Let's find out...

First of all, the bites of hymenoptera insects (which include wasps, hornets, bees, and some others) are distinguished by their high allergenicity. In addition to toxins that destroy the cell walls of affected tissues and affect nerve endings, wasp venom also contains substances that can cause a powerful immune response in the body.

If a person does not have hypersensitivity to wasp venom, he may not feel these allergens. If the victim is hypersensitive (such people are also called sensitized), a wasp sting can be even more dangerous for him than, for example, an attack by a poisonous spider.

The most unpleasant thing here is that no one really knows whether he has such sensitivity or not. It can be congenital, or it can develop over time in response to the bites of various insects. Therefore, complications after a wasp attack can arise unexpectedly and for anyone.

In the hospital

They spent three days reviving me in the intensive care unit. Then we were treated further and examined: ECG, chest x-ray. When I went back to work a month later, I started thinking... I’m a forester, and in the forest, encountering wasps is inevitable! Don't change my profession! Well, okay, I think I’ll be more careful - I won’t bite a second time. But I was nervous, we have a garden near the house, wasps are flying at the apples. In the village, many neighbors have an apiary, that is, bees nearby. How long can you twitch? The wife said that she did not want to wait for the next “shock”, and it was decided that the allergies needed to be gotten rid of urgently. And I did as the doctor advised.

I took a referral from an allergist to Moscow, to the Institute of Immunology, for two-week allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT). Passed tests for allergies to wasp and bee venom. And they started giving me daily injections to reduce sensitivity to poison. In March, before my striped enemies came out of hibernation, I came for a repeat course.

Expert commentary

At the end of treatment (which can take about 3 years), the wasp ceases to be deadly for 90% of patients, and the bee for 75–80%. This is checked using skin tests and a blood test to determine the level of specific antibodies to the insect venom. ASIT is a serious and complex method; with each injection, the concentration of the allergen drug increases, and in order to monitor possible adverse reactions, the patient must be monitored in a hospital.

What provokes the development of a negative reaction

The insect's stinger, located at the back of the body, is used for protection. The bee's sting has large serrations; when bitten, it remains in the human body, and the bee dies. Hymenoptera can sting once. Wasps, bumblebees, and hornets have stings with small serrations; insects can sting a person repeatedly. When an insect bites, it injects a toxin into the victim's body. Composition of the toxin: biologically active substances, enzymes, proteins, peptides, amino acids. The protein in the poison most often provokes a negative reaction. The protein that enters the blood of an allergic person triggers the production of antibodies, which leads to the development of allergic reactions.

Wasp venom contains quinine, a substance that dilates blood vessels and provokes an acute inflammatory process. The hornet toxin contains acetylcholine, which lowers blood pressure and slows down the heart.

The initial exposure to the toxin may result in subtle symptoms. If the injury is repeated, the body will react much stronger.

Hereditary factors, weakened immunity, external factors, and increased sensitivity to bee products are risk factors.

Reaction to bee venom in children

What to do if a bee stings a child? Allergy to a sting in children is less common than in adults, but its manifestations are more pronounced because the child’s body reacts more violently to a bee sting. Children under 10 years of age are at risk, that is, at this age a complex allergic reaction is more likely. Multiple bites are especially dangerous for a small child, as the proportion of the amount of poison to body weight increases. In addition to allergens, in this case the condition is complicated by toxins that are practically safe for adults.

The symptoms of insect allergy in a child are the same as in adults - redness and swelling of large areas of the skin, cough, nausea, chills in a mild form. The severe form is manifested by fainting, diarrhea, and spastic pain in the abdominal cavity. If there are the most minor symptoms - hives or slight swelling, first aid should be provided immediately. Effective treatment in the first half hour is to give antihistamines, and then immediately show the child to the doctor.

Normal body reaction

During the bite, the insect sprays poison under the skin, which causes a defensive response from the body. Instant pain, redness, swelling, swelling around the damaged tissue, and a local increase in temperature appear at the site of the lesion. After some time, as the wound heals, itching of medium intensity is observed. This reaction is present in most victims.

The body itself stops the effect of the poison and restores damaged tissue. Painful symptoms disappear within 24 hours; the speed of healing of the bite site depends on the sensitivity of the skin. Approximately a bruise after a wasp sting disappears in 5-7 days.

The situation does not require special treatment, it is enough to provide the correct first aid. To eliminate unpleasant sensations, folk remedies are used in the form of lotions, wiping the wound, compresses, and pastes.

Wasp allergy treatment

Moderate allergies, accompanied by respiratory symptoms and redness of the skin, can be treated with medications for external use and oral administration. Do not forget that any medications must be prescribed by a doctor.

Effective tablets for allergies:

• Suprastin.
• Fexofenadine.
• Tavegil.
• Claritin.
• Levocetirizine.
• Zodak.
• Astemizole.
• Erius.
• Zyrtec.
• Levocetirizine.
• Cetrin.

Antihistamine drops for eyes and nose:

• Allergic.
• Pactin.
• Tizin Alepji.
• Vibrocil.
• Histimet.
• Kromohexal.

Ointments for external use are divided into hormonal and non-hormonal. Hormone-based products help very quickly relieve skin itching, swelling, and redness. But they are accompanied by a large number of side effects and contraindications. They can be used for a short limited period (5-7 days).

Non-hormonal ointments are safer. They are recommended for mild skin reactions.

Ointments that do not contain hormones:

• Protopic.
• Fenistil.
• Zinc ointment.
• Desitin.
• Rescuer.
• Elidel.
• Bepanten.
• Wundehil.

Corticosteroid (hormonal) ointments:

• Advantan.
• Sinaflan.
• Hyoxyzone.
• Fluorocort.
• Prednisolone.

The actions of all of these drugs are based on the antihistamine effect. They relieve allergy symptoms, but do not eliminate their cause.

To quickly remove toxins from the body, it is recommended to take adsorbents for several days: Activated carbon, White carbon, Smecta, Lactofiltrum. The victim should drink more water and eat diet food for 10-14 days.

There are times when people are on vacation, in nature, away from the city, and suddenly they are bitten by a wasp, what should they do in such situations? If there are no medicines or antiseptics at hand, and medical help is too far away, all that remains is to take advantage of the gifts of nature. The following have antiseptic properties: plantain, birch leaves, horsetail, dandelion leaves, parsley, onions. Any of these plants should be applied to the wound.

Allergy from wasp sting

An allergic reaction to wasp venom is most severe in chronic allergy sufferers, children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. But this does not mean that others are out of the risk zone. Since the composition of the toxin that enters the blood of the stung can vary depending on the type of insect, time of year and other factors, you can never predict what the body's reaction will be.

Medications

To treat and prevent allergies after a wasp sting, antihistamines are prescribed. Most popular:

• Suprastin;
• Erius;
• Cetrin;
• Claritin;
• Tavegil.

Tavegil

To quickly cleanse the body of toxins, it would also be useful to use adsorbent preparations, for example, activated carbon, Smecta or Enterosgel.

What should you not do?

If a person is stung by a wasp, it is not recommended to do the following:

• rub, comb the affected area;
• smoke immediately after the bite;
• rinse the wound with water collected from stagnant bodies of water and puddles;
• use earth, stones, moss as a cooling compress.

All these actions can lead to infection in the wound.

What to do if anaphylactic shock begins?

If a person’s health sharply deteriorates after a bite, severe weakness, difficulty breathing, cold sweat, chest pain are observed - most likely these are signs of anaphylactic shock.

In this case, you must immediately call an ambulance, and before it arrives, take the following actions:

• place the bitten person on his back so that his legs are slightly higher than his head;
• make breathing easier by unfastening or removing tight clothing;
• Apply a bandage above the bite site or apply ice to it to slow the spread of the toxin.

If the person is not breathing, begin CPR immediately.

What should you never do?

Some actions are not only not recommended, but are strictly prohibited after a wasp sting, as they can significantly worsen the situation. It is forbidden:

• try to pick at the wound (this can cause infection) or cauterize it;
• squeeze out the poison (the toxin will spread throughout the body);
• drink alcohol (due to a reaction with poison, your health may worsen and swelling may increase).

Also, you should not leave one person who is experiencing the development of anaphylactic shock. You must stay with him until doctors arrive.