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Bee or Yellow Jacket Sting

Care at Home
  1. Try to Remove the Stinger (if present):
    • The stinger looks like a tiny black dot in the skin.
    • There are several different methods of removal. Removing the stinger quickly is more important than how you remove it.
    • Use a fingernail, credit card edge or knife-edge to scrape it off. Don't pull it out. Reason: squeezes out more venom. If the stinger is below the skin surface, leave it alone. It will be shed with normal skin healing.
    • In many cases no stinger will be present. Only bees leave their stingers. Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets do not.
  2. Meat Tenderizer: Apply a meat tenderizer-water solution on a cotton ball for 20 minutes (EXCEPTION: near the eye). This neutralizes the venom and decreases pain and swelling. If not available, apply a baking soda solution for 20 minutes. For persistent pain, massage with an ice cube for 10 minutes.
  3. Local Cold - Ice Massage Method: For pain, massage the area of the sting with an ice cube for 10 min as needed.
  4. Local Cold - Cold Pack Method:
    • Wrap a bag of ice in a towel (or a bag of frozen vegetables, such as peas).
    • Apply this cold pack to the area of the sting for 10-20 minutes.
    • You may repeat this as needed, to relieve symptoms of pain and swelling.
  5. Pain Medication: For pain relief, take acetaminophen every 4-6 hours (Adults 650 mg) OR ibuprofen every 6-8 hours (Adults 400 mg).
    • Do not take ibuprofen if you have stomach problems, kidney disease, are pregnant, or have been told by your doctor to avoid this type of anti-inflammatory drug.
    • Do not take ibuprofen for more than 7 days without consulting your doctor.
    • Do not take acetaminophen if you have liver disease.
    • Read the package instructions thoroughly on all medications that you take.
  6. Antihistamine: If the sting becomes itchy, take Benadryl (Adults 25-50 mg).
    • Do not take Benadryl if you have prostate problems.
    • Antihistamines may cause sleepiness. Do not drink alcohol, drive or operate dangerous machinery while taking antihistamines.
    • Read the package instructions thoroughly on all medications that you take.
  7. Expected Course: Severe pain or burning at the site lasts 1 to 2 hours. Normal swelling from venom can increase for 24 hours following the sting. The swelling disappears after 3 to 5 days.
  8. IF your symptoms become worse: Review Should I Call? recommendations.
  1. Symptom Description
  2. Should I Call?

Adult Housecalls. Copyright © 2001-2008. David Thompson, M.D.
Reviewed/Modified: Jan. 2008 by Intermountain Healthcare, Inc.


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