How and with what to relieve itching from a wasp sting at home

In the summer, from July to August, wasps become active. They are attracted to the remains of sweet food and the juice of ripe fruits. A wasp sting is very painful. The skin turns red and swells. The bitten person feels pain and burning. A wasp can bite more than once, but attack 2-3 times with short breaks. A large area affected by poison can cause severe allergies. The temperature rises, a rash appears on the body, and it becomes difficult to breathe.

Children are restless. They love to pick flowers and chase insects. There is a danger to their health from a wasp sting. Today we will talk about what needs to be done if a child is suddenly bitten by a wasp, what are the first actions of parents, and whether to consult a doctor in this situation. Wasps are beneficial: they destroy harmful insects and pollinate plants. But, if their habitat is located near the house or dacha, destroying the wasp nest is necessary to ensure the safety of children.

What to do if a child is suddenly bitten by a wasp

Why do wasps bite? Flying over the berries or fruit that the baby is eating, they sniff the baby. If he accidentally swung his hand, driving her away, then the wasp may perceive this movement as a sign of an attack. Wasps also attack because they want to expel a person from this place in order to feast on the contents of the fruit. When biting, the wasp releases an enzyme that attracts other wasps. The hornet that lives in tree hollows is also a threat to children and adults. There is a white mark on the hornet's chest and head. There are American hornets. They are very aggressive and attack in swarms. They live in depressions in the ground and in empty walls. They have short legs and furry antennae.

A wasp sting will frighten a child and cause him to cry. Parents can be scared too. But it is important to pull yourself together and calm him down so that he understands that everything will be fine. It is necessary to provide the child with first aid correctly. Bites on the face can last for several days. It’s even worse if the bite occurs on the lips or eyelids or scalp. In this case, you need to urgently consult a doctor. Minor redness and swelling can be quickly relieved with antihistamines, and within a few hours the child will forget that he was bitten by a wasp.

Chemical composition inside and out

A bee's sting almost always, that is, in 99% of cases, remains on the skin. And a wasp sting cannot remain on the skin in principle. And guided by this rule, you can find out who exactly stung - a bee or a wasp.

They say that the wasp can sting again. In reality, she will have to accumulate poison, which will take not a single hour. The stinger is torn off from the bee's body, and therefore it dies. The wasp's sting is designed differently.

If we talk about poisons, they contain different components. The main allergen will be a special protein.

The so-called mast cells are susceptible to the action of the protein. They produce histamine. Actually, any allergic reaction is the production of histamine in mast cells, and nothing more.

Let's say histamine enters the blood from the sting, or more precisely, from the sac of poison. Then the symptoms will resemble a real allergic reaction:

• Redness will appear;
• The vessels will dilate;
• Pain and itching are also mandatory symptoms.

If the histamine was not produced from histidine stored in mast cells, then the allergy is false. And this means that in this case you can’t expect Quincke’s edema. Namely, it poses a danger to life.

From all that has been said, we can draw an optimistic conclusion: if there is no sting, the consequences will be limited to local swelling. Which will go away on its own over time. But there is no need to rush to conclusions:

• The sting may simply get lost;
• In 1% of cases it remains with the bee;
• Hornet venom contains acetylcholine. It slows down the heartbeat, enhances the functioning of the glands and at the same time causes bronchospasm.

We can optimistically say that an allergy to bee venom is not typical for all people, but only for 5% of the population. But pregnant women are at risk, and nothing can be done about it...

Beekeepers themselves are also at risk: every fifth of them suffers from an allergy to bee venom.

First actions after a bite

Wasps do not leave a sting like bees, so you should not look for it at the site of the bite. First of all, you need to wash the bite area with running water to wash away the dirt.

Then the wound should be disinfected. For this you can use Betadine, Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide. You can treat the wound with alcohol or ammonia to prevent further infection of the wound.

After processing it, you need to apply ice or a wet compress for 40-60 minutes. Cold is necessary to reduce swelling and prevent the poison from spreading further. Ice will relieve pain on the child's body. After this, apply a sterile bandage.

What to process

In order to relieve itching after a wasp sting, there are many different ways. Depending on what tools are available to you, you can use:

• medicines;
• special anti-bite remedies;
• folk methods.

Folk remedies

There are many simple ways to get rid of itching after stinging insect bites. In order to neutralize toxic substances trapped under the skin, you can use the natural acid contained in various fruits. At the same time, the pH (acid-base balance) will change and the itching will decrease. Since in the summer there are a lot of fruits and plants at hand in nature or at the dacha, the wound can be treated with:

• apples, lemon, orange;
• tomatoes;
• plants.

You need to cut the fruit at hand and apply a piece of the fruit to the wound. The fruit acid contained in the juice will get inside and neutralize the effects of toxins. This should be done immediately after the puncture, before the wound heals. You can also use plants that are in the garden and medicinal herbs. These include:

• parsley,
• onion,
• plantain,
• aloe,
• dandelion.

These plants contain folic and other beneficial acids that affect the poison and change the pH of the skin. To get rid of itching, you can make herbal compresses or make decoctions.

Parsley juice perfectly relieves itching and stops the inflammatory process. The plant needs to be crushed and applied to the sore spot. You can also do this with onions and plantain. This will relieve swelling, reduce swelling and itching.

A plant such as aloe is known for its medicinal qualities. You need to select a fleshy leaf, rinse it well, and cut it lengthwise. The pulp is applied to the bite site for some time. Aloe has antibacterial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Applying crushed dandelion leaves and roots to the wound helps a lot. A decoction is made from tansy and string, which copes well with allergic reactions of the body. The composition can be used as a compress or drunk half a glass three times a day.

Effective remedies for wasp bites are available substances such as soda and vinegar. They have a bactericidal and disinfecting effect, and relieve swelling and itching well. Half a teaspoon of baking soda should be dissolved in 200 ml of boiled water. Stir well and apply a cloth soaked in liquid to the wound. You can also wipe the stung area with a 9% vinegar solution or apply a compress.

Medicines

You can purchase various antihistamine gels and ointments at the pharmacy. These remedies effectively relieve itching and burning from a bite and eliminate swelling. Among the popular drugs:

• Fenistil gel (can be used even for infants).
• Hydrocortisone ointment - this product relieves itching and rashes. Can be used to eliminate allergic reactions that begin after exposure to toxins.
• Menovazan - designed to relieve symptoms after an attack by stinging insects. Anesthetizes and relieves swelling, relieves itching.
• Soventol gel - Effectively acts against the effects of insect bites. Removes rashes and burning.

Ointments and creams are applied in a thin layer to the affected area several times a day, in accordance with the instructions. In addition to external remedies, you can relieve itching with tablets. These include Tavegil, Suprastin, etc.

Special preparations

There are a lot of specially developed products that effectively eliminate the consequences of insect bites. Various creams, aerosols and foams can be bought in household chemical departments and pharmacies. They can be used not only after an attack by wasps, but also other stinging insects: mosquitoes, midges, etc. These include:

• Balms and sprays from Gardex. Can be used for children over one year of age. The products contain extracts from medicinal herbs. Effectively relieves itching, swelling, rashes.
• Mosquitall creams and aerosols are good, mild-acting preparations. The range includes many products that can be used for small children. They provide analgesic, disinfectant and calming effects.
• Picnic is a drug against itching and rashes, containing extracts of medicinal herbs. It relieves pain and relieves tumors well.

Also, for insect bites, you can use a well-known remedy called Red Star. This balm relieves unpleasant symptoms well, soothes the skin, reduces itching and burning.

In addition to using the above remedies, cold compresses help relieve swelling and inflammation. You can apply ice or just a cloth soaked in cold water to the affected area.

When leaving for nature, make sure that you have some antihistamines on hand. Do not provoke wasp stings by waving your arms. These insects do not attack just like that, they react to the behavior of humans and animals.

Methods for eliminating pain, itching and swelling

If itching appears at the site of the bite, the child begins to scratch it. Scratching the body can cause the wound to become infected. Therefore, it is important to eliminate itching and pain. The itching sensation occurs due to an allergic reaction to the venom released by the wasp. Therefore, it is best to give your child antihistamines. You can apply antihistamine ointment or gel to the bite site. The components of the venom secreted by the wasp are alkaline. Therefore, you can neutralize it with acid by applying lemon or apple to the wound.

A crushed and washed Kalanchoe or plantain leaf will also relieve pain. You can give your child painkillers based on Ibuprofen or Paracetamol.

Why does the wound become inflamed?

Along with the sting, a toxic substance gets under the child’s skin, to which the immune system reacts with redness, swelling, itching and soreness. Wasp venom is more toxic than bee venom. Often an allergic reaction develops after a bite.

When a wasp stings on the leg or arm, the swelling spreads to the entire limb. If it stings the neck, face, tongue, swelling of the larynx is possible, which often turns into Quincke's edema. With multiple wasp stings, a large dose of poison enters the body, which can cause anaphylactic shock. These conditions are life-threatening and therefore require emergency medical attention.

Wasps sting much more often than other insects. Aggressive behavior is their hallmark. They regard any sudden movement, including waving them aside, as an attack and instantly attack. Children need to be taught not to make sudden movements when near them.

Wasp stings in infants

If you have an infant, then be very careful at the dacha, or while relaxing in nature. A child can be bitten by a wasp; the consequences after the bite are unpredictable. The baby's body is very tender, and the poison, having penetrated the skin, will lead to swelling and redness. But don't despair! A wet towel applied to the area affected by the insect for 10 minutes will prevent the poison from being absorbed into the blood and passing further into the tissue. A cold towel will soothe the pain, and a solution of baking soda or 3% vinegar will relieve itching. You can anoint the wound with Fenistil if you have it in your medicine cabinet.

You definitely need to see a doctor. Antihistamines can be taken after consulting a doctor. If a child has a fever, he should be given antipyretic syrup to drink.

When to see a doctor urgently

In some cases, if a child is stung by a wasp, it is necessary to immediately seek help from a specialist.

Immediately call an ambulance or take the baby to a medical facility if:

• The wasp bit the neck area. Such an injury carries the risk of developing laryngeal edema.
• If an insect has bitten the mucous membranes, eyelids.

It is also necessary to immediately seek medical help if, after the baby has been bitten by a wasp, symptoms of allergic reactions appear, swelling of the body or certain areas is observed.

If an insect bites a child less than one year old, it is recommended to show the baby to a pediatrician.

First aid kit for the country: what you need to have with you to always help your child

If you take your child to the dacha, then you must have a first aid kit with you to help your child in any situation.

You should take antihistamines with you: “Zertec”, “Claritin”, “Suprastin”, “Fenistil”. They will ease allergic reactions in children. It is important to put painkillers in your first aid kit, as well as antipyretics: Nurofen, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol.

Disinfectants and disinfectants should also be in it. This is "Chlorhexidine", hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, brilliant green, iodine, bandage, cotton wool, a plaster if the child suddenly falls. Remedies for throat, runny nose, and ears will help against colds.

Destruction of wasps and wasp nests in summer at a dacha in Arsenev

The destruction of wasps in the country should begin with searching for a nest. To find the nest, you need to put down bait and watch them. Wherever the wasps fly, there will be a nest.

Wasp control can be carried out using different methods:

• mechanically. In this case, wearing protective clothing, place a plastic bag over the nest and pull it out by the roots. Place the nest in a strong sugar bag and tighten tightly so they cannot escape. Place the nest in a bucket of hot water, covering it to help it cool more slowly. The wasps will die;
• chemical method. Direct a stream of aerosol into the wasp nest, and then collect the dead insects in a plastic bag and burn;
• the folk way. Wasps, the destruction of which must be carried out with the help of dust, borax, boric acid, and Pyrethrum, will certainly die.