Everything You Need to Know About Wasp Stings

Insect bites and stings are so common that nearly everyone experiences one at some point. For the most part, they cause only mild discomfort. Some bites and stings go unnoticed until an itchy bump forms on the skin.

A wasp sting is a completely different story.

On the off chance that you have a run-in with a wasp, here’s what you need to know about wasp sting remedies and sting allergies.

Symptoms of a wasp sting include:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Itching

What if you didn’t see what stung you? How can you distinguish a wasp sting from other bites and stings?

Wasp stings are painful but not usually dangerous. But in people with an anaphylactic insect allergy to wasp venom, they can be life-threatening.

In the case of severe insect venom allergies, symptoms often develop shortly after a bite or sting — sometimes within minutes. The severity of a reaction varies from person to person, so the venom affects some people only mildly.

Because not all allergic reactions are life-threatening, a mild reaction localized to the sting area can usually be treated at home, says Michael Fitch, MD, PhD, a professor of emergency medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to wasp venom include:

• Dizziness or a sharp drop in blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness or cardiac arrest
• Swelling of the lips, mouth, or tongue
• Rapid heart rate
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramping

“For anyone with a known allergy, it is important to have your physician prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector for you to use in an emergency,” says Dr. Fitch.

Wasps don’t lose their stingers. So if you’re stung, you don’t have to remove one from your skin.

Some basic care for a wasp sting:

• Wash the area with soap and water. Clean the area daily until it heals to prevent a skin infection.
• Apply a cold compress to relieve pain and swelling. Wrap the cold pack in a towel and place it on the sting for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off. If you’re stung in the leg or arm, keep that part of your body elevated.
• Take an antihistamine like Benadryl or Zyrtec if you have itching or swelling.
• Apply soothing calamine lotion to help with pain and itching.
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) to reduce pain.

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If you’ve had an anaphylactic reaction to wasp venom, ask your doctor about seeing an allergy specialist about stinging insect venom immunotherapy to prevent or reduce future reactions.

Also known as desensitization, this therapy involves injecting your body with larger and larger doses of wasp venom in an effort to safely change how your immune system responds when exposed to the allergen.

Here are four common types of stinging wasps.

1. Bald-Faced Hornet

Bald-faced hornets are black and white and about ¾ inch long. (Technically they are wasps and not a type of hornet, despite the name.) They are known to be especially aggressive in protecting their distinctive roundish papery nests, which often hang from trees.

2. Yellow Jacket

3. Paper Wasp

4. Cicada Killer Wasp

Wasp stings can be painful and cause a reaction ranging from hives to breathing trouble. The good news is that many wasps sting only when they feel threatened. So if you don’t provoke them or come near their home, you’ll probably have nothing to worry about.

Gerald Lee, MD, an assistant professor of allergy and immunology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, offers these tips on how to prevent wasp stings.

• Have the perimeter of your home checked periodically by pest control for nests.
• Keep food waste and trash bags in covered cans outside.
• Avoid eating and drinking outdoors, especially from cans, bottles, or straws.
• Do not plant flowers near the house that attract stinging insects.
• Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants, work gloves, and socks and shoes when working outdoors.

What to Do if You See a Wasp

Keep an open eye for wasp nests around your home. If you find a nest near an entryway or an area where your children play, don’t attempt to remove or destroy it yourself. Call a pest control company to have it professionally removed.

• Wasp stings are painful but usually not dangerous; most people experience only mild symptoms like redness, swelling, and burning.
• If you have a known allergy or experience severe symptoms — like difficulty breathing, dizziness, or swelling of the lips, mouth, or tongue — call 911 immediately, as this may indicate a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers and antihistamines, along with cold compresses, soothing lotions, or a baking soda paste, can help ease mild sting discomfort.
• To prevent future stings, avoid provoking wasps, keep food and trash covered outdoors, and consider hiring a professional pest control service to check for nests near your home.