What do you do for a bumblebee sting?

Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease redness, itching or swelling. If itching or swelling is bothersome, take an oral antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine. Avoid scratching the sting area.
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How long does a bumblebee sting last?

Usually a bumblebee sting leads to a non-allergic, local reaction: swelling, itchiness and redness at the site of the sting, lasting for only a couple of hours. This can occur directly after the sting, but more generally it starts after some hours. The swelling or itching may last for hours or even days.
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When should I be concerned about a bee sting?

You should be concerned with the bee sting and seek medical attention if your body's allergic reaction to the sting spreads throughout your body. This might come in the form of symptoms such as: Itching and hives. Paleness.
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What happens to a bumble bee when it stings you?

In bumble bees, the stinger is smooth. This means that if you are stung by a bumble bee, the stinger will not become stuck in your skin, and so the bee will not die.
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How do you make a bee sting stop hurting?

Wash the area with soap and water to remove residual venom and reduce the chance of infection. Apply an ice pack for at least 20 minutes to control pain and swelling. Apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to help with pain and itching, and cover with a bandage.
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Do Bumble Bees Sting? What Is The Treatment Of Bumble Bee Sting?



Is toothpaste good for bee stings?

There's no real scientific evidence that toothpaste can help bee stings. However, people claim that the alkaline toothpaste (high pH) neutralizes the acidic honey bee venom (low pH). If this is true, however, toothpaste won't work on wasp venom, which is alkaline.
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Does vinegar help a bee sting?

Like baking soda and toothpaste, apple cider vinegar has been known to help neutralize bee venom and ease the swelling and pain. Pour apple cider vinegar into a basin and soak the affected area for at least 15 minutes. You can also use a piece of cloth: soak it in the basin and then dab it onto the affected area.
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Is a bumblebee sting worse than a honey bee?

No, a bee sting is no worse than a honey bee sting. A bee only stings one time because of her barbed sting. One bumble bee often stings because its stinger was smooth. So a string may cause more harm than a sting from single honey.
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Should bee stings swell the next day?

Some people who get stung by a bee or other insect have a bit stronger reaction, with signs and symptoms such as: Extreme redness. Swelling at the site of the sting that gradually enlarges over the next day or two.
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Will a bee stinger come out by itself?

Wasps and many bees can sting more than once because they are able to pull out their stinger without injuring themselves. Only honeybees have special hooks on their stinger that keep the stinger in the skin after a person is stung. The stinger gets torn out of the bee's body as it tries to fly away.
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Does Benadryl help with bee stings?

Taking an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or a nonsedating one such as loratadine (Claritin) will help with itching and swelling. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin)for pain relief as needed. Wash the sting site with soap and water.
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How do you treat a toxic reaction to a bee sting?

A: People can use an antihistamine, topical steroid or ice for a local reaction of redness, swelling and pain. Severe systemic reactions should be treated with epinephrine and may require an emergency room evaluation or a call to 911.
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How long after a bee sting can you have a reaction?

Bee Sting Reaction Time

A person with a bee sting will likely experience severe pain for one to two hours after getting stung. After intense pain, the area will start to become itchy. Redness, pain, and swelling can last up to seven days after the incident. This is for someone not allergic to bee stings.
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How do you know if you're having an allergic reaction to a bee sting?

The riskiest symptoms to watch for are: Itching, hives, or swelling over a large part of your body -- not just where you got stung. Face, throat or tongue starts to swell. Trouble breathing.
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What bees sting the worst?

Since there is really no stinging insect that is truly harmless, here is your list of Nassau County Stingers from bad to worst.
  • Carpenter bees. Let's face it, these bees are more dangerous to your home than they are to you. ...
  • Bumblebees. ...
  • Honey bees. ...
  • Wasps and Hornets. ...
  • Africanized Honey Bees. ...
  • Yellow Jackets.
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Are bumble bees aggressive?

How serious are bumblebees? Bumblebees are not as aggressive and likely to sting as are hornets and yellow jackets. Males cannot sting, and females only do so when they feel threatened. Their stings, however, are painful and could be dangerous to those with allergies.
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Do bumble bees sting hurt?

Honey bee and bumble bee stings can both be quite painful (just ask Hayley!). To those of us who are sensitive to it (almost all of us!), the venom that is injected into the skin when these bees sting has an effect on our blood vessels, causing localized swelling, itchiness and pain.
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Do tea bags help bee stings?

Apply a wet tea bag and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Use an over-the-counter product made for insect stings. Apply an antihistamine or corticosteroid cream or calamine lotion. Give acetaminophen for pain.
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Can you put hand sanitizer on a bee sting?

After you remove the stinger, sterilize the area with hand sanitizer liquid or soap and warm water. Mix salt and water together to form a thick paste. Next, apply the healing paste to the sting. You can also use a paste composed of baking soda and water.
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Can I put alcohol on a bee sting?

Don't touch the sting area with bare hands. Rinse the sting area with salt (not fresh) water right away. Don't put ice on the skin. If you can, put vinegar or rubbing alcohol on the area several times for 30 or more minutes until the pain is relieved.
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Does lemon help bee stings?

If you're stung by a wasp, hornet, or bee, reach for a lemon. Make sure the stinger is gone, then quickly douse the area with some lemon juice and rub it in to help neutralize the venom.
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Will soaking in Epsom salt help a bee sting?

Relief! Bee stings: Battle minor swelling from bee stings by using an anti-inflammatory Epsom salt compress. Mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt with a cup of cold water, and soak a cotton washcloth in the solution. Apply to the affected area.
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Do bee sting reactions get worse over time?

Generally, moderate reactions get better over a week. Having a moderate reaction doesn't guarantee that you'll have a more serious reaction next time a bee stings you. If your reactions keep getting worse every time you're stung, talk to a doctor.
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How much swelling is normal for a bee sting?

Normal reactions typically include intense pain, itching, and redness with swelling at the sting site up to the size of quarter. Large local reactions extend out from the site of the sting and involve redness with swelling that can at times involve the entire arm or leg.
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What antihistamine is best for bee stings?

Antihistamines are the first-line treatments for insect stings. They can help reduce swelling, itching, and hives.
...
OTC antihistamines that are nonsedating or less likely to cause drowsiness include:
  • cetirizine (Zyrtec)
  • desloratadine (Clarinex)
  • fexofenadine (Allegra)
  • levocetirizine (Xyzal)
  • loratadine (Alavert, Claritin)
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