is it bad not to remove the stinger from a bee sting?

Question

i was stung by a bee and didn't know i was supposed to remove the stinger. i didn't even notice that there was a stinger... :(

Answer 1

No remove a.s.a.p. It continues to pump venom into you, even tho the bee is dead and the stinger, only, remains

Answer 2

Honey Bees leave their stinger in the victim. Other bees ie yellow jackets, hornets, Bumble bees can sting more than once and don't leave the stinger so you wouldn't see it. A bee that leaves a stinger leaves a little sack that is attached to the stinger. It contains the poison that continues to pump poison through the stinger into the victim. It can be seen. If you watch it you can see it moving as it pumps in the poison. This is why you need to get the stinger out as soon as possible. The less poison you get the less the reaction. If you don't see a stinger or poison sack you were probably stung by a bee that doesn't loose its stinger or you removed it without realizing it. My best guess is that you were stung by a yellow jacket if you think it was a honey bee. Yellow jackets are thinner and the color is a little different than a honey bee. Stings from honey bees are less painful than other bees especially if you get the stinger out. Honey bees usually won't bother you unless you are near their hive, pinch them, or try to hit them. Never try to swat at bees. They take it as an attack and you will likely get stung.

Answer 3

Just to settle a few things, no stinger will become a permanent part of you and nothing continues to pump after a stinger is left in you. The body will either self eject the stinger over time or just break it apart itself. This is no different from how the body handles a splinter. Secondly, the venom sac attached to the stinger does not pulsate to pump venom into you. The bee does that. Once the bee has separated from the stinger, any poision that continues to pass in does so passively, unless you squeeze the sac.

That being said, if a stinger is left in you, scrape it with a credit card or similar flat, rigid object to remove the stinger. While removing the stinger is certainly important to prevent the further absorbtion of venom, it is also extremely important to do so to prevent infection. While bees are very clean insects, they are still not sterile, and infection is a concern. Clean the area well, apply an antibiotic ointment, bandage the wound, and apply ice to help prevent swelling. If you begin to experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as nervousness, agitation, a funny feeling in your throat, hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or heart palpitations, call 911 immediately for assistance and transportation to the local emergency room.

Answer 4

I strongly recommend removing the stinger. Scrape it off. My opinion is that bee stings, and other insect bites, are more potent now due to pollution in environment.

Answer 5

sometimes therer isnt a stinger in a bee sting but you should always remove it if therer is one. the stinger has poisons in them, it wont kill you, but that is why they hurt and if you dont remove the stinger, the poison is still giong into your system.

Answer 6

thats why u put the medicine on, baking soda and something i believe, it pulls the stinger out

Answer 7

Yes, you should remove it, it can get infected. Use a credit card or something like that to scrape it out. As long as it wasn't too long ago, it should come out pretty easily.

Answer 8

You are supposed to remove it by scraping it out with a finger nail or credit card. If you leave it in or try to take it out with tweezers or your fingers the sting can release more vemon.

Definately shouldn't leave it in there, take it out as soon as you can or it could become embedded in you permently! ;).

Answer 9

Unless you are allergic to the poison the only difference is that it'll stay sore a while longer and you'll have a bigger welt.

Answer 10

Yes you need to take it out and medicated the area.