help with a bee sting??????

Question

My daughter got stung by a wasp 3 days ago. She is not allergic, and had no immediate cause for concern since there was no signs of anaphalyxis. It stung her on the cheek just below her eye. It of course started swelling an hour later or so. The swelling went down, and all was good. The next morning, she woke up and it was swollen again. We have been giving her Benadryl and also motrin, and her eye looked even worse today. It doesnt bother her at all, it just looks ugly......she does say it itches some when the benadryl wears off. Has this ever happened to anyone else? How long do the side effects from a sting last? Its been 3 days, and like I said, it has not gone down at all. Of course Im gonna give the doc a call in the morning, but is this normal for the swelling to last this long? Any advice from experience would help. Thanks!

Answer 1

It seems pretty normal. Wasp bites can be irritating to small kids. Have you tried putting a cold compress (ice, cold washcloth) on the area for a few minutes every hour? That helped my youngest when she was very small. My youngest wasn't allergic, but was very sensitive to bee and wasp stings.

Another thing that worked for me with my kids was to bathe them in warm water with some baking soda, but if the bite is on her face, that might be hard to treat the face that way.

Other than that, do call the doc in the morning. It will make you feel better about it. Or have you thought to call a local ER to see if they can give you info over phone?

Answer 2

About two weeks ago I got stung by a bee on my toe. No big deal right? I've been stung at least five times before with absolutely no reactions ... not even minor swelling. Only three hours later my foot up to my ankle was a balloon and getting increasingly difficult to walk on. By morning the swelling had increased to right above my ankle. Lots of itching was going on as well. I found that Gold Bond cream or powder works WONDERS in relieving the itching. By the third day it was still continuing to swell and by that time the swelling had gone to more than nine inches past the site of the sting. My Mom took me to the doctor (I'm 17 yrs old) and she said there is nothing really that she can do except perscribe so steroid cream (betamethasone) that should help with the swelling. Oh my yes it did! It took about a week for my foot to get back to normal but the steroid cream did the trick! If benadryl works for your daughter (it didn't for me) then thats great! My doctor also gave me an epi pen just in case I ever get a sting near my neck or face 'cuz that much swelling could definitely be fatal in that area. I hope this was helpful and I wish you and your daughter all the best!

Answer 3

I would agree with the nurse practioner who was afraid of cellulitis. Cellulitis of the face is very bad and usually must be treated in a hospital. I would not be too worried about the possibility of a spider bite, as you would probably already have seen sloughly of the skin and an open wound if it were a brown recluse. Irregardless, you are probably going to do best by going to the doctor if it still has not resolved after 3 days.
It is possible, perhaps likely, that your daughter is in fact having an allergic reaction to the bee venom. Allergic reactions can be delayed...they can appear to resolve initially only to reappear a short while later. This may be why the Benadryl is helping. Perhaps Benadryl cream can help with the itching. Hydrocortizone cream may also help (ask your doctor about it and do not use it if she does have cellulitis). There are other histamine blockers available that you can use with Benadryl, such as Zantac and Pepcid. These are histamine 1 blockers (Benadryl is a histamine 2 blocker) and they not only decrease release of stomach acids but also decrease the effects of an allergic reaction.
Many of the other suggestions, such as ammonia or baking soda paste, may have been effective immediately after the envenomation, but will not be at this time, 3 days out.

Answer 4

Well with swelling that is lasting then she is having a minor allergic reaction. She needs to see a doctor. Put ice on every half hour then a half hour with no ice. That helps with the swelling. Benadryl is also good. But the doctor is always the best bet.

Answer 5

Are you really sure it was a bee or waso sting? Or you just guess?
It sounds like a spider bite to me...Please make sure it is a wasp, if you are not sure rush to the doctor, because if it is a brown recluse spider she could lose
half her face in the next couple of weeks...sorry I am not trying to freak you out here, I am just concerned.
If you are sure it was a wasp bite, dont worry it will go away soon, it always get swallen up for some days.

Answer 6

Make a paste out of baking soda and water and apply a little to the area; check the sting as it dries and let the skin breathe for a little while before applying more (if necessary). That should draw some if not all of the swelling out.

Answer 7

First, make sure the stinger isn't still in there. Also, it would be a serious concern if she was experiencing respiratory distress, which would have happened already; difficulty swallowing/breathing/speaking. Is she sleeping on that side at night? Is she picking at it or rubbing it? Try ice and call the doc. I wouldn't be worried.

Answer 8

I've been stung many times and I've had the same symptoms that you described. I have found out that applying mud helps sooth the irritation. As long as your duaghter is not showing any signs of difficulty breathing she should be fine. I am not a doctor though.

Answer 9

SHe needs to see a doctor some people get infections in the skin surrounding the site. Being so near her eye can cause the eye orbit to be pushed into the eye causing eye problems. How is her vision?

It may be cellulitis. Inflammation of the cells in the skin and she may need steriods. TAKE her to the doc please!

Answer 10

The best thing that I've found is a mix of baking soda and honey. As the solution dries, it draws out the venom. The honey just keeps it from breaking and falling off as it dries.