Steroids may also be given to provide relief when local swelling is particularly uncomfortable. If your child is stung in the mouth or throat and the swelling restricts breathing, they should be quickly taken to the closest emergency department. The allergist can advise on future risks and help you protect your child’s health.Įxtreme local reactions to stings can be treated with steroids. If your child shows signs of or is diagnosed with a venom allergy, the immediate treatment after a sting is an injection of epinephrine, such as from an EpiPen ®.Īfter a sting that results in an allergic reaction, once the emergency has passed, you should have your child seen by an allergist - a doctor with special expertise in allergies. “It’s not an overreaction to bring your child straight to the nearest emergency room.” There, your child will be closely observed and treatment can be given to address any life-threatening symptoms. “If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately,” Dr. In severe reactions, a drop in blood pressure can cause a child to lose consciousness. Nausea, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea or other stomach complaints.Dizziness or a dazed condition (seeming “out of it”).Significant hives or itchiness away from the sting site.Fiedler advises that you monitor your child for signs of reaction unconnected to the site of the sting. It’s when reactions are seen in other parts of the body that you need to be concerned about venom allergy. Only when a sting in the mouth or throat causes breathing problems is a local swelling reaction reason for a trip to the emergency room. But if the swelling is confined to the area of the sting, it is not a sign of venom allergy. This can be painful, and the swelling can sometimes be dramatic - extending along the entire upper arm, for example. “When most people are stung by an insect, they develop local swelling in the area of the sting,” says Dr. Fire ants can also deliver venomous stings. These insects are not all bees, but they inject similar venom into the body when they sting. Fiedler explains that what we commonly refer to as “bee stings” include, for allergists, stings by honey bees, bumblebees, yellow jackets, wasps and hornets. What to watch for if your child is stung by a beeįirst, Dr. ![]() What should you do if your child is stung, and how can you tell if your child has a venom allergy? Joel Fiedler, MD, an attending physician with the Allergy Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), offers some practical guidance. Bee stings are painful for everyone, but for some people - those with venom allergies - stings carry a special risk of a severe allergic reaction.
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