

Because this condition may persist for two to three days, antihistamines and corticosteroids are sometimes prescribed to lessen the discomfort.įire ants, yellow jackets, hornets and wasps can sting repeatedly. An unusually painful or very large local reaction may need medical attention. Although alarming in appearance, this condition is often treated the same as a normal reaction. For example, a sting on the forearm could result in the entire arm swelling. You can disinfect the area (washing with soap and water will do) and apply ice to reduce the swelling.Ī large local reaction will result in swelling that extends beyond the sting site. A normal reaction will result in pain, swelling and redness confined to the sting site. The severity of an insect sting reaction varies from person to person. Consider allergy shots ( immunotherapy).Immediately inject epinephrine (adrenaline) if symptoms of anaphylaxis develop.Insect Sting Allergy Management and Treatment Anaphylaxis (less common), a potentially life-threatening reaction that may impair breathing and can cause the body to go into shock.Swelling (in area of sting and sometimes beyond).The red or black imported fire ant now infests more than 260 million acres in the southern United States, where it has become a significant health hazard and may be the number one agent of insect stings. The majority of insect stings in the United States come from wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and honeybees.
