How to Treat a Bee Sting and Prevent Infection
Instructions
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Remove the stinger if a honeybee was the culprit. Only the honeybee leaves its venom sac and stinger behind. Use a dull-edged object, such as a debit card, to take out the stinger. Do not use tweezers, because this may cause more venom to be injected into the affected area.
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Watch for reactions to the sting such as vomiting, nausea, wheezing and dizziness. A bee sting can trigger an allergic reaction and require medical attention. Severe reactions could cause anaphylactic shock and hypotension.
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Elevate the area of the sting, and put a cold compress on top of the sting.
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Apply a topical lotion with equal parts meat tenderizer and water.
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Administer an antihistamine to a person with an allergic reaction, in addition to the other treatments.
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Give a shot of epinephrine to a person who has a severe allergic reaction. The shot should be given 3 times, waiting 20 minutes between each injection.
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Prevent infection by using warm soapy water to wash the area. Mix a solution of 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 cup water to apply to the sting, and wash it off after 2 minutes. Use an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment on the affected area.
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