Ouch! A wasp sting:you can do this

The chance of a wasp sting with this weather is greater than you would like. The current climate causes wasps to be a nuisance and if you get stung… not fun! Santé has 4 solutions for a wasp sting.

Remove venom from the wasp sting

A wasp sting causes severe pain in combination with an itchy or burning red swelling. Usually the complaints disappear within a few hours and you do not have to go to the doctor, but you can suffer from it. The first step is to remove toxic residues.

This is how you do it

Try to suck out the poison with a special poison sucker. Also, wash the area around the sting well with soap and water to rinse off any venom residue. A wasp's sting does not have barbs, so it usually doesn't stay behind in your skin. If that is the case, you can remove the stinger with tweezers.

Read also: ‘6 tips to keep wasps away from you‘

Cool the wasp sting

Cooling can reduce the itching, pain, and swelling. Cold numbs the pain, stimulates the drainage of fluids and inhibits the blood supply.

This is how you do it

It is best to cool the site of the sting with a cold, wet cloth, an ice bag, a cold pack or special cooling gel. Always use a tea towel or T-shirt over the ice, so that your skin does not come into direct contact with the cold, and preferably do not cool for more than twenty minutes. This is to give your skin a rest and to prevent you from stimulating the blood supply.

Moisturize your skin

The skin around the sting can be very sensitive and feel burning. In addition, it can be very itchy, which can scratch your skin. Prevent skin irritation by lubricating the area with a soothing cream.

This is how you do it

Ointment with menthol, aloe vera or calendula can help with skin irritation. Menthol has a cooling effect, while aloe vera and calendula mainly have a calming effect. You can find such creams at pharmacies and drugstores.

Take pain relief

Are you in a lot of pain and cooling doesn't help? Then take pain medication. In case of an allergic reaction, it is also recommended to use medication.

This is how you do it

Two tablets of paracetamol can help relieve the pain. Antihistamines, such as desloratadine, also help reduce the itching and pain. This medication is prescribed for hay fever complaints, animal allergies and allergic reactions to wasp and bee stings.

When do you call the doctor?

1. If you are allergic or have previously been ill from a wasp sting.
2. If you have been stabbed in your mouth, tongue or throat.
3. If you suffer from shortness of breath.
4. If you get thick eyelids or plump lips while being stung in a different spot.
5. If you develop a rash or thick skin in a different place than where you were stung.
6. If you get itchy all over your body after the sting.

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