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What's a normal reaction to a bee sting?

Posted: November 2, 2009

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Q: I got stung by a bee or wasp about 6 days ago on my index finger and I was just wondering if it was normal for the finger to still be itchy, swollen, and red and blotchy?

A: Your symptoms are very typical for a local reaction to a venomous insect sting.  This is the most common type of reaction and usually resolves on its own in less than a day.  Sounds like you have a "large local" reaction, which can last up to a week and even cause some nausea and fatigue. 

The good news is that even though this is lasting longer than usual, it rarely indicates the type of allergic reaction that can be life threatening.

The best thing to do for this type of reaction is to clean the sting site carefully, apply some ice and be sure that the stinger isn't sill stuck in there; this would cause venom to be continuously injected into the area. 

The itching, swelling and blotchiness is best treated with over the counter antihistamines:

  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  • Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
  • Loratadine (Claritin or Alavert)

Diphenhydramine can make you very drowsy, which makes it good for night time use.  You can also apply over the counter hydrocortisone cream (generic, Cortaid) to the area to help with the irritation.

Obviously, the best thing to do for any reaction that lasts close to a week is to come in to the student health center so we can check it out.  Stings can sometimes become infected or cause other serious problems that require professional attention.

John Vaughn, MD (Student Health Services)

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