How to treat a venomous bee sting.

(Baonghean.vn) -Summer,nMany people are suddenly stung by bees while working in the fields or at home. In such cases, do not take it lightly. It is not uncommon for bee stings, if not treated promptly and correctly, to become life-threatening, especially for children and the elderly due to their weaker immune systems and lower tolerance, as well as those who are sensitive to pollen.

A wound from a bee sting.

Our country has many types of bees, and the types of bees that commonly cause poisoning are wasps, hornets, honey bees, and some unknown species in mountainous forest areas.

Bee venom is contained in two venom glands that lead to a stinger at the bee's rear. The left gland contains a liquid alkaline substance, while the right gland contains a liquid acidic substance. Bee venom is primarily composed of protein, along with invasive enzymes, hemolytic enzymes, cytotoxic enzymes, allergens, and acetylcholine.

Depending on the species of bee, the venom can be more or less toxic. Some are almost non-toxic (honey bees), but others can be fatal with just a dozen stings, such as wasps and ground bees. Therefore, you should absolutely not underestimate a bee sting without knowing exactly which type of bee stung you.

Identifying and signs of poisoning from bee stings.

1.Honeybee

Our country currently has 5 native bee species (native bee, giant honeybee, red fly bee, black fly bee, and rock bee) and bees imported from abroad.

Honeybees.

• The last foot (the third foot) enlarges and carries a pollen sac (pollen basket); when burned, it leaves behind a stinger; the nest contains honey.

• Giant honeybees (or hornets that hang from rafters) build large nests on high tree branches or cliffs, with the nests hanging down like water sacs. These bees are large and very aggressive.

Symptoms after being bitten: Pain and swelling at the bite site; Bites in dangerous areas (head, face, neck): may cause difficulty breathing, eye damage + Allergic reactions: itching, generalized redness of the skin, difficulty breathing, anaphylactic shock (rapid, weak pulse, low blood pressure).

2. Wasps, hornets

Wasp.

Identification:Wasps (hornets, devil wasps) build nests on trees, roofs, pillars, etc. Their nests have patterns like wood grain, are gourd-shaped, or large blocks with only one opening for the wasps to enter and exit; they are aggressive. Hornets (horse-faced wasps, ground wasps, mud wasps) build nests underground, often in abandoned termite mounds or holes in the ground, easily stepped on by foresters. These wasps are very large, possibly the size of a finger, and are very aggressive. When they sting, they don't leave a stinger, and one wasp can sting multiple times.

Toxicity:Highly toxic, it causes skin damage and leaves wounds and scars in the affected area; it is toxic to muscles, kidneys, and blood. It can be fatal; even large livestock can die from multiple stings.

Wasps are also known as horse-faced wasps, ground wasps, or hornets.

Quick first aid for bee stings

- When stung by a bee, the victim must immediately administer first aid and go to the nearest medical facility for examination. The victim only needs to identify the bee that stung them to provide to the doctor for appropriate treatment; they should not self-diagnose and underestimate the condition, as this can lead to unforeseen risks.

- When attacked by bees, the victim must remain calm. First, cover the head to avoid being stung, then try to use your hands to throw dirt or sand to drive them away. Absolutely do not use branches or clothing to swat them away, as this will only attract more bees.

Before going to a medical facility for treatment, a person who has been stung by a bee should perform first aid themselves or with the help of others using one of the following methods:

• Quickly remove the victim from the area where the bees are.

• Keep the victim lying still and avoid excessive movement to limit the spread of venom throughout the body.

• Gently remove the bee stinger with tweezers or by carefully scraping it out. Absolutely do not squeeze it out with your fingers, as this could rupture the venom sac, causing the venom to spread and penetrate deeper into the body.

• Wash the affected area with soap and warm water or an antiseptic solution, then apply a cold compress or ice pack to the bitten area to reduce pain and swelling.

• Give the victim water to help flush out toxins.

• After administering first aid, the victim should be immediately taken to the nearest medical facility for prompt emergency treatment, especially if there are signs of more serious illness.

Note:

- If the victim has more than 10 bee stings or the stings are on the scalp, do not squeeze or press the stings. Also, if the victim shows signs of redness, hives, or widespread itching, monitor for signs of allergy or poisoning.

- If the victim experiences severe pain, nausea, vomiting, panic, restlessness; agitation, agitation, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, etc., they should be taken to the nearest hospital.

- When stung by bees, especially wasps with multiple stings on the body, particularly in children, it is necessary to provide first aid and initial treatment, and transport the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible for assistance to prevent potential negative consequences that could affect their health, including their life.

- Bee stings on the face, neck, mouth, and throat (can cause suffocation or blindness). If the patient has difficulty breathing: Perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or artificial respiration using available means. Do not self-medicate (whether with traditional or modern medicine), and do not try to apply lime as it is time-consuming and ineffective if there are multiple stings or stings on the face, neck, or mouth.

Hoa Le

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