Insect bites and stings usually only cause minor irritation, such as swollen, itchy, red marks on the skin that last for a few days.

Some bites or stings can be painful or trigger more serious allergic reactions like nausea, facial swelling, breathing difficulties, stomach pain or shock.

How you can help in Flush area :

Stop the patient from rubbing the sting area.

​Flush the area with water and gently remove any barb or tentacles.

Use of hot-water immersion for pain relief and improved health outcomes.

If hot water is available, pour hot water over the area (or put the stung area soak in hot water) for 20 minutes.

The water should be as hot as the person can stand it, without burning.

A hot shower is a good option. If hot water is not available and there is significant pain, apply ice.

Immersing envenomed areas in ice water might slow the movement of venom towards the core (heart), and thus might lead to better outcomes in deadly envenomations.

Symptoms and signs – But not all may be present

Pain, swelling, discoloration, and altered sensation at the bite or sting area are common reactions to insect bites and stings. These symptoms can be caused by the insect's saliva or venom, which triggers the body's immune response. The severity and duration of these reactions can vary depending on the type of insect and the individual's immune system. 

Info Source : St John / NZ

Bee or Wasp Stings

Bees have only one stinging barb that is left in the skin following the incident. The venom sac is attached to the barb and continues to inject venom until it is empty. For this reason the barb should be removed as soon as possible.

Wasps do not leave a detached barb in the skin but inflict multiple stings, thus increasing the amount of venom injected.

The danger with bee and wasp stings is that stings around the mouth, throat or face can swell and cause airway obstruction.

Also, some people have an allergic reaction to bee venom and may collapse within 2 or 3 minutes after a sting, requiring resuscitation and urgent medical treatment.

How you can help :

1. Remove the barb

If stung by a bee, immediately brush, pluck or scrape the barb off the skin to stop any more venom being injected. How the barb is removed is less  important than removing the barb quickly.

2. Apply cold treatment

Immediately apply a wrapped ice pack and leave it in place for up to 10 minutes. Reapply the ice pack at frequent intervals or whenever pain relief is needed.

3. Raise the bitten area

Raise the bitten area as high as possible to limit the swelling that will occur. If an arm or hand has been stung, apply an elevation sling to provide comfort and support.

4. Seek medical advice

Contact a local doctor for advice.

If the patient is known to be allergic to the venom – call your local emergency medical number (995 in Singapore) and assist the patient with any prescribed treatment.

Observe the patient closely for any change in condition. If any of the warning signs of an allergic reaction appear, send for an ambulance urgently.

The warning signs include :

A fine rash over the trunk

Wheezing or Coughing

Swelling around the face, eyes and neck

Anaphylactic shock is a serious medical condition ​that requires immediate medical assistance and can even cause death. A life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can cause shock, a sudden drop in blood pressure and trouble breathing.

In people who have an allergy, anaphylaxis can occur minutes after exposure to a specific allergy-causing substance (allergen).

In some cases, there may be a delayed reaction or anaphylaxis may occur without an apparent trigger.

If you're with someone having an allergic reaction with signs of anaphylaxis : Immediately call your local medical emergency number (995 in Singapore)

Ask the person if he or she is carrying an epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, others) to treat an allergic attack.

If the person says he or she needs to use an autoinjector, ask whether you should help inject the medication. This is usually done by pressing the autoinjector against the person's thigh.

Have the person lie still on his or her back.

​Loosen tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket.

Don't give the person anything to drink.

If there's vomiting or bleeding from the mouth, turn the person on his or her side to prevent choking.

If there are no signs of breathing, coughing or movement, begin CPR. Do uninterrupted chest presses — about 100 every minute — until paramedics arrive.

If you're with someone having signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, don't wait to see whether symptoms get better. Seek emergency treatment right away.

​

Get emergency treatment even if symptoms start to improve. After anaphylaxis, it's possible for symptoms to recur. Monitoring in a hospital for several hours is usually necessary.

In severe cases, untreated anaphylaxis can lead to death within half an hour.

An antihistamine pill, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), isn't sufficient to treat anaphylaxis. These medications can help relieve allergy symptoms, but work too slowly in a severe reaction.

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include :

Skin reactions, including hives, itching, and flushed or pale skin, Swelling of the face, eyes, lips or throat..

Constriction of the airways, leading to wheezing and trouble breathing.

​A weak and rapid pulse, Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, Dizziness, fainting or unconsciousness

Some common anaphylaxis triggers include :

Medications, Foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.

Insect stings from bees, yellow jackets, wasps, hornets and fire ants.

​

If you've had any kind of severe allergic reaction in the past, ask your doctor if you should be prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector to carry with you.

Info source : Rentokil.

Bee Stings.

​Bee although known for their role in pollination and producing honey, bees  can become a threat to homeowners when they build their hives near or inside homes.

Bees are considered less dangerous than other stinging insects like wasps. In Singapore, bees like honey bees and carpenter bees seldom sting unless they are provoked.

​However there are aggressive species such as the Africanized honey bees that will sting humans in large numbers, fortunately we’ve yet to spot any of them here in Singapore.

The Africanized bee, also known as the Africanized honey bee (AHB) and colloquially as the "killer bee", is a hybrid of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera), produced originally by crossbreeding of the African honey bee (A. m. scutellata) with various European honey bee subspecies such as the Italian honey bee (A. m. ligustica) and the Iberian honey bee (A. m. iberiensis).

The African honey bee was first introduced to Brazil in 1956 to increase honey production, but 26 swarms with their queens escaped from their experimental apiary in 1957. Since then, the hybrid has spread throughout South America and arrived in North America in 1985. Hives were found in southern Texas, United States, in 1990.

Africanized honey bees are typically much more defensive, react to disturbances faster, and chase people farther than other varieties of honey bees, up to 400 m (1,300 ft). They have killed some 1,000 humans, with victims receiving 10 times more stings than from European honey bees. They have also killed horses and other animals.

Africanized honey bees are considered an invasive species in the Americas. As of 2002, the Africanized honey bees had spread from Brazil south to northern Argentina and north to Central America, Trinidad (the West Indies), Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, and southern California.

Bee stings have the potential for an allergic reaction, resulting in anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical assistance and can even cause death.

Wasp Stings.

​Like the bee, a wasp sting is a form of defence. If wasps feel threatened or if their nest is disturbed it makes them very aggressive and provokes them to sting.

A sting by a social or common wasp (also known as a yellow jacket) is a painful experience. It can be very upsetting and frightening for young children.

Wasp stings may even be life threatening to people allergic to the poison in stings. This allergic reaction is known as anaphylaxis.

People who have been stung several times previously and have become sensitised are more likely to suffer this systemic reaction, good news is that this type of allergic reaction is rare and it is even rarer for it to be fatal.

Tips to Avoid Stings :

Do not panic - If you find there are wasps nearby keep calm and move slowly away.

Do not scream, flap your arms or swat them - This will just agitate them and make them more aggressive.

Avoid strong, sweet smells - Do not use highly perfumed fragrances, shampoos, hair sprays.

Avoid bright colours - Do not wear bright, bold floral patterns on clothes and bags, which could attract wasps.

Avoid orchards - Or any soft fruit plants and even uncovered bins, where wasps gather seeking food.

Avoid open drinks - If drink cans or bottles are left unattended, it may encourage wasps to crawl inside.

Cover food and drink - Always keep food and drink covered when eating outdoors to deter wasps.

Stay clean - Ensure children’s hands / faces are cleaned after eating sweet foods / drinks.

Treatments for Wasp Stings.

It is difficult to know how you might react to a wasp sting, if you have never been stung before. There are some practical things you can do to help with any pain you might feel.

Use a cold compress such as an ice-pack or cold flannel. Take painkillers to soothe any pain. Take antihistamine tablets to reduce any swelling around the sting. If you are in any doubt about a wasp sting please consult a doctor or medical professional.

If someone has the following symptoms after being stung, immediately call for an ambulance :

​(995 in Singapore)

Difficulty breathing

Wheezing

Vomiting

Nausea or Diarrhoea

Feeling Faint or Dizzy

Swollen Face or Mouth

Problems Swallowing

If you found bees or wasps build their hives near or inside homes that gives you threat :

​Call Rentokil on (65) 6347 8138

Info source : SingHealth

​Insect bites and stings usually only cause minor irritation, such as swollen, itchy, red marks on the skin that last for a few days.

Some bites or stings can be painful or trigger more serious allergic reactions like nausea, facial swelling, breathing difficulties, stomach pain or shock.

If there is a stinger in your skin, gently scrape it off with your fingernail or the edge of a card.

Do NOT pinch the sting out with your fingers or use tweezers as you may spread the venom.

​Wash the bite with soap and water, and pat dry. Place an ice pack (wrap a bag of ice in a towel), then place this on the wound.

Do not scratch the bite as this may cause infection.

If the bite is painful or swollen, consult your neighbourhood pharmacist about over-the-counter medication like Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

If the wound is itchy or swollen, apply a topical cream containing antihistamines or mild hydrocortisone (1%).

SEE YOUR GP IF :

There are signs of infection, e.g. increasing redness, pain, swelling, fever.

The sting fills with pus.

You experience flu-like symptoms.

GO TO THE A&E IF YOU HAVE :

Been stung three or more times.

Been stung in the mouth

Pain itching or swelling on other parts of your body, e.g. mouth or face.

Symptoms of systemic reactions like :

Difficulty in breathing,

Nausea, vomiting or Diarrhoea, Fast heart rate, Giddiness, Confusion or agitation, Pale skin.