Responding To Your Child's First Wasp Sting
When outdoor temperatures begin to rise, families spend more time enjoying outdoor activities. While camping, hiking, boating, or visiting a park can be exciting, these outdoor activities can turn deadly if your young child is stung by a wasp.
Wasps become more aggressive during the late summer months as they fight for resources to get their nest through the winter. If your child has never been stung by a wasp or bee, you must use extreme caution in responding to the sting.
Remove the stinger immediately.
The stingers of wasps and bees act as miniature pumps to release venom into their victims. The longer you leave a stinger inside your child, the more venom will be released. This can increase your child's discomfort and exacerbate any allergic reaction your child might have to the sting.
Remove the stinger as quickly as possible. Use a fingernail or credit card to scrape parallel to the skin in order to release the stinger. Never attempt to squeeze the stinger out, as this could release a large dose of venom into your child's body.
Draw out venom with baking soda.
Eliminating as much venom from your child's body as possible will help alleviate the discomfort that he or she feels after being stung by a wasp. You should wash the sting with an antibacterial soap and warm water once the stinger has been removed.
Apply a paste made from baking soda and water. Dab the paste directly onto the sting and allow it to dry. The baking soda will draw out most of the venom within the sting. You can then apply an ice pack to help reduce swelling and inflammation.
Monitor your child for evidence of an allergic reaction.
It's completely normal for the area around a wasp sting to become red and swell. However, there are other symptoms that could indicate your child is having a severe allergic reaction to the venom in his or her wasp sting.
A rash that spreads across your child's body, swelling of the hands, tongue, or face and shortness of breath are early warning signs of anaphylaxis. Your child could die if immediate medical attention is not received for these severe allergic reactions.
Anaphylaxis can manifest itself immediately after a sting, or it could take a few hours for the condition to set in. Be sure that you monitor your child closely for at least 24 hours following a sting, and consult your pediatrician if you notice any alarming symptoms.
For more information, contact a company like Kids Choice Pediatrics.
