Call 911 Immediately If Any of These Occur After a Sting
- Throat tightening, difficulty swallowing, or hoarse voice
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or chest tightness
- Dizziness, faintness, or sudden drop in blood pressure
- Hives, flushing, or swelling spreading beyond the sting site
- Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal cramping following a sting
- Rapid or weak pulse, pale or bluish skin
Normal Sting Reaction — First Aid Steps
- Move away from the area immediately — additional wasps may follow the alarm pheromone released during the sting and attack.
- Wash the sting site with soap and water. Unlike honey bee stings, wasps do not leave a stinger — no stinger removal is needed.
- Apply a cold pack or ice wrapped in cloth to the sting site for 10–20 minutes to reduce swelling and pain. Do not apply ice directly to skin.
- Take an oral antihistamine (diphenhydramine/Benadryl or loratadine/Claritin) to reduce itching and local swelling. Follow package dosing instructions.
- Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream applied to the sting site can reduce local inflammation. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain as needed.
- Monitor for the next 30 minutes for any signs of allergic reaction. If you have a prior history of sting allergy, use your epinephrine auto-injector at the first sign of systemic symptoms and call 911.
Multiple Stings
Multiple simultaneous stings from disturbing a yellow jacket or wasp nest introduce a larger total venom load — even in individuals without a known allergy, 10 or more stings in adults or fewer in children may warrant medical evaluation due to the cumulative toxic effect of venom. Seek medical care for any child who receives more than a few stings, any adult with more than 10–15 stings, or any person showing any systemic symptoms after multiple stings. D&D Pest Control removes wasp and yellow jacket nests throughout Franklin County and rural Missouri — visit ddpestcontrolmo.com.