Table of Contents
- How to Treat a Bee Sting: 4 Immediate First Aid Steps
- Is the Reaction Normal, Allergic or an Emergency?
- Bee Sting Allergy and Anaphylaxis
- What to Do When a Bee Sting Happens at Work
- How to Relieve Bee Sting Pain and Itching
- When Should You Seek Medical Attention?
- Is the Bee Sting Infected or Just Swollen?
- Bee Sting vs Wasp Sting
- How to Prevent Bee Stings and Wasp Stings
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources and Review Information
A bee sting usually causes immediate sharp or burning pain, redness, itching and local swelling. Most mild reactions improve within about 24 hours, although some redness or swelling can last for a few days.
The main immediate danger from bee and wasp stings is anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can affect breathing and circulation. Anaphylaxis is life threatening and needs immediate treatment with adrenaline.
Emergency: Call triple zero (000)
Call 000 immediately if the person develops difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, tongue or throat swelling, wheezing, persistent coughing, voice changes, dizziness or collapse.
Abdominal pain or vomiting after an insect sting can also indicate anaphylaxis.
Lay the person flat and do not allow them to stand or walk. If breathing is difficult, they may sit with their legs outstretched. Give an adrenaline device immediately if available and follow their ASCIA Action Plan where available.
If the person is otherwise well, remove the stinger quickly, wash the area and apply a wrapped ice pack for about 15 minutes. Fast removal helps limit how long the attached venom sac can continue to inject bee venom into the skin.
How to Treat a Bee Sting: 4 Immediate First Aid Steps
For a mild bee sting, first aid focuses on removing the source of venom, keeping the sting site clean and relieving pain.
1. Remove the stinger quickly
Honey bees can leave a barbed stinger and venom sac behind after they sting.
If you can see it, remove the stinger as quickly as possible. Healthdirect recommends scraping it away with a fingernail or firm edge such as a card. ASCIA emphasises that removing bee stingers quickly is more important than the exact method used.
Do not waste time searching for special equipment while the stinger stays in the skin.
Unlike bees, wasps usually do not leave a stinger behind and can sting multiple times.
2. Wash the area
Wash the sting site gently with soap and water.
This is appropriate routine first aid for uncomplicated insect stings.
3. Apply an ice pack
Wrap an ice pack in a towel or cloth and apply it for about 15 minutes.
This can help reduce swelling, itching and burning pain. A cold compress may also provide comfort if an ice pack is unavailable.
Never apply ice directly to bare skin.
4. Watch for an allergic reaction
Monitor the person for symptoms that develop away from the original sting.
A mild reaction usually remains local. An allergic reaction may involve hives or swelling elsewhere on the body. A serious allergic reaction can affect breathing, the throat or circulation.
Is the Reaction Normal, Allergic or an Emergency?
The size of the reaction alone does not determine how dangerous it is.
| Reaction | Common symptoms | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mild reaction | Pain, itching, redness and local swelling | Remove the stinger, wash the area and use an ice pack |
| Large local allergic reaction | Swelling greater than 10 cm around the sting | Use local symptom relief and monitor for worsening symptoms |
| Allergic reaction | Hives, facial or lip swelling, tingling in the mouth | Stay with the person and monitor carefully |
| Severe allergic reaction / anaphylaxis | Trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, wheeze, dizziness, collapse or abdominal symptoms | Give adrenaline if available and call 000 |
| Possible infection | Increasing heat, pain, tenderness or redness rather than gradual improvement | Seek medical attention |
ASCIA defines a large local reaction as an allergic reaction with swelling greater than 10 cm around an insect sting or bite. These reactions can look alarming, but they are different from anaphylaxis.
Bee Sting Allergy and Anaphylaxis
A bee sting allergy develops when the immune system reacts to components of bee venom.
Bee, wasp and other stinging insect venoms are recognised causes of insect allergy and anaphylaxis in Australia. Most allergic reactions remain mild or moderate, but anaphylaxis is a life-threatening severe allergic reaction.
Signs of a mild or moderate allergic reaction may include:
- hives or welts
- swelling of the lips, face or eyes
- tingling in the mouth
Signs of a severe allergic reaction include:
- difficulty or noisy breathing
- tongue swelling
- tightness or swelling in the throat
- wheezing or persistent coughing
- difficulty talking
- persistent dizziness
- collapse
With insect allergy, abdominal pain or vomiting following a sting can also indicate anaphylaxis.
A person does not need to develop hives before anaphylaxis occurs.
What to do for a severe allergic reaction
- Lay the person flat and do not allow them to stand or walk.
- Give an adrenaline device immediately if available.
- Call triple zero (000).
- Follow their ASCIA Action Plan where available.
- Further adrenaline may be given after five minutes if needed and another device is available.
- Commence CPR if the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally.
Antihistamines do not treat the dangerous breathing or circulation problems caused by anaphylaxis. They must not delay adrenaline.
What to Do When a Bee Sting Happens at Work
The immediate medical response is the same whether a person is stung by a bee at home or at work.
For an employee with suspected anaphylaxis:
- keep them where they are unless the location is unsafe
- do not make them walk to a first aid room or vehicle
- retrieve their prescribed adrenaline device and ASCIA Action Plan if available
- give adrenaline when anaphylaxis is suspected
- call 000
- stay with the person
- make sure ambulance crews can find and access the workplace quickly
For managers and workplace first aiders, the incident can also highlight whether allergy plans and prescribed emergency medication are easy to locate when needed.
APTS provides practical first aid training relevant to workplace emergency response, with instructors from professional backgrounds including healthcare, emergency response, fire services and community care.
How to Relieve Bee Sting Pain and Itching
Once a severe reaction has been ruled out, treatment focuses on comfort while the local response to bee venom settles.
Cold therapy and pain relief
Use an ice pack wrapped in cloth for around 15 minutes.
Suitable over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or an NSAID may also help when appropriate for the person. Follow the medicine directions or seek advice from a pharmacist or health professional.
Antihistamines
A non-sedating antihistamine may help relieve itching from an allergic or large local reaction.
ASCIA recommends non-sedating antihistamines where ongoing itching needs treatment.
Again, antihistamines are not treatment for anaphylaxis.
Avoid scratching
Scratching can further irritate the skin and increase the chance of infection.
Keep the area clean and use appropriate symptom relief instead.
When Should You Seek Medical Attention?
Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe, unusual or getting worse instead of better.
Healthdirect recommends seeing a doctor straight away for:
- a sting inside the mouth
- a sting on the neck or face
- a sting on the eyelid or in the eye
- five or more stings in a child
- ten or more stings in an adult
Multiple stings can expose the body to much more venom than one sting.
Call 000 immediately if an allergic reaction progresses to difficulty breathing, throat swelling, dizziness, collapse or other signs of anaphylaxis.
Is the Bee Sting Infected or Just Swollen?
Redness, warmth and swelling after a bee sting do not automatically mean infection.
Most mild bee and wasp stings get better within about 24 hours, although the affected area can remain red for a few days.
Possible infection becomes more concerning if the area becomes increasingly:
- hot
- painful
- tender
- red
- swollen rather than improving
Healthdirect advises that swelling getting worse more than 48 hours after the sting can suggest infection. Seek medical attention if this happens.
Bee Sting vs Wasp Sting
Bees and wasps are both stinging insects, and both can trigger an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.
The most useful first aid difference is what happens to the stinger.
| Bee | Wasp |
|---|---|
| Honey bees often leave a barbed stinger and venom sac | Wasps usually do not leave a stinger |
| Remove a visible stinger quickly | Usually nothing needs removing |
| A honey bee generally stings once | Wasps may sting multiple times |
| Can trigger insect allergy and anaphylaxis | Can also trigger insect allergy and anaphylaxis |
Many bees have hairier bodies, while many wasps appear smoother. However, appearance varies between species, so do not rely on this alone to identify the winged insect.
From a first aid perspective, symptoms matter more than exact species identification.
Someone with confirmed bee sting allergy, wasp sting allergies or another stinging insect allergy may be referred to an allergy specialist.
For selected people with severe insect allergy, venom immunotherapy can reduce the risk of future reactions and usually continues for three to five years.
How to Prevent Bee Stings and Wasp Stings
You cannot prevent every encounter with stinging bees or wasps, but simple precautions can lower the risk.
Stay calm around bees
Honeybees normally sting in self-defence. They are less likely to sting when left undisturbed.
If bees are nearby, stay calm and avoid swatting or provoking them. Move away where practical.
Wear appropriate clothing
ASCIA recommends light-coloured clothing, covering exposed skin and wearing shoes outdoors for people at risk of insect allergy.
When gardening, wear long sleeves, long pants and gloves. Avoid strong perfumes when spending time around bees.
Be careful with outdoor food and drinks
Wasps are attracted to food and drinks.
Keep food covered where practical, clean spills and check open cans or drink containers before drinking. This can help prevent wasp stings around picnics, worksites and outdoor eating areas.
Avoid nests and hives
Do not disturb bee hives, bee colonies or wasp nests.
If bees or wasps repeatedly appear around a workplace, arrange appropriate professional assistance rather than attempting unsafe nest removal.
These precautions can help prevent bee stings without encouraging people to harm bees unnecessarily.
