Top 5 Insect Stings that Cause Allergies and Their Remedies

Being stung by wasps, fire ants, hornets, honeybees or yellow jackets can hurt, but can also trigger an allergic reaction to the venom injected in your body. Many people are not even allergic to insects’ sting and can misinterpret a simple sting with an allergic reaction.

In order to be able to detect an allergic reaction before it is too late, here are the most common symptoms:

• Difficulty in swallowing and breathing
• Rapid pulse
• Anxiety
• Dizziness and high blood pressure
• Redness and rash that spread beyond the sting
• Face, throat and mouth tissue swelling

Other symptoms, like swelling going beyond the stung area, are perfectly normal reactions which should not concern you. People who have experienced a mild allergic reaction are more likely to have an even worse reaction next time.

Here is a list of 5 insect stings that cause allergies and what natural remedies you should use:

• Wasps – usually wasps attack when they feel threatened, so make sure to gently brush them off your skin instead of just hitting them. They are most likely to return and sting you. If you got stung by a wasp, put some vinegar or any alcohol for that matter on the stung area to prevent the swelling. Taking an antihistamine pill should also help you.
• Hornets – these are the biggest insects from the Vespa genus, some of them reaching 5.5 cm. They could sting many times, compared to honey bees that die after one sting and their sting feels a lot worse on humans than any other sting. You can apply an ice pack on the stung area to prevent the swelling and you could take a nonprescription pill to ease the pain. If the area is itching, put some lavender oil on it and wait.
• Honey bees – they sting once and after that they die. If you are stung by a honey bee, make sure you remove their tiny needle out of your skin. You can use tweezers or your fingernails for that. The important thing is to get it off. Put some ice or alcohol on it to help you with the swelling. Get a calamine lotion and apply it on the area to help you with the redness. You can mix it with baking soda to relieve the inflammation.
• Yellow jackets – are often mistaken with bees, but they act more like wasps. They also attack when they feel uncomfortable. If stung, apply a slice of papaya over the specific area to neutralize the venom. You can also wet your fingers, dip them into sugar and gently caress the stung part to break down inflammatory compounds.
• Fire ants – these little insects are really dangerous and you should stay away from them. If bitten, cut an onion and press the leaves onto your skin. It will prevent inflammation. Garlic can do that as well. Also apply some vinegar on it to make the swelling go away.

Allergic reactions can be fatal, so if you are not feeling well and you have noticed that nothing helps, go see a doctor as soon as possible.