MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Wasp

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Wasp

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Treatment Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Illustrations

Wasp

Definition Return to top

Poisoning by a sting from a wasp.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Ingredient(s) in the venom injected into the victim via the sting.

Where Found Return to top

wasps

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

body as a whole
- collapse
- swelling of the face and lips
respiratory
- difficulty breathing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- swelling of throat
skin
- swelling at site of injection
- itching
heart and blood vessels
- severe decrease in blood pressure

Home Treatment Return to top

The best treatment is prevention where possible.

For those who have an allergy to bee, wasp, or yellow jacket stings, it is important to carry a bee sting kit (which requires a prescription) and become familiar with how to use it if necessary.

Remove the stinger if still present by scraping a blunt object across the stinger. Do not use tweezers, these may squeeze the venom sac and increase the amount of venom released.

Place ice (wrapped in a washcloth or other suitable covering) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process. If patient has circulatory problems, decrease the time to prevent possible damage to the skin.

After a sting, call Poison Control or a hospital emergency room for guidance if the person has an allergic reaction (severe swelling; difficulty breathing) to the insect. It may be necessary to go to the hospital if the reaction is severe.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the insect
the time of the sting
the area on the body stung

Poison Control, or a local emergency number Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

If possible, bring the insect to the emergency room for identification.

What to expect at the emergency room Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Administer medications orally or by injection.
Establish and maintain airway if needed.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

If an allergic reaction occurs, death may occur within 1 hour. The sooner appropriate treatment is begun, the more likely a positive outcome. In non-allergic patients symptoms are likely to resolve completely within a week.

Update Date: 2/23/2004

Updated by: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.