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Symptom Guide

Bee and Wasp Stings in Children

This information is for educational purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice. If your child is sick, call our office.

About bee and wasp stings

Most bee and wasp stings cause pain and local swelling that goes away in a few hours to a few days. Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are uncommon in children — they occur in about 4 out of every 1,000 children. But anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and can happen within minutes of a sting.

Call 911 immediately

  • Wheezing, trouble breathing, or shortness of breath
  • Hoarseness, throat tightness, or difficulty swallowing
  • Slurred speech or confusion
  • Your child passed out or is extremely drowsy after a sting
  • Hives or swelling spreading to areas far from the sting site (face, throat, tongue)
  • Your child has a known severe allergy to stings and was stung within the past 2 hours — give epinephrine (EpiPen) immediately, then call 911

Call the doctor right now

  • More than 5 stings per 10 lbs of your child’s body weight
  • Sting inside the mouth or throat
  • The sting area looks infected: increasing redness, warmth, pus, or red streaks
  • Fever with an infected-looking sting site

Call the doctor within 24 hours

  • Redness around the sting is still getting bigger after 72 hours
  • Massive swelling (4 inches or more across) especially if it crosses a joint like the wrist or knee
  • Swelling of the hand or foot that makes it hard to use

First aid and home care

  • Remove the stinger right away — scrape it off with a fingernail or credit card edge (do not squeeze with tweezers, which can inject more venom)
  • Wash the area with soap and water
  • Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the sting for 15–20 minutes
  • Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel for 10–15 minutes to reduce swelling
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil, age 6 months+) for pain
  • Hydrocortisone cream (1%) or calamine lotion can help with itching
  • Normal local swelling peaks at about 48 hours and can last up to 7 days — large local swelling alone does not mean your child has a sting allergy
  • Watch for signs of allergic reaction for at least 2 hours after the sting

Children with known sting allergies

  • Always carry prescribed epinephrine (EpiPen) and make sure it is not expired
  • Give epinephrine immediately after ANY sting, then call 911
  • Notify school, camp, and caregivers about the allergy and where the EpiPen is kept
  • Ask your doctor about a referral to an allergist for venom immunotherapy

Sources

Not sure if a sting needs medical attention? Call us.

Call 908-755-5437