What is Bee Sting? Cause, Treatment, Symptoms, and Prevention

Rigomo Team

Sun, 05 Oct 2025

In extreme cases, a sting may cause a serious hypersensitivity reaction. Approximately 5-7.5% of individuals can experience severe sensitivity to insect stings in their lifetimes. In beekeepers, this risk increases to 30%.

As per World Health Organization, many people reported light to moderate reactions such as localized redness and swelling after insect stings. Very few people may experience the sensitivity may be far more severe, requiring emergency medical treatment. Fatal reactions are rare.

o   The venom of honeybees, paper wasps, and yellow jackets tends to cause the foremost severe reactions.

o   Bees, wasps, and fireplace ants most typically cause general reactions that may be present everywhere in the body, together with in the skin and respiratory-system

When a bee stings, sometimes, its sharp, barbed stinger remains lodged within the skin. This stinger will unharness venom at the moment when the bee has been injured.

Bee venom contains proteins that affect the skin cells and system, leading to pain and swelling at the location of the sting, albeit an individual isn't allergic to the venom.

In those that are allergic to bee stings, the venom triggers an additional severe systemic reaction. These individuals might not have any hypersensitivity when they are bitten for the first time but can show severe reactions to the sting a second time.

If an individual is allergic, the sting can cause the system to produce a specific Immunoglobulin known as Ig (IgE). Usually, IgE protects the body from dangerous substances, like viruses and parasites.

However, in response to a sting, the body produces IgE that then causes inappropriate immune responses, like hives, swelling, etc.

Symptoms -

The symptoms of a sting vary as per the severity of the allergy. An individual may have a Mild, moderate, or severe reaction shortly when being stung by a bee.

Mild reaction

The majority of sting symptoms are delicate and don't need medical attention. They are restricted to the location of the sting itself, and include:

• A sharp, burning pain

• A raised, red skin

• Slight swelling

Moderate reaction

In a person with a moderate sting reaction, the body responds strongly to bee venom. In such cases, the symptoms will take over a week to heal completely

Symptoms embody severe redness around the sting and swelling around the sting, which can slowly increase in size to a diameter of up to 10 ten cm over 24–48 hours

If an individual experiences a moderate reaction there's a 5-10% chance that they're going to develop a general sensitivity to a sting in the future.

Severe sensitivity

A sting will cause a serious hypersensitivity reaction that may require emergency medical treatment. The subsequent symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction develop rapidly:

• Itchy, red hives on the skin

• Pale or flushed skin

• A swollen throat or tongue

• Difficulty breathing

• Abdominal pain

• Nausea and vomiting

• Dizziness

• A weak, thready pulse

• Loss of consciousness

Treatment –

The treatment for sting reaction can depend on the severity of the sensitivity.

Treating a light to moderate reaction

o   After a sting, remove the stinger, Avoid squeezing the venom sac. It will be advisable to use tweezers to do this. Removing the stinger can limit the quantity of venom discharged into the blood.

o   Use an ice compress, apply steroid ointments, and take antihistamines to reduce skin sensation and inflammation.

o   Symptoms ought to subside over a few days.

Treating a severe reaction

o   Severe, general reactions require a shot of Adrenalin, which can facilitate cut back the severity of the sensitivity. Doctors can also administer intravenous fluids as supportive therapy.

o   Adrenalin quickly reverses the symptoms of severe sensitivity. People who are prone to such severe reactions are advised to always keep an injection with them

o   Immediately call the emergency services and lie down with your feet elevated till you reach the hospital.  

Long-term treatment

o   Desensitization therapy may be a treatment designed to cut back a person’s sensitivity to explicit allergens.

o   Venom Therapy (VIT).

VIT involves a course of injections of progressively high doses of bee venom. Bit by bit increasing the dose over the three years helps the system build up a tolerance to the venom.

Prevention -

Preventing sting allergies

Those who are allergic to bee stings should take the following precautions to cut back their risk of being injured once outdoors:

• Avoiding walking in sandals or bare feet

• Ensuring arms and legs are covered

• Avoiding carrying an article of clothing that's brilliantly colored or includes a floral print

• Avoiding wearing robust perfumes

• Checking outside areas for bees and different flying insects before stepping outside