Controlling Allergic Reactions to Insect Stings
If you're lucky, you'll never have to get up close and personal with a wasp, bee, or hornet while gardening. But if you do and a reaction starts, it is good to know who got you, both for future reference and to alert the allergist. That way, if you need to have immunotherapy, you know which insect you need to be protected against.Bumblebees
Bumblebees are easy to point out and easy to avoid. They're big, fat, and furry with familiar yellow and black markings. As one of the insect world's most important pollinators, bumblebees prefer flowers and generally don't bother people unless provoked.
Honeybees
Honeybees, the slim, sleek cousins of the bumblebee, are identified by their golden brown coloring. They also prefer flowers, and given a choice, love warmer climates, although they tend to travel anywhere in the United States during the summer. Generally, honeybees aren't aggressive unless you disturb their hive or irritate them by sticking your nose into a flower they're busy pollinating. Cross their path, and they'll warn you only once by leaving their stinger as a reminder.
Yellow Jackets
Yellow jackets are recognizable by their slim waists and bands of yellow and black. They build their nests in the ground or under rocks, making them a danger to those digging around in the dirt. More often then not, you'll see yellow jackets at the backyard barbecue or picnic, landing on your juicy steak, diving into a soda can, or orbiting above the garbage. Swatting yellow jackets only exacerbates their already aggressive nature, and they will sting...repeatedly.
Hornets
Related to yellow jackets, hornets have white and yellow stripes with a white or yellow face. They construct large paper-mache nests in hollow logs or trees and will defend these orbs with multiple stings.
Wasps
Wasps are hairless creatures with narrow waists and black markings. Like hornets and yellow jackets, they sting repeatedly once provoked. Unfortunately for gardeners and homeowners, they locate their honeycombed nests near human habitats, especially under the eaves of homes and sheds, underneath outdoor furniture, and in shrubs.
Fire Ants
Fire ants live in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Florida, and they should be considered armed and dangerous. Ferocity is their middle name, as their multidimensional hook-and-jab-style attack is infamous and not soon forgotten by the victim. Powerful jaws anchor the ant into soft, succulent human flesh. Once embedded, the ant pivots itself in a circular motion inflicting multiple stings with its rear stinger. Fire ants live in large mounds, usually found in rural locations or along roadways, but they travel just about anywhere, including lawns and gardens.
More Stingers/Biters
Other nasty creatures, such as black flies, horseflies, black or red (not fire) ants, and mosquitoes, bite and sting, too, but these don't set off an immune-system reaction. Redness, itching, and swelling at the bite site result from your body's reaction to a toxic enzyme found in their saliva. Nonetheless, some individuals may be more sensitive to these toxins than others and experience a more painful or inflamed reaction.
First-Aid for Insect Stings
If you or a companion are stung, watch for symptoms of an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), including swollen lips, tongue, or ears; uneasiness or agitation; red face; hives; prickling and itching sensations in the throat and skin; throbbing or ringing in the ears; sneezing, coughing, or breathing difficulty; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; loss of bladder or bowel control; convulsions; weak, rapid pulse; cold, clammy, pale skin; and unresponsiveness. You'll need emergency medical attention for any of these symptoms.
If there's no immediate allergic reaction, carefully remove the stinger from the skin by flicking it with your thumb and forefinger or scraping it out with the edge of a credit card. DO NOT squeeze the stinger. Wash the area gently with soap and water, and apply an ice pack wrapped in clean cloth to it. Place the part of the body that was stung lower than the heart to slow the spread of any venom.
There are other outdoor activities that are hard on people with allergies. For instance, what do you do when you've embarked on a weekend camping trip among the trees and plants? Keep reading to learn how to control your allergies while camping.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
