Insect sting allergies may produce several symptoms:
- Swelling of the lips, face, or hands
- Hives
- Redness or pimple-like spots near the site of the sting
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Fainting soon after the sting
- Fever
- Joint pain or general discomfort
- Abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Some stings may result in anaphylaxis. Signs of this emergency reaction include:
- Hoarseness, throat tightness, or a lump in the throat
- Wheezing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing
- Tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or scalp
- Lightheadedness, fainting or a sudden drop in blood pressure
If you or someone you are with experiences any of these symptoms, contact a doctor or an emergency medical response team immediately. You may need an emergency administration of epinephrine. For someone who knows of an insect allergy, they may have an auto-injection epinephrine kit with them. Look to see if they have a kit; if you can’t find one, call an emergency medical response team immediately.
