Current:Home > NewsEchoSense:Bee stings are extremely common. Here’s how to identify them. -InvestPioneer
EchoSense:Bee stings are extremely common. Here’s how to identify them.
SignalHub View
Date:2025-04-07 23:05:10
As the weather gets warmer and EchoSenseflowers begin to bloom, bees emerge from their winter hibernation. Bees are essential to our ecosystem, and from their incredible pollination abilities, plants are able to grow and thrive.
But, if you’re outside and happen to find yourself too close to a bee, there’s always the potential of being stung. While most people will only experience mild discomfort when stung by a bee, severe allergic reactions may occur.
What happens when you’ve been stung by a bee? USA TODAY spoke with an allergy and immunology physician to break down everything you need to know.
What does a bee sting look like?
There are over 20,000 bee species in the world. While not all bees sting, honeybees, carpenter bees and bumblebees are among bee species that can sting.
The most immediate indication that you’ve been stung by a bee is a sharp burning pain at the point of contact, says Dr. Payel Gupta, MD, the medical director of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at LifeMD, assistant clinical professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Health benefits of honey:4 benefits plus who should, and shouldn't, take raw honey
Within a short period of time, you’ll begin to experience swelling, redness, itching and a warm sensation around the area of the sting, Gupta says. A small white spot may appear where the stinger punched through the skin, she adds.
In comparison to other bee species, the sting of a honeybee leaves behind a barbed stinger. This typically becomes visible once the swelling of the sting has subsided, Gupta says.
How long do bee stings last?
The duration of a bee sting varies. Within a few hours, most of your symptoms will dissipate. However, it may take a few days for swelling and redness to subside. For the wound to completely heal, it can take anywhere between seven to 10 days, according to WebMD.
“It really just depends on the amount of swelling and redness,” Gupta says. If you experience itching, you’ll want to try your best not to touch the affected area, “because the more you rub it, the more you touch it, the worse the swelling is [going to] get,” she says.
When to worry about a bee sting?
It’s estimated that 2 million people in the United States suffer allergic reactions from bee stings, according to Boston Children’s Hospital. During an allergic reaction to a bee sting, anaphylaxis may occur, Gupta says.
Anaphylaxis resulting from a bee sting can happen within seconds to minutes, according to Mayo Clinic. The symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include:
- Hives that spread beyond the sting site
- Swelling of the face, tongue, lips and eyes
- Breathing difficulties
- Tightness in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting
If left untreated, anaphylaxis can be fatal, Gupta says. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is imperative that you call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
New to US:Hornets that butcher bees and sting people. Humans are fighting back.
veryGood! (385)
Related
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Man drives pickup truck onto field at Colorado Buffaloes' football stadium
- Sonya Massey family joins other victims of police violence to plead for change
- Gunman says he heard ‘killing voices’ before Colorado supermarket shooting
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Nicole Kidman speaks out after death of mother Janelle
- Man pleads guilty to charges related to 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's killing
- Kansas cold case ends 44 years later as man is sentenced for killing his former neighbor in 1980
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Former ALF Child Star Benji Gregory's Cause of Death Revealed
Ranking
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Florida sued for using taxpayer money on website promoting GOP spin on abortion initiative
- Ballerina Michaela DePrince Dead at 29
- Video shows worker at Colorado Panera stop enraged customer with metal pizza paddle
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Hunter discovers remains of missing 3-year-old Wisconsin boy
- Father of Georgia school shooting suspect requests separate jailing after threats
- New Boar's Head lawsuit details woman's bout with listeria, claims company withheld facts
Recommendation
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
Horoscopes Today, September 13, 2024
NFL bold predictions: Which players and teams will surprise in Week 2?
Friday the 13th freebies: Feel lucky with deals from Krispy Kreme, Wendy's, Pepsi
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
Congo court sentences 3 Americans and 34 others to death on coup charges
Will 'Emily in Paris' return for Season 5? Here's what we know so far
China is raising its retirement age, now among the youngest in the world’s major economies