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Q. A person recently wrote to you about a wasp sting. Although you mentioned the risk of anaphylactic shock in your response, I think you should have informed the writer that the next sting could be fatal.
I was stung by a wasp and my hand swelled. Two weeks later, I was stung again and immediately took a Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and put ice on my forehead. Within minutes, I was on the floor with no pulse or blood pressure.
Thanks to the Benadryl and to the paramedics who started two IVs before they got a 40/20 blood pressure reading, I am alive to tell about it. Since your writer had a severe reaction, it is obvious that she has an allergy to wasps and her next sting might be fatal. She and your other readers should be informed of this.
A. It can be difficult to determine when someone will develop anaphylactic shock in response to a sting. That said, you are right that the next sting might be fatal.
We urge anyone who has experienced a serious reaction to a sting to be evaluated by a physician. For those who are at risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis, keeping an EpiPen for self injection can be life saving. Even after an injection with this prescription epinephrine, emergency medical treatment must be summoned.
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Several years ago was stung by two wasps. Had anaphylactic reaction; luckily the EMT boys knew what to do, and by the time I got to the hospital, I was fully treated, and the hospital ER verified this (for $1600.00) and I was released immediately. Since then I keep Epi-Pens in both cars, the house, and shaving kit (for travel). Have been stung once since then--at fellow's house looking at welding equipment. I immediately injected myself with the Epi-Pen, drove to the nearest EMT (about 9 miles), and sat in their facility until the reaction time (usually twenty-thirty minutes) had passed, then went home without any problems.
If Epe-Pens are prescribed (and they must be replaced every year, but do NOT throw the old ones away--they may be better than nothing if there is a swarm attack on a group) insurance or medicare may pay all or part of the cost (they run about $50 apiece).
Although a person may experience a moderate reaction to a first sting, if you are so predisposed, any/all subsequent stings may result in death, predicated on the severity of the sting. I did not know I was this allergic, backed into a wasp nest and was stung 3 times. We headed home and, luckily, there was a hospital within a few minutes of there. My hands and feet started tingling, then I got a pounding headache. When my husband noticed, I had turned beet red.
Tingling was due to anaphylaxis and constriction of blood vessels to the extremities. We rushed to the hospital and I was shot up with epinephrine and given benadryl. I would have been dead in 20 minutes. Be tested for this allergic reaction. Turns out I am allergic to bees, wasps and hornets and ALL mixed vespids. I took shots for 5 years, carry benadryl and an epipen. Only true test is to be stung again. For anyone who has experienced a reaction, it is imperative to find out if you too have this allergy. Turns out my mother and sister have the same allergy. For a honeybee sting, use a comb to whisk out the stinger. If you grab it, it will pinch out more venom. I love to garden and bees abound, so it is best to know if you are allergic, just in case!
My husband has been stung by a wasp multiple times over the years. Two years ago, he had a wasp sting on the temple, started tingling and sweating, took 100mg Benadryl due to the severe oncoming reaction. Within in minutes, had a seizure, he completely lost consciousness, loss urinary function, no pupil reaction, no BP or pulse. Called 911, luckily I was a home, an RN, worked with him for 20 minutes waiting for the rescue squad and EMS.
We live in the county and EMS was on another call. It was a horrible experience. If I had not been home, he would not be here today. He was awake by the time EMS arrived; benadryl and quick response saved his live. We waited the weeks before allergy testing (to eliminate a false + reading). He is highly allergic to wasp, moderately allergy to yellow jackets and other bees. He also keeps Epi-Pens in his vehicle, the house, and shaving kit. Do not take a chance with bee stings, you never know when a reaction will be severe.
Well, very sadly we in the UK had a tragedy as a result of wasp sting just this last weekend:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14555483
Always be very careful around wasps.