Yellow jackets or wasps are considered extremely dangerous because of the following reasons:
- Their sting can invoke severe reactions.
- They can sting repeatedly.
- They release chemicals that attract more wasps that can sting and attack. Hence, it is recommended to leave the place immediately after the attack. They will try to defend their nests and territory using their stingers on you. The venom from a yellow jacket’s sting can trigger such severe allergic reactions in some people; this needs immediate medical attention.
- The patient may feel severe pain followed by reddening and swelling in the affected area.
- For a small number of people, a sting from a yellow jacket can be life-threatening. This is called anaphylaxis, and it causes the closing of the airway.
- If stung, you will get itching and a rash followed by a swollen tongue and throat, which causes breathing problems, dizziness, stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.
- In severe cases, you may become unconscious, comatose, or even worse.
- Signs of an allergy to the venom of a yellow jacket may include hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, hoarseness, coughing, tightness in the chest, or slurred speech. If anyone exhibits these symptoms, immediate medical attention should be sought.
What is the best treatment for yellow jacket stings?
The recommended first-aid is to apply ice over the sting and raise the affected part. Do not apply peroxide, ammonia, or any home remedy because it may do more harm than good. Usually, yellow jackets do not leave a stinger, but if one is present, use a straight-edged lever, such as a credit card or flat edge of a butter knife, to scrape away the stinger. Do not squeeze to get the stinger out because you will release more venom into your system and make the sting worse. Before treating the affected area, make sure the stinger is not still in your skin. If left inside your skin, this can cause an immense amount of pain and can cause infection. If a person gets stung by a yellow jacket, here are the steps to follow:
- Wash the sting site with soap and water.
- Use a cold pack on the affected area to reduce the pain.
- Keep the stung area elevated.
- Apply a topical antihistamine on the affected area.
- If the topical application doesn't seem to help much, take an oral antihistamine to further relieve any pain, swelling, or itching. Benadryl is usually recommended.
- To help with pain, take Ibuprofen. This will also help with inflammation. Tylenol is also an option that can help with the pain.
- An anesthetic spray, such as Solarcain, that contains benzocaine may provide some pain relief.
- Apply hydrocortisone cream or Calamine lotion to the skin to relieve itching and swelling. Be sure to follow the label instructions on the medication.
- Never break or pinch blisters that develop after the sting.
Seek medical help immediately if:
- You have been stung more than 10 times.
- You have been stung in the mouth or throat.
- You have any symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or speaking, swelling in the mouth or throat, wheezing, confusion, weakness, hives or rash, or tightness in the chest.
Rarely a wound may become infected. Yellow jacket may carry bacteria on their stingers due to visiting landfills. Frequent scratching or improper initial treatment of the sting site can also cause infection. Infected stings need to be seen by a doctor and treated with antibiotics and antihistamines. Symptoms of a secondary bacterial infection at the sting site include:
- A large local reaction that can measure 10 inches or more in diameter
- Increased pain at the sting site
- Increased swelling and redness and the sting site
- Drainage of pus from the sting site
- Fever
- Symptoms last more than 1-2 days or get worse in that period
Treatment:
Consult the doctor immediately for further treatment, which may include antibiotics and antihistamines, as well as an epi-pen.
QUESTION
What percentage of the human body is water? See AnswerTop How Dangerous Are Yellow Jackets? Related Articles
Bad Bugs: Identify Insects and Bug Bites
What do bug bites look like? How do you treat bug bites? Why do bug bites burn? See spider bite pictures and learn how to identify bug bites from mosquitoes, bees, bed bugs, wasps, and more. See what their bites & stings look like and how to treat bug bites. For more details, enter a search for the specific insects or bugs as this slideshow is a brief introduction to the topic.
Bed Bugs Slideshow
What does a bedbug look like? Learn to ID bedbugs and bedbug bites. Get tips on how to prevent, treat, and get rid of bedbugs.
Bed Bugs Quiz
That unexplained itching could be caused by bedbugs. Take the Bedbugs Quiz to learn the causes and symptoms of a bedbug infestation.
Bee and Wasp Sting
Bees, wasps, and fire ants are related insects that belong to the Hymenoptera order. There are thousands of species of wasps found throughout the world. Common wasps are yellow jackets and hornets. Types of bees include honey bees, the Africanized honey bee (killer bee), and the bumble bee. There are four types of reactions to a bee or wasp sting;
- local reaction,
- systemic allergic reaction,
- toxic reaction, and
- delayed reaction.
Individuals who have a systemic or toxic reaction generally require immediate medical treatment to prevent anaphylactic reaction, and possibly death.
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Carpet Beetle Dermatitis
Dermatitis occurs with inflammation of the skin, either due to an inherent skin defect, direct contact with an irritating substance, or to an allergic reaction. Symptoms of dermatitis include redness, itching, and in some cases blistering. Shown here is an allergic reaction from a carpet beetle. They are common to the U.S. live both indoors and outdoors and feed on plants, fabrics, and any other easy source of protein.
8 First Aid Kit Essentials for Scrapes, Cuts, Bug Bites, and More
Are you always prepared for a first aid crisis? See which basic first aid items to pack to treat minor scrapes, cuts, and stings when you're on the go.
Food and Nutrition: Bugs You Can Eat
If you can get past your initial reaction to them, insects aren’t only edible but also can be good for you.
How Do You Know if You Have Been Bitten By a Spider?
What is a spider bite? Learn the signs of a spider bite and what to do if you've been bitten by a spider.
Summer Skin Quiz
When it comes to summer, there plenty of hazards under the sun! Take the Summer Skin Hazards Quiz and clue in on the dangers to your summer skin!