What Is a Wasp Sting?

Medically reviewed by Josephine Hessert, DO

Wasp stings are a common occurrence, especially during warmer weather when wasps and people are both outdoors. These stings can be painful and in some cases cause severe allergic reactions, but for many people they are a minor nuisance without complications.

Typically, wasps sting because they perceive a threat. And unlike honeybees who die after stinging someone once, wasps can continue to sting. Wasp stings can be particularly dangerous because they can sting you multiple times.

You can prevent stings by staying aware of wasps, avoiding wasp nests and hives, and keeping covered when outdoors. In the case you do get stung, prompt first aid treatment can typically help alleviate symptoms.

Wasp Sting Symptoms

Immediately following a wasp sting, you might experience a sharp, intense pain at the site of the sting. Shortly after, there may be redness, itching, and possibly swelling around the area.

The site of the sting may continue to be sensitive to the touch even after a few days.

If you have been stung before, your immune system may launch a bigger response, which could result in more intense swelling around the sting or throughout the part of the body where you were stung.

If you are allergic to wasp stings, you may experience an abnormal reaction. Depending on the severity of your allergy, this could present as several symptoms including:

• Hives

• Abdominal cramping

• Difficulty breathing

• Swelling of the tongue or throat

• Dizziness

• Loss of consciousness

If you experience any of the above symptoms of an allergic reaction, you need immediate medical attention. Between one and two people per 1,000 are allergic to wasp stings.

If you are stung in the mouth or neck area, you should also seek immediate medical attention as swelling in those areas may be life threatening.

What Causes Wasp Stings?

Insects in the wasp family, which also includes yellow jackets and hornets, are known to be more aggressive than honeybees or bumble bees. For this reason, it is more likely to be stung by a wasp than it is to be stung by a bumble bee.

Typically, these insects sting people or animals when they feel threatened. They also will sting if they believe that their nests or hives are under attack or being threatened in some way. If you suspect a wasp infestation or see a wasp nest, do not try to remove it on your own. Contact a professional pest control service to have it removed safely.

Risk Factors

Plants and trees and other thick vegetation can provide hiding spots for wasps. If you have a number of flowering plants near your home, you may be more likely to encounter a wasp and get stung.

Likewise, if you work outdoors or work specifically with plants, you are at greater risk of being stung. Nests and hives may be found under roof eaves or on outdoor equipment such as ladders. Take extra precautions to prevent stings if you frequently find yourself in these conditions.

Wearing perfumes, colognes, hair sprays, and other fragrances may also put you at risk for a wasp sting as these products are considered olfactory enticements (or attractive smells) for wasps and may bring them near you.

How Are Wasp Stings Diagnosed?

Most people know when they have been stung by a wasp and can describe the insect to their healthcare provider. But if you are unsure what you were stung by, there are skin tests and blood tests that allergists can use to identify which type of insect stung you.

A blood tests allows the healthcare provider to look at the exact protein in an allergen that may be causing your allergic reaction. This can help your provider identify the specific type of stinging insect (or insects) causing your reaction, such as a honeybee, yellow jacket, or paper wasp.

Allergists also can use a skin-prick test to determine if you are allergic to wasps or another type of stinging insect. This intradermal skin test involves placing a small amount of a liquid containing insect venom on your back or forearm and then pricking it with a small, sterile probe to allow the liquid to seep into the skin. If you get a raised, reddish hive or bump within 15 to 20 minutes, that can indicate an allergy.

Treatments for Wasp Stings

If you or a family member get stung by a wasp, you will need to administer first aid right away. Doing so can help alleviate the pain and help prevent complications. Here are some steps experts recommend you take when treating a wasp sting:

• Check for an allergy: Start by checking the ABCs—or airway, breathing, and circulation. As long as the person appears fine, you can move on to the next step. If they are having trouble breathing, their throat is swelling, or they are in distress call 911 right away. A person experiencing an allergic reaction may need an immediate administration of epinephrine (EpiPen).

• Remove the stinger: If there is a stinger in the skin, scrape it out using a credit card or the dull side of a knife. Removing the stinger quickly will reduce your exposure to the venom.

• Wash the area: Thoroughly wash the area of the sting using soap and water.

• Apply ice: To reduce swelling, apply ice or cold compresses to the area of the sting for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

• Sit still: If possible, do not move around and keep the affected area still. This will prevent the venom from spreading.

• Use an oral antihistamine: Antihistamines, like Claritin (loratadine) or Zyrtec (cetirizine), can help relieve itching and reduce the allergic response. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can also be used, but talk to a healthcare provider first.

• Take a pain reliever: If you are still in pain, you can try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil (ibuprofen). This also will help reduce the inflammation.

• Apply an anti-itch cream: A 1% hydrocortisone cream or a calamine lotion may help relieve itching and keep you from scratching. You also can try making a paste with baking soda and water, although this is not effective for everyone. Try not to scratch the sting as this could increase your risk of infection.

Related: How Is a Wasp Sting Treated?

How to Prevent Wasp Stings

To minimize your chance of getting stung by a wasp, do your best to keep your distance. Avoid disturbing their nests or hives and resist swatting at wasps when they come near you. If a wasp feels threatened, they are more likely to sting. Here are some other precautions you can take to avoid getting stung:

• Wear long pants and shirts when you are going to be outside, avoid going barefoot, and wear gloves when you are working.

• Wear clean clothing, avoid perfumes and colognes, and shower before going out. (Sweat actually can anger bees.)

• Move inside immediately if you are stung; wasps release a chemical when they sting that signals for others in their hive to attack, so you could be stung by more than one wasp if you stay outside.

• Keep plants and trees near your home trimmed.

• Rinse cans and other containers before disposing of them and keep your food covered when you are eating outside.

• Contact a licensed professional to remove any suspected infestations.

Complications

Wasp stings can usually be treated at home without any complications. However, in some cases people will develop additional skin irritations or infections after being stung. For example, you may develop cellulitis (a bacterial infection) after getting stung by a wasp if you pick or scratch at the area.

You may also experience complications if you were stung multiple times or you are allergic to wasp venom. Research has indicated people who were stung multiple times may be more likely to experience several different complications due to the toxicity of the wasp's venom.

In more extreme cases, people have experienced shock, rhabdomyolysis (muscle break down), hemolysis (red blood cell destruction), liver dysfunction, coagulopathy (impaired blood clotting), and more. In these cases, the people who died from being stung were most commonly stung in the head or neck. Very rarely, death occurs from the toxic effects of getting hundreds of stings.

The researchers also found more people died from non-anaphylactic shock or other complications like organ injury than from anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). This means you do not have to be allergic to wasps to be at risk. On average, around 60 people die from bee stings a year.

A Quick Review

A wasp sting causes an immediate and intense pain that is usually followed by redness and mild swelling. People who are allergic to wasps may experience a more severe reaction including hives and trouble breathing. Allergic reactions require immediate medical attention.

Usually, wasp stings can be treated at home by applying ice and elevating the area. You also can apply a hydrocortisone cream or a baking soda paste to control itching, and take antihistamines and over-the-counter pain relievers.

To prevent getting stung by a wasp, try keeping your skin and food covered when you are outside. Make yourself aware of where wasps are located and steer clear of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do wasps leave stingers in you?

Unlike honeybees who sacrifice their lives to sting someone, wasps usually do not leave their stinger behind. Wasps have the ability to sting multiple times and can even make venom when they run out. If they do lose their stinger, it is best to remove it with a scraping motion.

Why do wasp stings hurt so much?

A wasp's stinger contains an acidic compound called melittin, which activates the nerve endings of your pain receptors. The result is an extremely sharp pain that eventually fades into a dull ache. The skin may be sensitive to the touch for a few days after the sting.

Do wasp stings get worse the next day?

Normal swelling from a wasp sting can increase over a 48-hour time period. The reaction can last up to seven to 10 days. You can expect the redness to start to dissipate after about three days.

How long does a wasp sting last?

While every person's reaction to a wasp will be different, you can expect for the pain and swelling to go away in about seven days. If you had a severe allergic reaction, your recovery may take slightly longer.

When should I worry about a wasp sting?

You should get immediate medical care if you experience extreme swelling or signs of an allergic reaction. These may include one or more of the following: hives, abdominal cramping, difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue or throat, dizziness, and potentially a loss of consciousness.

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