Causes of Bee stings:

• When a bee stings, its sharp, barbed stinger remains lodged in the skin. This stinger can release venom for up to a minute after the bee has stung.
• Bee venom contains proteins that affect the skin cells and immune system, resulting in pain and swelling at the site of the sting, even if a person is not allergic to the venom.
• In those who are allergic to bee stings, the venom triggers a more severe immune system reaction. 

Symptoms of Bee stings:

The symptoms of a bee sting allergy vary depending on how allergic the person is. A person can have a mild, moderate, or severe reaction shortly after being stung by a bee:

• Mild reaction

The majority of bee sting symptoms are very mild and do not require medical attention. They are limited to the site of the sting itself, and include:

• a sharp, burning pain
• an area of raised, red skin
• slight swelling
• Moderate allergic reaction

In a person with a moderate bee sting allergy, the body has a stronger response to bee venom, called a large local reaction (LLR). In such cases, the symptoms can take over a week to heal completely.

Symptoms include:

• severe redness around the sting
• swelling around the sting, which may gradually increase in size to a diameter of 10 cm or more over a period of 24–48 hours

If a person experiences a LLR, there is a 5 to 10 percent risk that they will develop a systemic reaction to a sting in the future.

• Severe allergic reaction

In certain individuals, a bee sting can cause anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction requiring emergency medical treatment. The following symptoms of anaphylaxis develop rapidly:

• itchy, red hives on the skin
• pale or flushed skin
• a swollen throat or tongue
• difficulty breathing
• abdominal pain
• nausea and vomiting
• dizziness
• a weak, rapid pulse
• loss of consciousness.

Treatments for Bee stings:

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The treatment for bee sting allergy will depend upon the severity of the allergic reaction.

Treating a mild to moderate reaction

After a bee sting, remove the stinger as soon as possible using a pair of tweezers, taking care to avoid squeezing the venom sack. Removing the stinger will limit the amount of venom released into the bloodstream.

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