Questions for those who are familiar with bee stings...

[still_me]

First, let me say that I am not asking for a diagnosis.

DS1 was stung last Wednesday on the hand, in the webby part by his thumb. It swelled, but I gave him benadryl and we moved on. Well, Sunday DH brought him out of the bathroom at church and showed me his hand. It is swollen still, has a hard spot where he was stung, and the top of his hand is now splotchy (red).

Has anyone run into this before?

[steelady]

No, I have not. In my experience, bee stings do not hang out or get worse over a period of 4 days. In my ignorance, I would be concerned with some sort of infection and call the ped.

[still_me]

I plan on calling ours. I kept an eye on it for the first two days or so, but then he didn't complain about it at all so I let it go because I didn't want to make him relive it.

I feel like a jerk now.

Thanks for your response steel.

[Sputterduck]

I got stings many times as a child and it never lasted like that. I'd be worried enough to take him to the doctor.

[Amy_G_]

If you didn't get all of the stinger out, it would be a hard spot and perhaps get infected. I imagine that is where you are right now.

[steelady]

No reason to feel like a jerk. I doubt any of us would have done anything different. I cannot think this is an allergic reaction, at least not an initial one.

By any chance, did he seem to scratch/pick at it? That is where my concern would be for my kid, he can't leave anything alone and his hygiene isn't so great. So far, we've been lucky that he seems to have quite the immune system.

[hotlama]

I haven't run into that before. The best thing for bee/wasp/yellow jacket stings is tobacco. Buy some in a little bag or buy a pack of cigarettes. If it happens again take a pinch of tobacco and place it right over the sting. secure it with a band aid or just hold it on for a few minutes. This gets rid of the pain and helps it heal faster.

[still_me]

No reason to feel like a jerk. I doubt any of us would have done anything different. I cannot think this is an allergic reaction, at least not an initial one.

By any chance, did he seem to scratch/pick at it? That is where my concern would be for my kid, he can't leave anything alone and his hygiene isn't so great. So far, we've been lucky that he seems to have quite the immune system.


He hasn't scratched or picked at it. I think that is what baffles my mind the most because he hasn't complained about it at all.

Amy G, I thought the same thing, but I can't see a stinger anywhere. It is deep if it is in there.

[JudyJudyJudy]

It sounds like his hand has swelled around the stinger. :(

[still_me]

It sounds like his hand has swelled around the stinger. :(


I can't even begin to think of how they will get it out! Poor kid.

I am hoping we'll get in tomorrow. We came across some unexpected things today, so I didn't get to make an appointment. I checked him again before bed and he is doing better. I gave him some Ibuprofen and that seemed to really help.

[_MrsC_]

I stepped on a bee about two weeks ago and I think my reaction was similar to your DS's. It hurt like hell (of course) when it first happened, I pulled the stinger out and went on my way. It didn't really bother me much. I put ice on it for a little bit and went to bed. The next day my foot was a little swollen and itchy. Again, I basically just ignored it. The next day it was worse. I finally decided to go see the dr. She said it seemed that I had a small reaction to the sting and the reason it probably hadn't been worse was because I had been taking Allergy medicine for a while (for my seasonal allergies) and the medicine helped with the reaction.

She prescribed some steroid and an antibiotic. It felt much better the next day.

Also, my mother told me that she had a similar experience a few years back and that two weeks after that experience she had been stung again. That time she had a full reaction. Needless to say, I'll keep my shows on from now on.

[still_me]

UPDATE


We went to the doctor and he said that it isn't a common reaction, but that DS1 should be fine. He also said that if/when DS1 gets stung again to make sure we have benadryl and watch his breathing. He checked all of this vitals and had a talk with DS1 about what happened, what the bee looked like, and how he felt. I am so grateful for our doctor.

[MiMi_of_4]

Whew!!!

[JudyJudyJudy]

I'm glad you took him to the doctor. Does the doctor not think you need to have an Epi-pen for her?

[WalkingTittyBar]

Oh man. Poor little guy. Matthew got stung four times by wasps last year, all at the same time. It was very tramatic for us all.

I would take your little guy to the doctor just incase it is infected. I hope it gets better soon.

[WalkingTittyBar]

Well, hell. Another case of me not reading the whole thread before posting. lol Glad he is okay.

[still_me]

I'm glad you took him to the doctor. Does the doctor not think you need to have an Epi-pen for her?


Dr. C said that to watch him closely next time and see if he has a stronger reaction. IF he does, then we'll need an Epi-pen. I should of just asked for a prescription right then and there. He also said that bee stings on or by someone's hand/face can react a lot differently than on other areas of the body.

TBH, I am not surprised that it swelled up so much because a simple mosquito bite will give him a golf ball sized lump.


WTB~ lol. Thanks for your concern anyways!