Insect Stings

Warm weather months often include run-ins with bees, wasps, mosquitos, fleas, spiders, etc.

As you’d expect, most people who have been stung know it. The most common symptoms are limited areas of pain and swelling, with redness and itching. Beyond that, the symptoms of bee and wasp stings vary, depending on where you’re stung and how sensitive you are to the sting.

Take aspirin or acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium for the pain, and/or an antihistamine for the itching and swelling (provided you don’t have to avoid these medicines for medical reasons). [Note: Do not give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to anyone 19 years of age or younger, unless directed by a physician, due to its association with Reye’s Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.]