"You can die from a sting to the face or neck": how to save someone who has been stung by a wasp?

      The doctor explained how to avoid a wasp sting and what to do if you are stung

      "At the first sting — redness, at the next — anaphylactic shock"

      Hymenopterans (the order that includes bees and wasps) are an indispensable element of the ecosystem, but their sting can cause a lot of trouble for a person. A wasp sting, like any irritant, triggers the body's reactive responses. These can be divided into two groups.

      1. Local reactions.

      They are in turn divided into large and ordinary.

      Ordinary — less than 10–15 centimeters in diameter. The sting site usually becomes red and swollen. According to allergists, this is a normal natural reaction.

      Large — exceed 10–15 centimeters in diameter. The swelling appears firmer, and the sting site is painful and itchy.

      2. Systemic reactions.

      Generalized urticaria is a condition in which itchy wheals appear; they can cover up to 50% of the body surface.

      "The most dangerous reaction is anaphylaxis. In addition to rashes, a person experiences dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loses consciousness. In extreme cases, anaphylactic shock and death can occur," explained Victoria Delyan, head of the City Center for Allergology and Immunology of City Clinical Hospital No. 7 named after M.N. Sadykov in Kazan, and associate professor of the Department of Allergology and Immunology at KGMA.

      According to the doctor, allergy to hymenopteran venom is not congenital. It can develop if a person has been stung frequently — for example, 3–4 times every summer. Microdoses of the allergen that come with stings can one day trigger an excessive immune response.

      "If a person develops an allergy to hymenopterans, it can run in waves. That is, with one sting — a local reaction, and with the next — life-threatening anaphylactic shock. We cannot predict the reaction, because there are no reliable laboratory criteria today," explained Victoria Delyan.

      What to do to avoid being stung, and what to do if you are stung?

      "We must understand that prevention is much easier than treatment. If a person knows they have had severe reactions to stings before, they should avoid contact with insects as much as possible," emphasized the allergist.

      The doctor gave advice on how to avoid an unpleasant or even dangerous encounter with stinging insects.

      1. Do not use sweet floral perfumes during the period when wasps and bees are active, so as not to attract them.

      2. Avoid places where hymenopterans are abundant. As a rule, in late July–August wasps become active at markets selling sweet fruit.

      3. If you go out into nature, take special repellents capable of deterring bees and wasps.

      4. If you decide to remove a wasp nest, it is better to treat it first with a repellent. Then, when the insects have left their dwelling, remove the nest.

      And if you are stung — what to do?

      1. You can carefully remove the sting.

      2. Treat the sting site with a disinfectant solution or an antihistamine ointment.

      3. Apply ice.

      In the worst case, the body will react to the sting with anaphylactic shock. It manifests as a sharp drop in blood pressure in the vessels and hypoxia — a lack of oxygen in vital organs. Without timely medical assistance, a person can die.

      "If insects sting the face or neck area, a large swelling of the deep tissues can develop. Compression of the airways and insufficient breathing may occur. If you witness an anaphylactic shock, the victim should be laid down, given antihistamine medications if available, their head turned to the side, and emergency medical services should be called immediately," emphasized Victoria Delyan.

      "Fewer people are seeking help for stings"

      "Doctors never refuse anyone, but not everyone who is stung by bees needs to seek medical help. Alarm should be raised by those who develop a large local or systemic reaction," explained the head of the Center for Allergology and Immunology.

      At Kazan's Seventh City Hospital they provide all necessary assistance to people with severe systemic reactions. Patients with anaphylactic shock are hospitalized and observed, since changes in the functioning of vital organs can be seen for several days or even weeks.

      On average, 45–60 people per year are hospitalized at "the seven" with anaphylactic shock. A third to a half of these cases are related to bee and wasp stings.

      "We cannot completely protect ourselves from stings. Patients with pollen allergies, for example, we urge to receive treatment in advance, before the flowering period. Allergen-specific venom immunotherapy for hymenopterans has been developed worldwide and drugs exist, but in Russia they are not registered. This year we note: the number of calls regarding bee and wasp stings has decreased. Perhaps people have become more cautious," summed up Victoria Delyan.

      Photo: © Mikhail Zakharov / Tatar-inform

      More news about the event:

      "From a sting to the face or neck you can die": how to save a person stung by a wasp?

      The doctor explained how to avoid a wasp sting and what to do if you are stung

      "At the first sting — redness, at the next — anaphylactic shock"

      Hymenopterans, 13:36 11.09.2025 IA Tatar-inform - Kazan

      Tatarstan residents were told how to save a person stung by a wasp

      Tatarstan is experiencing warm days, and despite the joy of the sun, the population is facing increased activity of wasps and bees. 13:26 11.09.2025 GTRK Tatarstan - Kazan

      Regional news on the topic:

      Doctor Delyan told Nizhny Novgorod residents how to save a person stung by a wasp

      A wasp sting triggers the body's reactive response, said "Tatar-inform" the head of allergology of City Hospital No. 7 named after M.N. 14:50 11.09.2025 Vremya N - Nizhny Novgorod

      Allergy sufferers: knowing three rules will help avoid becoming a victim of anaphylactic shock

      The Ministry of Health of the Moscow Region has developed a memo on actions in case of anaphylactic shock Photo: MediaBank of the Moscow Region / Maksim Safonov Author: 16:03 09.09.2025 Regions.Ru - Losino-Petrovsky