Have you noticed there are more bees out lately? It’s not your imagination and they seem more aggressive these days. Why? Because we’re approaching angry bee season!

Late summer into early fall is the height of the "angry bee" season. As bees and wasps near the end of their life cycle, they become increasingly aggressive and ready to sting.  Everyone reacts differently to bee stings and it is important to differentiate between a "normal", non allergic reaction and an allergic reaction when it happens.

AFC Urgent Care West Springfield is here to help guide you through angry bee season with tips on preventing bee stings, and what to do if your child gets stung by a bee. Here’s what you should know.

How do I know if my child is allergic to bee stings?

Allergies are often hereditary, so an allergic parent should be more cautious with her child, although children will often outgrow their allergy. If your child is stung by a bee and a severe reaction occurs, an allergist should be seen as soon as possible. Future stings could result in reactions that are up to 60 percent worse than the first allergic reaction. Also, often a child can get stung 2 or 3 times before having an allergic reaction, so it's important to be vigilant if there is family history of bee allergies.

If you suspect your child is allergic you may want to have them tested, but not unless they have had a serious reaction because it is often a lengthy process and so few people are actually allergic. Also, with both types of allergy tests used, the results are the RAST test (a blood test) is the simplest but  has about a 20 percent false-negative, false-positive result ratio.

The other, more sensitive, test is a scratch test on the skin that is performed with purified, freeze-dried venom. It can alert the patient and doctor to the severity of the allergy, while a blood test will only point to the fact that an allergy exists. Luckily, only about 20 percent of patients with positive skin test results will later experience severe allergic reactions.

• One should wait until a systemic reaction has occurred before worrying about allergies.
• The first allergic reaction is rarely that bad, but once again, see an allergist if a reaction spreads beyond the sting site.

What are the symptoms if you are allergic to bee stings

If your child reacts with the following symptoms they are most likely suffering an allergic reaction to bees. A severe allergic reaction can cause the following, oft called anaphylactic  reactions:

• difficulty breathing
• racing heart
• face or mouth swelling
• feeling faint
• throat starts to close up
• severe hives and or itching
• high fever
• headache

How to treat a non-allergic reaction when stung by a bee or wasp

For normal, non-allergic reactions you want to remove the stinger immediately. Avoid using tweezers to squeeze them out. This can increase the risk of spreading more venom. If you can try to use your fingernail to scrape out the stinger or use a gauze to wipe the stinger out.

After that initial step, apply a cold compress or ice to reduce swelling. You can apply a dab of Neosporin to prevent possible infection and also apply calamine lotion to prevent itching. For pain you can take an aspirin or acetaminophen.

It would be nice to just avoid a bee sting altogether. Although not always preventable there are a few things you can do to help prevent being stung by a bee or wasp.

How to avoid getting stung by a bee

• Avoid brightly colored and flower print clothing to help keep bees away.
• Avoid fragrances or cosmetics with floral scents.
• Always be careful with food and sweet drinks such as soda. Bees will often fly into the can and sting the drinker when he or she takes a sip.
• If you are going into a field where there will likely be bees, wear long pants and shoes that cover your whole foot.
• Keep garbage in sealed receptacles. When out at a public park or playground, steer clear of open or full garbage bins
• If there are bees around or on you, don't run and don't swat at them. Standing still will keep the bees calm and, most likely, they will fly away without causing harm.
• Call a pest professional if you notice a hive or nest on your property.

My child got stung and is ALLERGIC to bee stings

Here's what to do if you already know that your child will develop a severe allergic reaction when stung by a bee or wasp:

• Your child, or you, should always carry a bee sting kit that includes a bronchodilator epinephrine shot (Epipen) or inhaler, which will dilate the airways and allow your child to breathe.
• Call 911 or bring them into our center as soon as possible. They will need to be treated immediately.

AFC Urgent Care West Springfield can see you for bee stings

As angry bee season gets more intense, expect to see more bees! We’ll be here in case you do get stung by a bee. You can check in and we’ll check out your bee sting at AFC Urgent Care West Springfield. We are affordable, convenient, and we provide quality care to all of our friends and families in the West Springfield community.

There is no appointment needed. We are open 7 days a week with extended hours on the weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm and weekend hours from 8 am to 5pm. We also accept most insurances.