What happens if a bumblebee bites a person. Bumblebee bite - what to do at home. Why is a bumblebee bite dangerous?

A bumblebee sting is not dangerous for most healthy people, except that it is very painful. Rarely, in about 1% of cases, a severe allergic reaction is possible. This happens more often with repeated bites.

The area of the body in the place stung by a bumblebee swells and turns red - this is a local reaction (non-allergic), which appears immediately or within a few hours after the insect bite and disappears in 1-5 days. In cases where the swelling spreads to a larger area of skin, this is also a local reaction, although it lasts longer. After the first bite of a bumblebee (or similar stinging insects), most often there is no allergic reaction due to the absence of antibodies to bumblebee venom in the body.

An allergic reaction occurs within half an hour after the bite, sometimes different types depending on intensity:

Swelling, redness, itching spread throughout the body;
- diarrhea and other digestive problems are added to the first point;
- the first two points, and also the person begins to choke;
- all of the listed symptoms are aggravated by increased heart rate, loss of consciousness, convulsions, fever, chills, pain in the joints and lower back are possible - this is anaphylaxis.

If a person is exposed to bumblebee stings many times over a short period of time, a toxic reaction may occur. This is fraught with problems of nervous and cardiovascular systems, disturbances in heart rhythm and breathing. Sometimes with multiple bites a person can die.

Women and people taking medications such as beta blockers should be especially careful.

Helping a bite victim

In cases of a non-allergic reaction, it is enough to wash the bite area running water or apply a tampon soaked in hydrogen peroxide, take antihistamines (diphenhydramine, etc.). It is also recommended to apply ice to the bite site, especially if it is a sensitive area (near the eye, for example), and drink more fluids.

It is necessary to observe the victim. If the reaction to a bite is aggravated by other symptoms (swelling spreads to the entire body), you should urgently call an ambulance or take the bitten person to a doctor. In especially severe cases of cardiac and respiratory arrest, it is necessary to give the patient artificial respiration and cardiac massage before the ambulance arrives.

Precautionary measures

Do not provoke the bumblebee if it is nearby, do not wave your arms, do not grab the insect, be calm. Bumblebees also do not like the strong odors of alcohol, perfumes, sweat, or the smell of metal oxidation. All this causes them to become aggressive. They are attracted to the color blue in clothing.

Some people mistakenly believe that bumblebees are not capable of stinging like bees. However, this is not the case, although they bite exclusively for the purpose of self-defense and only females who have a sting. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to treat a bumblebee bite and what its consequences are for humans.

Types of bumblebees and their bites

On a note!
Typically, bumblebee colonies consist of 100-200 insects, but they are difficult to detect, because they camouflage and protect their nests well.

Does a bumblebee have a sting?

The sting of bumblebees is present only on the body of working individuals (females) or on the uterus; it is smooth and has no serrations. Therefore, after a bite, the insect does not leave a sting in the body of the victim, as happens with bees.

Inside, the bumblebee sting (photo below) has an empty channel, like a needle in a syringe. At the moment the bumblebee bites, a microscopic portion of poison passes through this cavity. It consists of various components: fats and proteins, peptides, amino acids, aliphatic compounds.

Interesting!
Many people are interested in how many stingers this insect has and whether the bumblebee dies after being bitten. The peculiarity of the structure of the only sting is such that it does not cling to the skin of the victim, therefore there is no harm to the insect’s body negative consequences can not be.

Why is a bumblebee dangerous?

For most people who are bitten there are no consequences. However, those who are predisposed to allergies may experience an acute toxic reaction to the poison, since one of its components is serotonin.

With a second bite, the likelihood of an allergic reaction is much greater than with the first one, because the body of a person who has already been bitten once produces toxins to bumblebee venom.

A bumblebee sting is also dangerous for pregnant or lactating women and babies whose immune systems are not yet able to cope with the effects of toxins. Complications are possible if a bumblebee stings in the face (eyes, nose) or head: neck or ear. The ingestion of poison can cause swelling of the mucous membranes and disrupt their normal functioning.

A bite in the leg or arm, if the sting does not enter a blood vessel, usually does not have negative consequences, and swelling is possible only if the victim’s body is individually intolerant.

The most common areas that a bumblebee often stings or bites are:

bite on the finger or hand when swatting away insects;
foot bites occur when a person accidentally steps on a nest.

Does a bumblebee sting people and why?

Bumblebees bite only for the purpose of self-defense, attacking someone who poses a threat to him or is trying to destroy the hive or the reserves of his family.

The following can also provoke an insect attack:

pungent odor of cosmetics or perfumes, alcohol or fumes, oxidizing metal;
blue color in clothing or sudden movements of a person.

The maximum danger is posed by multiple bumblebee bites, due to the large volume of toxins entering the blood, which can cause a severe toxic reaction, accompanied by disruption of the cardiovascular and nervous system person. There is also a possibility of death if anaphylactic shock occurs and the victim stops breathing.

Symptoms and appearance of the bite

The local reaction to the bite does not depend on whether the sting is left. Many people don't know exactly what a bumblebee sting looks like or whether it hurts. The answers to these questions will be a description of the symptoms and consequences of bites.

Typically, non-allergic consequences of a bite are as follows:

pain and discomfort in the bite area;
constant itching and burning;
tissue swelling and a lump-like lump, as seen in the photo of a bumblebee bite.

The listed symptoms appear almost immediately. It is difficult to say exactly how long it takes before they decrease. They can remain for several days, and the next day the local reaction is likely to spread to adjacent areas of the skin. With strong scratching, the situation worsens.

Allergic manifestations may also not appear immediately due to the lack of antibodies to bumblebee venom in the victim’s body, but occasionally a strong immediate reaction is possible in case of individual intolerance.

Negative allergic symptoms:

swelling and redness not only of the bite area, but of the entire body;
severe itching, skin rash, blistering;
toxic reaction: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea;
breathing problems, suffocation;
increased body temperature and severe chills;
increased heart rate.

Very rare, but there is a possibility of anaphylactic shock, which is accompanied by dizziness, suffocation, convulsions and fainting. In such a situation, you need to call an ambulance medical care.

With multiple bumblebee bites, toxic manifestations of the body are possible:

weakness and dizziness;
nausea;
heart rhythm disturbances.

First aid for a bite

The most important question that interests many people is: how to treat bumblebee bites. Actions usually depend on the severity of the consequences of the bite:

If a sting is visible in the bitten area, it should be pulled out with tweezers, previously disinfected.
Then this area must be anointed or treated with an antiseptic by applying a swab with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or a solution of potassium permanganate; there is no need to make efforts to squeeze out the poison so as not to introduce infection into the wound.
Applying a cold compress will help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
Drink an antihistamine to relieve a possible allergic reaction, even if there is no predisposition to it: Suprastin, Erius, Zodak, etc.
In the following hours, it is necessary to increase fluid intake (water and tea with sugar), which will reduce the likelihood of a toxic reaction.
If the patient's condition worsens, it is better to call a doctor.

When stung by a bumblebee, it is prohibited:

try to slam or crush the insect, because toxic substances released will attract the rest of the colony;
comb the bitten area;
take sleeping pills or alcohol.

On a note!
To prevent the poison from spreading to adjacent areas of the skin, it is necessary to avoid scratching and rubbing in the area of bumblebee bites. It is also not recommended to consume alcoholic drinks and taking hot baths, as this can cause vasodilation and a wider distribution of toxic toxins in the victim’s body.

Treatment and pain relief for bites

At home, treatment should be carried out with herbal or medicinal remedies to relieve discomfort and pain:

antiseptics: iodine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Mirasmistin;
gels that help relieve inflammation, itching and burning: Fenistil, Advantan;
homeopathic medicines are taken to prevent an acute reaction of the body to bumblebee venom: Apis Mellifica, Urtica Urens.

Help with a bite in the face or eye area: rinse the mucous membrane of the eye with strong tea (better to cool), you can apply a tea bag, which will help relieve swelling and soothe.

To treat the consequences of a bumblebee bite, folk remedies are also used:

compresses made from fresh plantain, parsley, dandelion leaves;
solution treatment baking soda, which in a mushy state is applied to the bitten area;
raw potatoes, a slice of cucumber, apple or tomato;
freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with vodka;
chopped onions;
frozen milk cubes;
chilled olive oil to lubricate the skin;
mixture 1 tsp. honey and 1 head of garlic;
aloe leaf, from which you need to remove the skin and apply the pulp to the painful area;
pulp of crushed tablets activated carbon or validol with water.

Herbal infusions and decoctions that help remove bite marks and reduce negative sensations:

a mixture of dried chamomile and calendula flowers: a decoction is made that can be used to wipe the bitten area and drink as a sedative;
basil: 3 tsp. pour a glass of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes, then cool and take 1 tbsp orally. l 3 r. per day and for lotions;
calendula infusion: 1 tbsp. l of herb per 200 g of alcohol (70%), leave for 3 days, then dilute 1 tsp per 50 g of water, and soak the fabric with the resulting solution and make lotions.

When a doctor's help is needed

It is necessary to seek medical help in situations where:

multiple insect bites;
a bumblebee has bitten a child, a pregnant woman or a person prone to acute allergies;
the bite site is on the face, near the eyes or mouth;
there are symptoms of acute toxicity of the body;
the wound at the site of the bite became infected and suppurated.

How to prevent bumblebee bites

If bumblebees appear in the house, they should be removed. To prevent them from biting, you must adhere to the following precautions:

Do not try to catch or touch the insect, do not wave your arms near it.
Try to avoid places where bees and bumblebees gather (fruit at the market, etc.).
Place mosquito nets on the windows in the house.
Do not eat sweet foods on the street.
During a country trip or picnic, do not wear bright clothes and do not use perfumes with strong aromas.

If trouble does occur and the bite cannot be avoided, then the recommendations given will tell you what to do if you are bitten by a bumblebee: how to treat it and when to see a doctor.

The widespread belief that bumblebees cannot sting is a misconception: working individuals (females) have a small sting at the end of their body, which serves as a means of defense. Honey-bearing insects are very peaceful, and use their stinging apparatus only when safe, so a bumblebee bite is a fairly rare occurrence.

During a bite, insects inject poison into the human skin, which brings discomfort and pain.

Bite symptoms

Bumblebees sting a little stronger than bees and wasps, but weaker than hornets. The body's reaction to an insect attack is instant pain, accompanied by swelling, lump formation, irritation and redness. Symptoms usually disappear within 1-7 days. If the victim is bitten in the eye socket, eyelid, or oral mucosa, swelling may last up to one week.

In isolated cases, the wound can cause allergies. It usually appears during a secondary sting, when the victim’s body already has antibodies to the hymenoptera venom. The first signs of allergy appear after ½ hour. It has the following symptoms:

itching, redness, swelling of the whole body;
dizziness, gag reflex, diarrhea;
lack of air, suffocating symptoms;
rapid pulse;
chills, heat, joint pain;
convulsions, loss of consciousness (in severe cases).

Attention! Anaphylactic shock and loss of consciousness require immediate hospitalization!

The reaction to a sting depends on the person’s immunity and the characteristics of the body. The most unsafe are multiple bites or several bites occurring over a short period of time. They develop toxic poisoning, which subsequently negatively affects the cardiovascular system. Signs of toxicity: headache, lethargy, elevated temperature, nausea.

The greatest danger from insect bites is for children, pregnant women, and allergy sufferers.

Allergy to insect bites

How to get rid of the consequences of a sting

The main thing to do if you are bitten by a bumblebee is to minimize the consequences. To do this, follow the recommendations:

If the sting remains in the skin, carefully remove it with sterile instruments (tweezers, forceps). Do not squeeze!
Wipe the damaged area with an antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate solution, vinegar or alcohol diluted with water).
Apply something cold, especially if the bumblebee bite was on a sensitive part (cold will help relieve swelling and prevent the spread of the poison)
You can draw out the toxic substance using sugar or refined sugar soaked in water.
After a bite, drink more fluids (especially warm, strong, sweet tea).
For people with allergies, take an antihistamine.

Note! If the available means do not help, and the victim’s condition only worsens, you should immediately go to the hospital!

Folk remedies for bumblebee bites

Helps heal a wound quickly ethnoscience. Effective recipes:

Localization of the bite and its treatment

The most common places for bites are the hand (when a person brushes it off) and the leg (if a person accidentally steps on an insect nest). If the victim does not have allergies, the effects of the sting will go away quickly. They can be cured with folk remedies.

The most dangerous places bites: head and neck area (a bite can cause swelling of the airways), lips and tongue (severe pain and swelling), face and eyes. In these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor.

If a bumblebee bite occurs on the face and eyes, first aid can be provided before doctors arrive:

Rinse the eye with strong cool tea or apply a tea bag. This will relieve swelling and have a calming effect;
apply a potato compress: chop 1 fresh potato on a fine grater and apply it to the eyelid using a cotton pad;
make a lotion from a decoction of oak bark and herbs: 1 tsp. oak bark, St. John's wort and mint pour 200 ml boiled water. Wipe the affected area of the face with the composition;
prepare a solution for swelling: 1 tbsp. l. table salt pour 1 glass of cool purified water. Soak a cotton pad in the solution and apply to the bite site;
drink an anti-inflammatory drink: grind 50 gr. parsley root, pour 500 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for 20 minutes, take orally.

What is forbidden to do if stung?

In order not to aggravate the consequences of the bite, it is strictly prohibited:

drink alcohol (increase swelling);
slam, try to crush the offender (the substance secreted by the bumblebee will attract other individuals);
Scratch, rub the damaged area (the poison will spread faster);
touch with dirty hands and equipment (you can get an infection that will lead to blood poisoning);
take sleeping pills (will enhance the effect of the poison).

Important! Under no circumstances should you try to open the wound and draw out the poison! This can lead to infection.

A person can quickly get rid of symptoms in a short time at home. The exception is cases multiple bites, severe allergic reaction, symptoms of infection (chills, dizziness, pus from the wound), if an elderly person, child or pregnant woman was bitten. Here you need to consult a doctor.

Why is a bumblebee bite dangerous?

Bumblebees have special glands that produce and store poison. Nearby muscles pump venom into the sting if necessary.

Bumblebee venom contains various microelements: proteins, fats, amino acids, peptides, aliphatic compounds. These substances cause severe pain, redness and itching.

How to avoid being bitten?

The bumblebee stings only when provoked. While collecting nectar, a bumblebee will not sting even a nearby person. To protect yourself from attacks by stinging insects, it is recommended to know the following points:

The bumblebee will not start an attack for no apparent reason, so you should not touch it, make sudden movements, or wave your arms.
Entering an apiary or beekeeping area without special clothing is a stupid idea.
There is no need to have picnics in a place where there is a special concentration of wasps, bees, and bumblebees.
Secure your home from uninvited guests possible with the help of mosquito nets.
Be more careful when walking in a park or meadow, be careful with sweets in places where there are large concentrations of bumblebees.
Tight clothing reduces the likelihood of being bitten.
Blue color irritates insects.
Bumblebees don't like strong odors(oils, perfumes, alcohol, sweat).
Do not touch bumblebee nests.
Insects hate the smell of oxidized metal (this aroma occurs when the skin rubs against metal accessories: rings, bracelets, straps, etc.)

Where to meet and how to recognize?

Questions like “Do bumblebees bite?” and “what does a bumblebee look like?” usually characteristic of urban residents who have rarely encountered this type of insect.

First hallmark bumblebee - long hairs. The bumblebee is large, fluffy, stocky, with thick legs. Color: alternating black and white wide stripes. At the end of the body there is white fluff and an almost invisible sting. Distinctive feature males - mustache and bass buzzing.

Bumblebees fly slowly and heavily. The flight is accompanied by a low hum. Despite their gregarious lifestyle, bumblebees fly alone in search of food, usually in the early morning.

Bumblebees build nests in burrows of small animals, bird nests, and hollows. Large gathering places: gardens, meadows, parks - anywhere where you can enjoy nectar, especially during the flowering period.

The bumblebee is a useful and safe insect if not provoked!

What to do if stung by an insect

If you or a person next to you is bitten by a bumblebee, what should you do in this situation? It is necessary to proceed according to the following scheme:

Features of the bite

The bumblebee belongs to the genus Hymenoptera insects. There are three types of these insects: drones, queens and workers. But only workers and queens can bite. Despite its rather large size, the bumblebee is more peaceful than, for example, bees or wasps. They only use their sting when defending themselves.

A person receives a certain amount of injected poison, which causes pain, itching and redness. Such poison is a combination of proteins, so after a person is bitten by this insect, an allergic reaction may develop.

Body reaction

The sequence of what to do if a bumblebee bites your finger (for example) was described above. But why do all people react differently to such bites? Some notice with horror that the hand is swollen, while others observe slight redness. A person’s condition after contact with this striped creature depends on the characteristics of the organism. In most cases, such situations do not pose any danger. Severe allergies may occur in only a minority of cases (one percent) and usually develop with repeated exposure to the insect's sting.

Normal local manifestation A non-allergic reaction is accompanied by short-term pain and burning, then redness, swelling and itching of the skin in the area surrounding the damaged area. These signs usually disappear after three days. But when an insect bites the eye or the area surrounding it, the swelling can last for more than a week.

Situations requiring immediate hospitalization

In most cases, situations where a bumblebee bites are not dangerous. However, if the following symptoms occur, in addition to general medical first aid measures at home, you must immediately call an ambulance:

nausea, vomiting and stomach upset;
choking and difficulty breathing;
temperature increase;
strong increase in heart rate;
hives;
chills and joint pain;
convulsions;
the sting pierced the eye, head or throat.
loss of consciousness;
severe headaches;
with multiple contacts with insects (especially in a child and an elderly person);
if there is pregnancy;
if a bumblebee bites a person taking beta blockers;
if the victim has allergies.

If it so happens that you or someone you know has been bitten by a bumblebee, you should clearly know what to do. In the absence of signs of a severe allergic reaction, it is enough to simply carry out first aid after insect bites, which was described above. But if complications are obvious, the victim should be hospitalized immediately.

The bumblebee belongs to insects from the order Hymenoptera. They chose wildlife countries located in the northern hemisphere of our planet. This industrious insect pollinates various plants, giving them a chance to exist. Today, scientists count a huge number of subspecies of insects that differ in their external parameters.

According to its life characteristics, a bumblebee close to honey bees. Bumblebees, social insects, do all the work together. They spend a lot of time getting food and water, protecting their lair, stinging them with poison from enemies. Moreover, only female Hymenoptera have a sting. Due to the fact that insect weapons have a smooth and smooth surface, then, unlike bees, they do not forget it in the body of the victim.

The commonly used expression “bite” is actually not entirely true, since the bumblebee does not bite, but causes damage with the help of a sting located at the tip of the abdomen. Insect defense weapon has a hollow design, inside resembling the needle of a medical syringe, thanks to which the poison penetrates the victim’s body.

Feeling of acute pain, itching skin, swelling after a bumblebee bite is caused by the penetration of a poison consisting of a protein mixture under the skin. Such a toxic solution very often causes severe allergies in humans. Although the likelihood of an allergic reaction in people is minimal and amounts to only 1% of all those bitten annually.

Manifestation of local reaction the body to a bumblebee bite is expressed in the form of severe pain, burning, as well as redness, swelling as in the photo and severe itching directly around the bite. In most cases, unpleasant symptoms go away on their own within a few days and do not require medical intervention or specific drug treatment.

In the case of an allergic reaction to a bumblebee sting, it develops quickly within half an hour, and its symptoms differ depending on the individual characteristics of the victim’s body and the amount of poison released by the insect.

Itching, swelling and redness throughout the body are the first signs of an allergy to a bumblebee sting.
Vomiting and dizziness may occur.
Manifestations of suffocation are also common when a person does not have enough air.
The pulse quickens, chills appear, the temperature rises, and the joints begin to ache.
In especially severe cases, loss of consciousness accompanied by convulsions is possible. The end result of such symptoms may be anaphylactic shock and, as a consequence, mandatory hospitalization of the victim.

Of particular danger are multiple bumblebee stings. Also at increased risk are women in a piquant position and those with allergies.

What to do if bitten by a bumblebee?

In the case of a local reaction that is not accompanied by allergic manifestations, medical treatment is not prescribed. But in such a situation, it is desirable to reduce the consequences of a bumblebee bite to a minimum, for which perform simple manipulations.

In case of poison damage to sensitive areas: neck, mouth or other parts of the face, you should urgently call a doctor, as delay will lead to serious complications associated with difficulty breathing.

Treating a bumblebee bite at home

Despite the fact that a bumblebee bite is quite painful, its consequences can be dealt with on your own. At the same time, there is several popular folk recipes treating bumblebee bites at home.

If a person is bitten by a bumblebee, then under no circumstances do not drink alcoholic beverages, as they cause increased swelling. Very often, a person provokes an insect, which uses its sting for protection, biting the aggressor. The bumblebee reacts aggressively to the pungent aromas of alcohol, meat, fried meat, at the stake, and even natural human odor. People should understand that the insect will never attack first, so it is better not to provoke it.

Measures to prevent bumblebee bites

The bumblebee cannot be classified as an aggressive insect, such as a wasp or even a honey bee. Cases of bumblebee bites are very rare . While collecting nectar, the insect does not react to the presence of a person. They will not pay any attention if people accidentally touch a flower on which a bumblebee is sitting. An insect attack is possible only for the purpose of self-defense or protection of the nest. Therefore, in order not to provoke a bumblebee attack, you need follow simple recommendations:

deliberately not touching the insect;
without proper ammunition, do not enter an apiary or other places where there is a lot of nectar or honey;
stop eating and preparing food on the street;
during the season when bumblebees are especially active, install mosquito nets on doors and windows;
do not wave your arms or make sudden movements if a bumblebee flies nearby;
be careful when summer walks in parks, gardens and summer cottages;
do not wear bright clothes when traveling outdoors;
when working in the garden or vegetable garden, wear closed clothing;
when vacationing on fresh air The person must not smell strongly of alcohol or sweat;
do not spray perfumes with strong aromas, do not use lotion or other cosmetic products with a strong smell when traveling out of town.

Also shemales the smell of oxidizing metal is annoying, which occurs when the skin comes into contact, for example, with a ring, bracelet, metal watch strap and other jewelry.

What is contraindicated to do if you are bitten by a bumblebee?

Under no circumstances Do not slam or crush an insect, which has bitten a person, since the substances secreted by the bumblebee will prompt active actions of their relatives. The bite site should not be scratched or rubbed, as any of these actions will contribute to the rapid spread of the poison. Plus, dirty hands can serve as a source of infection through an open wound from a bumblebee bite.

Once again, I would like to note that in the case of a bumblebee bite, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly contraindicated. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, stimulating blood circulation, thereby promoting the spread of poison in the body. Do not use improvised means to cool the bite site, such as water from a river or a leaf torn from a tree, as this can lead to blood poisoning. Under no circumstances should you take a sleeping pill or sedative, which will enhance the effect of the poisonous components that penetrate the skin through the sting.

Bumblebee bite, what to do