I’m usually a pretty cautious guy, trying to be on the lookout where danger may lurk. Two recent instances of lapses in observation ended up biting me. Literally.
Well, more like stinging me.
Within a two-week period, I was the recipient of five wasp stings. Fortunately, I am not severely allergic to their stings, but I still do suffer adverse reactions.
My first attack this summer could have been prevented, as the nesting trio were stationed in the corner of a frame of the walk-in door to a storage shed. After two got me, one on my top lip and one on my shoulder, I promptly fled to the house to apply some outdated hydrocortisone.
I then returned to the scene of the crime with my weapon of choice — Raid Wasp & Hornet Defense System — to take care of the little bast … er buggers.
In hindsight, I should have checked the door frame for the paper nest before entering, but I paid for my carelessness. Fortunately, the upper lip sting just hurt like a dickens, but it didn’t swell up as if I had a Botox injection.
I wasn’t so lucky a few weeks later when attempting to hook up a trailer. I was futzing with the receiving hitch, not thinking that I needed to check the underside of the ball receiver. Well, a nest full didn’t take kindly to their domain being invaded. Both hands took the brunt of this attack, and these hurt, as indicated by my “scream-like-a-schoolgirl” reaction.
Like before, I ran to the house to apply the outdated hydrocortisone and returned with the Raid to break up their little hide-and-seek-in-the-trailer-hitch party.
Now, before our pro-wasp crowd gets all over me for taking out potential pollinators or valued parasitic creatures, as in the words of John Rambo, “They drew first blood.”
This time the reaction to the stings was a little more noticeable — OK, a lot more noticeable. Fortunately, this stinging occurred on a Sunday, because typing with left-hand digits that had the dexterity of a horse’s hoof would have made it quite difficult to type coherent verbiage. (Now, don’t jump on the bandwagon and say that might have improved my writing!)
I followed up the hydrocortisone with a dose of antihistamine, and the swelling went down. Within a few days, it was back to normal.
Not that I ever liked swarming wasps, but I was never truly afraid of them. Of course, I didn’t know that I was somewhat allergic to their stings. Since my first sting, probably about 20 years ago, I have shown greater respect for the little narrow-waisted spreaders of venom.
Reactions to stings vary from slightly annoying to swelling to a severe reaction of anaphylaxis that requires emergency medical attention.
Treat a sting
According to the Mayo Clinic Health System website, it is best to remove the stinger using your fingernails or tweezers as soon as possible after being stung. While doing this, try not to squeeze the stinger or venom sac, which could cause more venom to be pushed into the sting area. After the stinger has been removed, the infected area should be washed with soap and water.
If a minor to moderate reaction — such as redness, warmth or swelling — occurs, apply a cold compress and take an over-the-counter oral antihistamine. An application of a hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion may help ease symptoms.
Severe reactions such as those listed here should merit a call for emergency medical care:
Difficulty breathing
Dizziness and nausea
Itching and hives throughout the body
Swelling of the throat and tongue
Stomach cramps and diarrhea
Rapid fall in blood pressure, resulting in shock and, possibly, death
Of course, as with most things, the best treatment is prevention, such as removing nests. Also, be careful as you enjoy a sweet beverage when outdoors, as insects can be attracted and sneak inside the can or bottle to share your drink.
Lastly, be aware of your surroundings — you never know where those buggers will set up their domicile.
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