Bitten by a hornet, symptoms, what to do at home. Hornet stings and their danger to humans. Is it possible to die from a hornet sting?

The hornet looks like a large wasp up to 4 cm long

A hornet sting is the most dangerous, since in addition to a portion of very strong poison, a person also receives a severe painful shock. The symptoms of such a lesion are very clear and cannot be confused.

The following symptoms indicate that it was a hornet that stung:

First Aid Actions

Seeing a doctor in the event of a hornet bite is always required.

Hornets do not leave a stinger when they bite. Therefore, the sequence of emergency actions is as follows:

It is extremely undesirable to squeeze out the poison, since if the pressure is distributed incorrectly, you can only accelerate its spread

What not to do if you are bitten by a hornet

After insect bites, some people commit prohibited actions, which only worsen the victim’s condition. The following is strictly prohibited:

• drinking alcohol - this remedy only accelerates the spread of poison throughout the body and interferes with identifying the symptoms of an allergy from a bite;
• treating the wound with raw water, clay or earth - this method is a path to infection of the wound;
• rubbing the bite;
• squeezing out poison;
• destruction (swatting) of the stung individual - at the moment of death, insects secrete a special enzyme that enhances the effect of the poison and is a signal for other individuals to attack.

List of dangerous cases for the victim

Pulmonary edema - a severe allergic reaction to a bite

The most life-threatening are:

• bite to the face, neck or or near the eye area
• multiple bites on the body;
• if observed in the victim;
• if the victim is a child under five years of age;
• if there are immunological chronic diseases;
• the patient's condition rapidly deteriorates.

Consequences of a hornet sting

The consequences of a hornet sting include:

• acute allergy from a bite
• rapid transition of swelling after a bite from local to continuous
• painful bite marks that persist for a long time
• tissue necrosis at the bite site.

Consequences of a hornet bite - long-term marks and necrosis of soft tissues

The transition of edema from a local state to a continuous one is extremely dangerous for the patient’s life. To save the life of a victim in this condition, urgent medical attention is required.

Preventive measures

If you encounter an insect such as a hornet, you should carefully look around in search of their nest. In close proximity to the nest, hornets behave most aggressively and can attack for no apparent reason.

The hornets' nest can be located in the ground, on a tree, or indoors. For construction, they love to use the hollows of old trees, rotten stumps, and wooden buildings.

Summer residents who come to their homes only for the summer need to be especially careful. Hornets can choose attics or any utility rooms to furnish their homes, where they can enter through small holes in walls, stoves and ventilation pipes.

Hornets build nests wherever they can get into.

You can successfully protect yourself from hornet stings by following simple safety measures, which include:

• wearing clothes with sleeves outdoors;
• avoidance of bright clothing in areas where stinging insects live;
• use of a mosquito net.

Traditional therapy and other methods of treatment

Folk remedies for bites can quickly get rid of unpleasant sensations.

• Porridge from baking soda. To obtain it, soda is slightly moistened with water. Apply the mixture to the bite for 1-2 hours several times a day. It helps even if there is a local allergy from the bite.
• Rubbing with garlic juice prevents severe swelling from developing. There may be a burning sensation when used;
• An aspirin tablet and a tablet dissolved in a glass of water activated carbon relieves pain and itching well. To do this, it is enough to wipe the sore spot with the solution several times a day.

In traditional medicine, if you are bitten by a stinging insect, you are prescribed antiallergic drugs internally and externally. Painkillers may also be prescribed.

• It is imperative to call ambulance with a hornet bite.
• If the victim has already had an acute allergic reaction to a wasp or bee sting, and he told you about it, then you need to urgently take him to the hospital.
• Folk remedies for bites can only be used if there is no allergic reaction to them.

The hornets build unique nest houses from their own “produced” paper, which arouses admiration. However, they have earned unpleasant fame for their destructive actions: damage to crops, extermination of bees. But the greatest harm caused to humans is difficult and sometimes fatal bites.

Why is a hornet sting so painful?

The hymenoptera insect has two types of “weapons” with which it attacks and destroys the enemy, and also obtains food. On the one hand, this is a sting. The poison released through it, entering the body, causes painful sensations. The degree of pain is directly related to the amount of toxic substance introduced into the body: it is almost 2 times more than when stung by a bee. On the other hand, these are powerful jaws with which the hornet chews its food and grinds it. A person suffers precisely from poisoning. Moreover, unlike the bee, “ big wasp"can use his "weapons" many times.

The characteristics of the bite are complemented by the composition of the venom. Here is histamine, phospholipase A2, proteases, catecholamines, toxic polypeptides, etc. It is the explosive mixture of acetylcholine with histamine that makes the bite painful. The severity of the hornet lesion not only makes the wound itself painful, but also causes an inflammatory process throughout the body.

Hornet sting: symptoms and consequences

Signs of poison damage include both local and general ones. Local manifestations include:

• sharp, gradually increasing pain;
• skin redness;
• changes in the epidermis: its redness and swelling;
• extensive inflammation of the skin;
• enlarged lymph nodes due to facial bites;
• swelling;
• the appearance of a dense white papule at the site where the sting penetrates the skin.

Common features are:

• increased heart rate;
• increased body temperature;
• decreased blood pressure;
• headaches with possible dizziness;
• heavy sweating;
• change in the color of the lips, ears (they become bluish);
• Possible elevated blood sugar levels;
• intoxication of the body, etc.

Often the local area of ​​swelling turns into continuous extensive edema. Anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema are characteristics of severe cases of damage. Specific reaction of the body to a hornet sting - development allergic manifestations, in which a person is indicated for desensitizing treatment, including immunization as a preventive measure.

Attention! In children under 15 years of age, the introduction of hornet poison into the body causes increased intoxication. All processes proceed much faster. You should not wait until the symptoms disappear, but go to a medical facility immediately.

Consequences after a hornet bite generally do not remain. Symptoms go away over time. It depends on the body’s resistance to toxins and the speed of their elimination. The most serious damage to health is the destruction of red blood cells in the blood. There may also be suppuration at the site of the bite and, in severe cases, tissue necrosis.

Is a hornet's bite fatal to humans?

Redness, itching and abscess are the most common symptoms of a bite.

In itself, a hornet sting is no more dangerous than a bee or wasp sting. But here, too, everything depends on the type of insect. The Asian hornet is considered more dangerous than, say, the common hornet. In general, symptoms go away over time. However, there are exceptions that can result in death in the following risk category:

• allergy sufferers who are susceptible to the chemical components of the poison;
• children, especially infants;
• numerous bites in the event of an insect attack (based on the amount of poison introduced into the body, bites from 500 hornets cause death);
• a fatal bite occurs when the sting enters a blood vessel on the head or another large organ, in which the poison quickly reaches the brain.

Stung by a hornet: what to do?

First aid when at least one of the symptoms appears is as follows.

• First, the affected area of ​​skin is carefully examined. It is rare, but it happens that a hornet leaves a sting in the body. This happens when the insect is swatted during contact with the body. The sting is carefully removed with disinfected tweezers or a needle.
• The wound itself is treated with a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide and a weak solution of potassium permanganate. If you don't have these products on hand, you can simply rinse with cold, clean water.
• Ice and a cold compress are applied to the puncture site to slow down the spread of toxins in the body. plastic bottle with water, frozen meat in a bag, a cold heating pad.
• Saturated saline solution, a crushed aspirin tablet is applied to the bite site to relieve itching. For the same purposes, fresh cucumber, parsley or dandelion juice, cabbage or plantain leaves are used.
• Suprastin, Diphenhydramine, Pipolfen or another antihistamine is taken orally.
• Provide plenty of fluids.
• To relieve swelling and swelling, the skin is lubricated with hydrocortisone ointment or cream containing lidocaine.

Attention! Damage to the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat requires an immediate call to the ambulance and in-hospital therapy, which boils down to the introduction into the body through a dropper of solutions that promote the rapid elimination of poisons. Untimely assistance after a hornet sting or poor quality treatment can lead to disastrous results.

How to behave when surrounded by Hymenoptera?

There are situations when arriving at a dacha or in the forest confronts people with the fact that after their long winter absence this territory already occupied by wasps or hornets. In mid-April, the female begins to build her nest, designating the habitat in this area. If time is lost, the hornets have seriously and permanently settled on the site, you need to choose the right behavioral tactics to avoid a hornet bite.

• Under no circumstances should you touch a nest that is found in the yard, hanging from the branches or located under the roof, or even approach it, not to mention stirring it with a stick. Angry insects will immediately rush towards the offender.
• You need to behave calmly and not provoke the “big wasps” to attack with sudden movements.
• An insect that lands on the body should not be killed. Firstly, you can get a portion of poison. Secondly, the enzyme secreted by hornets in case of danger serves as an alarm signal for relatives who immediately rush to help.
• When traveling outside the city, wear comfortable clothing, without bright colors, that protects the body, and closed shoes. Avoid perfumes with a strong smell.
• If, nevertheless, a decision is made to get rid of the hornets on the site and from the nest first, this should be done in overalls that cover the body and gloves. Special attention pay attention to protecting the head, face, and especially the eyes. There have been cases when, through a mosquito protective net, the poison shot from the sting penetrated the mucous membrane of the eye and caused a burn to the retina.
• Having picked an apple or pear from a branch, the fruit must be carefully examined before washing and biting. You can often find a hornet hidden in the ripe pulp.

Tactful behavior towards these highly organized insects will yield results. Some people live peacefully with hornets for years. In response to this, the striped “hard workers” protect their crops from garden pests, catching them and feeding them to the larvae. If such a nuisance as a hornet bite does happen, you need to be prepared to neutralize the unpleasant consequences.

Hornets are the largest representatives of the paper wasp family. The family is called paper because they build their houses from paper, which they themselves produce from wood by chewing and treating with their saliva. The size of an adult varies from 3 mm to 5.5 mm. They make their nests both in residential and production premises, hollow trees and beehives. They feed on insects of other species - flies, bees, caterpillars, but mainly on sweet substances - nectar and plant juice. Hornets' powerful jaws allow them to crush grasshoppers, wasps and locusts. The insect is completely ground into a nutritional substance and fed to the larvae. Hornets are aggressive insects and can attack for no apparent reason, so any proximity of people and animals to them is dangerous. Next, we will tell you what to do if you are bitten by a hornet.

Interesting fact: Since ancient times, hornets have been used as weapons of “mass destruction.” Pots filled with insects were thrown with catapults at enemies. A swarm burst out of the broken pots, bringing death and chaos to the ranks of the enemies.

Symptoms of a hornet sting

Unlike bees, which lose their sting during an attack, the hornet's sting does not remain in the wound, so it can sting several times. Up to 2 mg of poison is injected into a person's wound. If the substance comes into contact with the eyes, it may cause a burn to the cornea. Main symptoms:

• Acute pain when stung.
• Redness and swelling of the area.
• Attacks of vomiting and nausea.
• Numbness of the limb.
• Blue swelling on the ears, neck and lips.
• Decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate.
• Dizziness and fainting. Possible in children and people with weakened immune systems.
• Peeling and allergies in people prone to allergic reactions.

Dangerous bites to the head, which are accompanied by swelling of the larynx and difficulty breathing. The reaction to bites depends on the age of the victim, diseases and general predisposition to allergies.

Consequences of hornet stings

The consequences depend on the number, location of the bite and the individual reaction of the body. May be observed:

• Severe headaches, dizziness and nausea.
• Heavy sweating and increased body temperature.
• Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
• Chills and fever. Frequent heartbeat.

Hornet venom affects the central nervous system, causing her excitement, and then sharp inhibition. Children are more difficult to tolerate bites; their intoxication passes more quickly, accompanied by a deterioration in well-being. The consequences of an attack differ depending on where the poison enters; the most dangerous area is the head and neck. Also the places where large arteries and vessels pass.

First aid for a hornet sting

We examine the wound; it happens that the sting partially or entirely remains in the wound. If available, remove using tweezers.

• Rinse running water with antibacterial or disinfectant soap will do laundry soap more than 70% fat.
• Take an antihistamine (Suprastin, Tavegil) and painkiller Paracetamol.
• Wipe with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and a light pink solution of potassium permanganate.
• If possible, squeeze out the poison with your fingers.
• Apply a cold compress or ice pack.
• Also, at home, you can use a ground aspirin tablet, mix it with water and apply the paste to the wound.
• Swelling and itching will help relieve the juice of lemon, dandelion, onion, plantain leaves, parsley, mash the leaves until the juice appears and apply to the wound.
• Fresh cut of onion, cucumber and potato.
• Mint toothpaste, menthol, mint mouth rinse, menthol, eucalyptus.
• Ensure rest and plenty of fluids.

Mild allergies can be treated at home, but serious consequences such as nausea, vomiting, deterioration in breathing, a feeling of suffocation require urgent medical intervention.

Prevention of hornet stings

Take walks in familiar places; if a place is unfamiliar, be on your guard.

• If you come across a nest, move away immediately; hornets do not chase over long distances. Do not knock on the nest under any circumstances, the hornets' attack will be sudden.
• When you encounter an insect, do not make sudden movements, do not wave it away, just freeze for a while. It will fly by and you will continue moving.
• When eating or picking fruits or berries, make sure that no one is already eating there.
• Do not kill a hornet near its home; the smell of pheromones will signal an attack to the entire family.
• Do not use any cosmetics or perfumes before going outdoors; some fragrances and odors may attract the attention of insects.
• When going outdoors, take with you antihistamines, painkillers, anything for disinfection, a plaster or bandage. It won't take up much space, but it will help out.

And the main rule is premature medical assistance, do not let things take their course. Don't risk your life and health.

What is prohibited to do if you are bitten by a hornet

Not only do you need to know about the rules of first aid for a hornet sting, you need to know exactly what is strictly forbidden to do at this time.
So, if you are bitten by a hornet, you cannot:

• Drink alcoholic beverages. Most often, hornet bites occur during recreation in nature or in the countryside - places where people relax having fun and drinking alcohol. So, alcohol increases swelling and spreads poison under the skin.
• Taking Diprazine as an antihistamine medicinal product– this remedy can trigger the body’s own immune response.
• Ignore the first symptoms of a hornet sting. It is precisely these victims who actively refuse help (“just think, it’s like a bee or wasp sting!”) that are then literally pulled out of the other world by resuscitators. But often it is impossible to pull the victim out - death is guaranteed.

Conclusions from Tikhon: The hornet is dangerous, the consequences of its poison can be fatal. Be careful, follow simple rules and then you will enjoy your holiday.

Health to you and your loved ones.

Hornet one of the most poisonous and dangerous insects. Just one hornet sting causes severe pain, swelling and burning. The insect belongs to the species of the aspen family, has an intense body yellow color with black stripes. Adult hornets can grow up to 5 cm in length. The hornet's belly is equipped with a long, poisonous sting. Hornets are predators by nature, preying on moths, bees and other insects. Beekeepers fight them because they are the bane of apiaries. Even one hornet can destroy all the bees in a hive. Their mouth is equipped with powerful jaws that literally tear their prey to pieces and devour it.

They build nests in abandoned buildings, trees, rural houses, you can often find it in the forest. A nest with a swarm of hornets looks like a large oval ball in colored paper. Insects are aggressive and very dangerous. While defending their nests, they can attack a person in the blink of an eye. Just a few hornet stings can cause serious problems health. Those allergic to the toxin should be especially careful around these dangerous insects.

There are many myths surrounding a hornet sting.
The first myth is the answer to the question:

How many hornet stings cause death in humans? And the answer is: not one and not two. Of course, this does not apply to people who are allergic to their poison.

The second myth is that a hornet sting is terribly painful. This is also not true. The bite is painless. But when the poison spreads under the skin it causes severe pain.

It is worth noting that a hornet sting is much more dangerous than a wasp sting. And he more painful due to a longer, more deeply penetrating sting and a higher concentration of acetylcholine in the venom. A hornet sting is very painful and unpleasant. At the site of the insect bite (arms, head and legs), severe burning pain and severe swelling almost immediately appear.

Hornet stings are mainly a seasonal phenomenon - with early spring until late autumn. The venom of these insects contains various ingredients that have mainly neurotoxic and histamine-releasing effects. Poisoning combines toxic and allergic components of a reaction to the body.

Hornet venom composition

The most important parameter of hornet venom is LD50. It determines the amount of poison per kilogram of body weight that causes the death of 50% of the population. In the case of the hornet, the LD50 is 50 mg/kg (range 10 to 90 mg/kg). Thus, to kill a victim weighing 60 kg, an average of 60 * 50 = 3000 mg of poison is required. One hornet contains about 0.26 mg of poison in its abdomen and, thus, to cause the death of a person, several hundred hornets must bite him.

But when a hornet stings, reactions can occur that can indirectly lead to death. These neurological reactions such as seizures, peripheral neuritis, depression.

There are species of hornets that are more toxic. Their LD50 value can even be 30 times higher than described above. But these species are not found in Russia.

Hornet venom consists of the following compounds:

• histamine- Commonly found in the human body, it acts as an inflammatory mediator and neurotransmitter. The bite increases the amount of histamine and leads to rapid expansion blood vessels, and also reduces blood pressure.
• serotonin- a neurotransmitter known as the happiness hormone. The presence of serotonin and its increased concentration in this area causes pain. Serotonin causes the release of acetylcholine and enhances the effects of histamine.
• acetylcholine- neurotransmitter causes blood vessels to dilate and lowers blood pressure
• kinins- cause pain
• phospholipase A And phospholipase B- enzymes that destroy cell walls, which allows the penetration of poisons into the blood. Their action also includes the local release of histamine from cells, causing itching, burning and swelling.

Symptoms after a hornet bite

Local symptoms:

• burning pain,
• edema,
• redness,
• sometimes bullous changes (blisters),
• possibility of local infection,
• regional lymphadenitis and lymphangitis

General toxic signs:

• nausea,
• vomit,
• weakness,
• dizziness

After being bitten in the area of ​​a blood vessel or in the neck or head, loss of consciousness and convulsions

Allergic symptoms:

• rash and itching on the skin of the body
• swelling of the eyelids and soft tissues,
• hemorrhage in the conjunctiva,
• nausea,
• bronchospasm,
• swelling of the larynx,
• tightness in the chest,
• lack of air,

First aid for allergies to hornet stings

People allergic to hornet venom have a sudden, severe reaction called anaphylactic shock .

Among the many symptoms of anaphylactic shock, the most common are:

• increasing shortness of breath,
• weakness,
• swelling of the neck and face,
• rash.

With such symptoms, you need to quickly take appropriate measures:

• by using cold water or ice to cool the bite area
• immobilize the bite site (to reduce the rate of spread of the poison)
• lie down (to avoid collapse in case of loss of consciousness)
• in case of weakness and lightheadedness, raise your legs up

If you lose consciousness, you should call an ambulance. Health care providers use hydrocortisone and bicarbonate or, in severe cases, epinephrine and antihistamines.

Emergency medical care

For bee, wasp and hornet stings:

1. Remove the sting (if any) and treat the wound with an alcohol solution. Apply antihistamine ointment.
2. Antiallergic treatment with corticosteroids, antihistamines, adrenaline and resuscitation, oxygen therapy, calcium supplements. Laryngeal edema is treated with high doses of glucocorticoids, adrenaline, intubation and ventilation, and tracheostomy in emergency cases.
3. For a bite on the tongue or oral mucosa with a swollen tongue and difficulty breathing - high doses of glucocorticoids, adrenaline, intubation, tracheotomy.
4. Detoxification treatment with moderate amounts of infusion solutions, B vitamins, enzyme preparations.

Bitten by a hornet - what to do at home

Correct action within the first few minutes can prevent a lot of inconvenience and even save the life of a person suffering from allergies to bee, wasp and hornet stings!

The most important thing is to act quickly and decisively.

First, it is necessary to determine whether the person who was stung by the hornet is allergic to the poison. If this is the case, you need to remain calm and eliminate the risk of repeated bites. Most often, people who are allergic to hornet stings carry medicine with them to treat acute anaphylactic shock.

If a hornet bites you in the mouth, neck or face, you need to react quickly and call an ambulance, as swelling can block the airways. This can lead to loss of consciousness or even suffocation. If a hornet stings your tongue, throat or mouth while waiting for an ambulance, you should give him a cold drink, suck on ice cubes and a teaspoon of salt solution.

After a hornet sting, severe pain and burning are felt. It is necessary to examine the site of the bite and check whether there are any sting residues there. When a hornet bites, there should not be a sting in the wound, but if you still see it, carefully remove it with tweezers or a needle.

Then you need to vigorously wipe the affected area with one of the following products: :

• a clove of garlic, cut into two halves,
• half an onion
• Parsley, marigolds, mallow or plantain also help well.
• A piece of apple applied to the bite site gives an excellent effect
• if there is nothing, you can pour a little vinegar (preferably apple cider vinegar) onto the bite site.

How to relieve swelling and swelling after a bite

We offer two folk recipes compresses that help relieve swelling and swelling at the site of the bite.

• 1 glass of water 150-200 ml
• ½ cup vinegar (apple vinegar is fine)

• ½ teaspoon ammonia
• ½ teaspoon citric acid
• 1 glass of vinegar or brandy 150-200 milliliters

Soak a cotton cloth with one of these two mixtures and place it on the tumor. Change the compress 5-6 times a day until swelling and swelling decrease and the wound heals.

It happens that a hornet bites you while you are eating fruit (often the insect is inside a grape, peach, etc.) - this is very dangerous bite, because swelling of the tongue and oral mucosa and breathing problems immediately occur.

What to do? Immediately eat 1-2 cloves of garlic and take 1 tablespoon of wine vinegar. And then run to the nearest hospital, especially if you are prone to developing severe allergic conditions.

Prevention - how to avoid a hornet bite

Hornets are not as curious as wasps and they are not interested in people. They only attack if provoked. But if this happens, and the hornet still arrives, you should remain calm and move away from it. Or just stay still and calmly wait until it flies away. It is good to refrain from sudden movements and under no circumstances attempt to move your hands. Since he may consider such behavior as an attempt on his life. The hornet's natural reaction is to defend itself by stinging. When a hornet enters a house, the best thing to do is open the window and let it fly out. Or try using something oblong with a wide surface (for example, newspaper). Might fit glass cover, under which to place a piece of cardboard and thus drive it out.

It should also be remembered that hornets are much more nervous and aggressive on hot days. Strong odors (such as perfume) and alcohol can also be irritants. Keep this in mind when you are at the front of the house or in the garden. Bright contrasting or dark clothing also attracts hornets.

An attack by any stinging insect can result in a lot of trouble. This is especially true in cases where a hornet has stung you.

Usually it is provoked by the person himself. Close proximity to the nest, excessive sudden movements - all this can be regarded by insects as danger, as a result of which an attack is inevitable.

The danger is posed not only by the bite itself, but also by the fact that the hornet’s venom has a very high concentration of toxins, the release of which into the bloodstream does not bode well for human health. Moreover, a hornet can sting several times in a row, which greatly increases the amount of toxic substances introduced into the victim’s body with lightning speed.

As a result of a hornet sting, a person experiences severe pain, often exceeding the sensations from bees. Many of those who have undergone such an attack compare it to a puncture by a hot nail, the penetration of a hot drill, etc. There are several explanations for this:

• the sting of a hornet is larger and longer than that of bees;
• the concentration of poison is higher;
• high content of histamine and acetylcholine in the poison (those substances that “provide” especially strong pain sensations).

After a bite, swelling begins to develop very quickly. The injured area turns red and swells noticeably. Feelings of burning and unbearable itching are added. People who are allergic to the components of the poison begin to develop a local reaction, often turning into a life-threatening form in the absence of proper help after the bite.

• strong pain;
• swelling (red and hot);
• temperature increase;
• headaches, dizziness;
• increased sweating, etc.

In more severe cases, in addition to the listed symptoms, other signs of deterioration may be added:

• general malaise;
• nausea, vomiting;
• blue lips, ears, skin on the neck;
• increased heart rate;
• sometimes loss of consciousness (especially in children);
• pain shock;
• limbs become cold;
• if bitten in the neck or head area – suffocation;
• skin burns (as a result of the hornet injecting poison through a mosquito net);

Especially scary for allergy sufferers. In addition to the listed symptoms, such people may develop suffocation and anaphylactic shock, which, if prompt medical assistance is not provided, will lead to death. Also, people sensitive to the poison may experience an allergic skin reaction: spots, peeling, and cracking of the skin will appear. It may start as a lesion around the bite site and gradually spread throughout the body.

Also, allergy sufferers may develop Quincke's edema, hives, and heart failure (sometimes to the point of complete stoppage). In cases of multiple bites, minutes and seconds count, and the person may not have time to save. The same applies to people stung in the neck and head (instant development of swelling of the tongue or larynx, enlargement of the lymph nodes simply “block” breathing).

Please note: any symptoms after a hornet bite in children under 12-15 years of age develop 2 times faster due to their immature immunity. And it’s especially scary if an infant or an allergic child is stung. In such cases, the lives of young victims may directly depend on the promptness of the professional assistance provided.

First aid

After a hornet attack, you need to act quickly. This will help avoid mass dangerous consequences. At home you can do the following:

1. check the bite site for the presence of a sting (this is possible if at the time of the bite the insect was slammed and did not have time to pull out its “weapon”);
2. to relieve swelling and reduce pain, apply something cold (ice, a cold heating pad or compress, etc.);
3. treat the wound with weak potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide or a solution of vinegar and water;
4. You can also wipe the wound to relieve swelling lemon juice, parsley juice or apply a paste of ground aspirin into powder;
5. take Diazolin to relieve swelling;
6. antihistamines to prevent allergies;
7. provide the victim with plenty of fluids;

In case of an obvious allergic reaction, it is necessary to take antihistamines and urgently call an ambulance.

Bites to the arm or leg are considered less dangerous. But if you are stung in the area of ​​the throat, head and large blood vessels, the only urgent help will be to call a medical team and quickly take the victim to a hospital, where they will cleanse the body of the poison with the help of droppers, competently treat the wound and provide the necessary medications.

Under no circumstances should the fact of a hornet bite be ignored. You can never predict how the body will react to the injected poison and what this may lead to. Therefore, providing assistance in such cases is extremely necessary.

What can happen if you don't provide help?

If necessary measures first aid was not carried out or was provided, but after a while, a person with an insufficiently strong immune system can “receive” a lot of serious consequences:

• extensive inflammation;
• decreased blood pressure;
• changes in blood sugar levels (upwards);
• increased sweating;
• general intoxication of the body;
• white or burgundy papule (tight blister) at the site of the bite;
• suppuration and necrosis;
• enlarged lymph nodes;

For allergy sufferers, the consequences are even more dire: the development of Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock in the absence or delay of help can lead to death. In addition to people suffering from allergies, death is possible in the following group of victims:

• infants;
• persons subjected to multiple bites;
• stung in the throat, head, mouth, neck;
• stung at the location of large blood vessels (the poison spreads very quickly throughout the body and enters the brain).

How quickly the body copes with the poison and the consequences of its entry into the blood (if any) directly depends on the person’s immunity, age, absence or presence of allergies, location of the sting and the number of bites. But since even healthy man may suddenly react unpredictably to the poison; you should not ignore the hornet’s attack in order to avoid negative (and sometimes unexpected) consequences.