Insect Sting Allergy Treatment
In this article
- Call 911 if the person has:
- 1. Remove the Stinger
- 2. Control Swelling
- 3. Treat Symptoms
- 4. Follow-Up
- 1. Call 911
- 2. Inject Epinephrine Immediately
- 3. Do CPR if the Person Stops Breathing
- 4. Follow-Up
2. Inject Epinephrine Immediately
Do not hesitate to inject the epinephrine even if you are unsure the symptoms are allergy related. It will not hurt them and could save their life. If the person has an anaphylaxis action plan from a doctor for injecting epinephrine and other emergency measures, follow it. Otherwise, if the person carries an epinephrine shot (it's a good idea to always carry two) or one is available:
- Inject epinephrine if the person is unable to.
- If the person has a history of anaphylaxis, don't wait for signs of a severe reaction to inject epinephrine.
- Read and follow patient instructions carefully.
- Inject epinephrine into outer muscle of the thigh. Avoid injecting into a vein or buttock muscles.
- Do not inject medicine into hands or feet, which can cause tissue damage. If this happens, notify emergency room staff.
- The person may need more than one injection if there's no improvement after the first. For an adult, inject again after 10 to 20 minutes. For a child, inject again after 5 to 30 minutes.
- A person should always go to the ER after an epinephrine injection, even if the symptoms subside.
3. Do CPR if the Person Stops Breathing
- For a child, start CPR for children.
- For an adult, start adult CPR.
4. Follow-Up
- Make sure that someone stays with the person for 24 hours after anaphylaxis in case of another attack.
- Report the reaction to the person's doctor.