| Bee sting | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The stinger of a honey bee separated from the body and attached to a protective dressing | |
| Specialty | Emergency medicine |
| Symptoms | Pain, itching, swelling |
| Complications | Allergic reaction |
| Causes | Female bees |
| Risk factors | swelling, rash, shortness of breath |
| Medication | Antihistamine, epinephrine (for allergic reaction) |
A bee sting is the wound and pain caused by the stinger of a female bee puncturing skin. Bee stings differ from insect bites, with the venom of stinging insects having considerable chemical variation. The reaction of a person to a bee sting may vary according to the bee species. While bee stinger venom is slightly acidic and causes only mild pain in most people,[1] allergic reactions may occur in people with allergies to venom components.[2]
- ^ C Hall (2 July 2019). "Bee vs Wasp Sting Venom: Truth and Chemical Myths". Chemistry Hall.
- ^ Ewan, Pamela (1998). "ABC of allergies: Venom allergy". BMJ: British Medical Journal. 316 (7141): 1365–1368. doi:10.1136/bmj.316.7141.1365. PMC 1113072. PMID 9563993.