Call 911 and inject epinephrine right away if the person has:
Any of these symptoms or a history of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), even if there are no symptoms:
- Trouble breathing or wheezing
- Tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing
- Hives
- Swelling away from the area of the sting, especially swelling of the face, tongue, or hands
- Hoarseness or trouble speaking
- Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramps, or vomiting
- Fast heartbeat or pulse
- Skin that severely itches, tingles, swells, or turns red
- Anxiety, feelings of faintness, or dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
Do not hesitate to inject the epinephrine if you are unsure whether the symptoms are allergy-related. It will not hurt the person 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), do the following:
- 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 the outer muscle of the thigh. Avoid injecting into a vein or buttocks 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. If needed, inject again after 5 to 15 minutes.
- Any more than 2 doses of epinephrine should not be given unless it's done under direct medical supervision.
- A person should always go to the ER after an epinephrine injection, even if the symptoms go away.
Do CPR if the person stops breathing.
- For a child, start CPR for children.
- For an adult, start adult CPR.
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.
If someone has multiple stings -- particularly on their head or neck -- it’s best to get medical help.
For symptoms that aren’t serious:
1. Remove the Insect and Stinger
- Scrape the area with the edge of a credit card or straight edge object to remove it.
- Don't pinch the stinger or use tweezers -- that can inject more venom.
- You may have to pull off fire ants and check carefully that you got them all.
2. Control Swelling
- Ice the area.
- If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate it.
- Remove any tight-fitting jewelry from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might be difficult to remove.
3. Treat Symptoms
- For pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 19.
- For itchiness, take an antihistamine. You can also apply a mixture of baking soda and water or calamine lotion.
4. Follow-Up
- It might take 2-5 days for the itching and swelling to subside. Keep the affected area clean to prevent infection.
