Most people, who have never been stung by a wasp, have no idea whether or not they are among the very small percentage of people who will suffer an allergic reaction. If you know that you are allergic to wasp stings, you'll know that quick action on your part may be needed, whether you're the victim of a single sting or multiple stings. If you are allergic, you can expect to experience symptoms affecting other parts of your body, in addition to whatever the local reaction may be. These symptoms can include the onset of hives or a rash, covering much of the body. More serious symptoms include difficulty in breathing or swallowing, nausea or vomiting, and chest pain. Any of these symptoms mean immediate medical attention is required. A lowering of blood pressure can occur, which can be fatal. Even if you find yourself not feeling terrible, but not feeling particularly well either, you should seek medical advice. If you have any of these symptoms, get someone else to drive you to a doctor or to the hospital, especially if you are feeling faint at all. Trying to drive yourself could be dangerous to you and to others on the road.

 

Treatment Of Wasp Stings - If you only suffer a local reaction, treatment can vary from doing nothing, to an application of ice or a cold compress. It's also advisable to wash the area with soap, and apply a topical antibiotic to reduce the possibility of infection.  Motrin or Tylenol can be helpful in dealing with the pain, and should itching occur an antihistamine, such as Benadryl, can help. If you are suffering from an allergic reaction, you should of course seek medical help, but in the meantime, taking an antihistamine may be helpful. If you do receive medical attention, you may get injections of steroids, epinephrine, and additional antihistamines. In more severe cases you could find yourself in intensive care, especially if you are having difficulty in breathing. Even after you've passed through the critical stage, you can expect to be placed under observation for a time.

 

If you enjoy the outdoors, and know you are allergic to wasp stings, it would pay to have a bee sting or wasp sting kit at your disposal, either in your home or in your backpack. You can get one of these with a prescription from your doctor. This would enable you to give yourself immediate medical attention, which could hold you over until professional help is available, and could be a life saver.

 

Dealing With A Wasp's Nest - Finally, if you spot a wasp nest on your property, wasp killer spray is very effective. Some of these sprays are effective to a distance of 20 feet or even more. You'll want to spray into the entrance of the nest, from as far away as you can. Don't stand under the nest; a dropping wasp may nail you as its final act. You'll have better luck in the evening or early morning, and may need to spray a nest more than once. For very large nests, or those that are hard to get at, getting a professional exterminator to do the job would be advisable. If it is late in the year when you discover a nest, you might consider just leaving it alone, especially if you don't feel wasp stings will be a problem, and just let the cold weather take care of the insects.