Hornet bite: consequences, first aid and treatment

A hornet bite can cause a severe allergic reaction. Since these representatives of the wasp family are often attacked by groups, the resulting consequences can be dangerous for humans. Insect bites are very painful, and the poison that has penetrated the human body provokes the development of general intoxication. To help the victim at home, you can treat the damaged areas of the skin with antiseptic solutions. A person must be given any antihistamine, and if they feel worse, call the ambulance team.

Possible consequences of bites

These hymenopteran insects from the wasp family are very large in size. Hornets are common throughout our country, preferring to settle in hollows of various trees, vineyards, under the roofs of wooden and stone buildings. They carefully guard their nests and can attack a person who is several meters closer to their home.

“This is interesting: Usually a person has a desire to slam the hornet that bit him with the palm of his hand. This can not be done in any case. "At the time of death, the hornet releases special substances that become a signal for an attack of a swarm of insects."

Severe consequences of a hornet bite occur due to the penetration of poison into an adult's or systemic bloodstream. It includes chemical compounds that have a diverse negative effect on all vital systems of the victim. Of particular danger to human health are such substances of organic origin:

• proteins that contribute to the breakdown of mast cells during the immune response to the invasion of allergic agents;
• histamine, activating the development of various allergic reactions;
• biogenic amines that increase breathing and heart rate;
• acetylcholine, which provokes severe pain after contact with soft tissues;
• phospholipase, causing hemorrhage, suppuration, destruction of cell membranes.

The hornet sting is quite large, which helps the insect to bite through several layers of the epidermis quickly. A person has a sharp and sharp pain, and then a wound forms on the damaged skin.

“Warning: Hornets do not drop a sting, but can bite a person several times, injecting new portions of poison into the bloodstream. This causes the severity of symptoms several times. "

Consequences in the form of allergic reactions

The presence of allergic components in the hornet's poison leads to the development of a sensitization reaction immediately after a bite. Some people have a slight swelling on their skin, while others require urgent hospitalization and detoxification therapy. It all depends on the resistance of the human body to allergic agents, general health, the presence of chronic diseases. What are the consequences of a hornet attack?

• acute pain in the damaged area of ​​the skin;
• soft tissue edema, gradually spreading to healthy areas, skin itching, burning;
• blisters appear on the upper layer of the epidermis, filled with liquid contents;
• dyspeptic disorders - nausea and frequent bouts of vomiting;
• cooling of the upper and lower extremities;
• heart palpitations;
• blueness of ears, neck, lips;
• arterial hypotension;
• lethargy, fatigue, drowsiness.

The victim should be immediately taken to the hospital if he does not pronounce the words well, as if stretching them. Under the action of hornet venom, small blood vessels are strongly compressed, provoking the release of plasma. It penetrates the soft tissues of the face, causing swelling of the upper body of the victim and the development of Quincke edema.

If a person sharply decreases blood pressure, there are pains in the cardiac region, then anaphylactic shock is likely. Signs of an acute allergic reaction also include a feeling of lack of air and numbness of the limbs. You need to quickly come to the rescue of a person, since a fatal outcome in these cases occurs a few minutes later due to swelling of the larynx and suffocation.

The consequences of general intoxication

From the victim's predisposition to insect venom depends on whether the hornet's bite is dangerous to humans. Even the absence of severe allergy symptoms does not mean that an attack by representatives of the hornets will not harm a child or adult.
As a rule, within a few hours after the hornet attack, symptoms of general intoxication of the body occur:

• severe headaches, dizziness, fainting;
• a rise in body temperature above subfebrile values ​​(38.6 ° C);
• profuse sweating;
• violation of the respiratory system - a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath.

In people with chronic pathologies of the cardiovascular or urinary system, tremors of the lower and upper extremities and even convulsions can occur.

“Recommendation: Imperfection of childhood immunity and high permeability of blood vessels contribute to the rapid spread of poison in the body. Regardless of the degree of symptomatology that has developed, a small child should be quickly taken to a hospital after a hornet bite. ”

Such effects of intoxication persist for several hours. Often in people with weak immunity, damaged skin begins to inflame. In the absence of medical care after a couple of days, purulent ulcers form in this place. But the most severe consequences of a hornet attack occur in the following cases:

• bites in the eyes lead to retinal damage and a decrease in visual acuity;
• bites in the neck provoke the development of edema, compressing the upper respiratory tract, even in a person who is not predisposed to the development of allergic reactions.

The duration of the removal of the poison from the body of the victim can vary from one to three days. If the symptoms of intoxication intensify or their severity does not decrease, then you should seek qualified help at the nearest hospital facility.

First aid after insect attack

First aid after a hornet bite is to prevent the poison from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Immediately after the attack, you need to quickly rinse the damaged skin under a stream of cool water, and then lay the person and soothe. This is especially true for young children who are afraid of a large insect and experience severe pain. If the victim is shivering, then you need to cover him with a thin blanket.

“Tip: Unlike a wasp, a hornet does not leave a sting in the wound. It can break only in case of death of an insect from impact. "It makes no sense to look for a sting in the wound, it will speed up the absorption of poison, delay the provision of first aid."

Bite Handling

Doctors recommend within 10-15 minutes after a hornet bite to apply sugar to the damaged skin, which will attract toxic compounds.If time is lost, compresses from apple or regular table vinegar will help. It is necessary to moisten a piece of bandage in it, put in place of the bite and fix it with a bandage. As the fabric dries, the procedure must be repeated again. Instead of vinegar, you can use:

• fresh and washed leaves of a plantain or dandelion crushed into a thick slurry;
• low-fat sour cream, yogurt, kefir;
• raw potatoes chopped on a fine grater;
• lemon juice.

Such drugs stop the inflammatory process, eliminate edema, and prevent the development of allergic reactions. Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) will help anesthetize the bite site. To do this, the tablet should be crushed and sprinkled with a wound.

The penetration of toxic compounds into the systemic circulation can be prevented by using solutions with antiseptic, antimicrobial and disinfectant activity. These include:

• 0.02% solution of furatsilin (1 tablet per half a glass of boiled water);
• a solution of chlorhexidine bigluconate alcohol or Miramistin;
• 50% ethyl alcohol or vodka without colorants or flavors.

In the absence of such antiseptics, you can use potassium permanganate powder. To prepare a therapeutic solution, several crystals should be diluted in cool water until it is painted a weak pink color.

Heavy drink

Symptoms of general intoxication of the body do not develop immediately, but they can be prevented even at the stage of first aid. To speed up the removal of poison from the body, a lot of liquid should be given to the victim. As a plentiful drink, it is advisable to use:

• strong sweet tea;
• slightly salted mineral water - Essentuki No. 2 and No. 4, Borjomi, Slavyanovskaya, Smirnovskaya, Narzan;
• infusions of chamomile flowers or rose hips;
• fruit compotes, fruit drinks from berries;
• ordinary clean still water.

“Recommendation: If vomiting has opened after a hornet bite, it is difficult to persuade the victim to take at least a sip. Doctors recommend "drinking" an adult or child, giving them a tablespoon of any drink every 10 minutes. "

Help with allergies

No one can be sure that he does not have a predisposition to allergic reactions. Therefore, the victim should be alerted by profuse sweating, a sharp increase in body temperature, dizziness. These are the first signs of a sensitization reaction, as well as extremely life-threatening Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. What to do if a hornet has bitten:

• call the ambulance team, describing to the dispatcher the symptoms that have already manifested;
• remove heavy or compressive body clothing, jewelry, watches;
• loosen belts, unbutton the collar of a blouse or shirt to ensure a full breath.

Then you need to quickly give a person any antihistamine in the form of tablets, capsules, drops for internal use or syrups. The following drugs are most effective:

• Loratadine;
• Claritin;
• Zodak
• Diphenhydramine;
• Zirtek;
• Suprastin;
• Suprastinex;
• Tavegil;
• Tsetrin.

If the victim's pressure drops to life-threatening values, you should give him Cordiamin or Caffeine-sodium benzoate. In the absence of such funds, a cup of very strong grain coffee will help.

Before the doctor arrives, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the person bitten by a hornet. In case of loss of consciousness, it is necessary to turn it on its side and when opening vomiting, clear the upper respiratory tract from particles of undigested food. Otherwise, a reverse request for the contents of the stomach into the esophagus will provoke choking and respiratory arrest.

Bite treatment

Treatment of a hornet bite can be carried out both at home and in a hospital. It all depends on the severity of symptoms and the general state of health of the victim. As a rule, the first signs of general intoxication of the body appear - a febrile state and fever. Drugs with an antipyretic effect will help improve the well-being of the patient:

• Nurofen, Nise, Ibuprofen;
• Paracetamol, Panadol, Efferalgan.

To reduce the temperature in a small child, you can use Cefecon rectal suppositories in a dosage suitable for the age of the baby.

"Warning: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which include Ibuprofen and Nimesulide, are not intended for prolonged use because of their ability to ulcerate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. The advisability of their use should be consulted with a doctor. ”

With skin inflammation after a hornet bite, a dermatologist will tell you what to do at home. If the damaged areas of the epidermis are rotten, then it can not do without the use of internal and external antibacterial drugs:

• Tetracycline ointment;
• Erythromycin ointment;
• Levosin;
• Levomekol;
• suspensions or tablets of Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav, Augmentin, Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin, Ofloxacin.

Allergic skin lesions, not accompanied by the formation of ulcers, respond well to antihistamine topical treatments. Usually, doctors prescribe the following drugs:

• Fenistil gel;
• Psilo-balm;
• Gistan;
• Hydrocortisone ointment;
• balm Lifeguard.

When dyspeptic disorders occur after a hornet bite, enterosorbents are recommended for patients. These medicines include:

• Activated carbon;
• Smecta;
• Polyphepan;
• Polysorb;
• Eubicore.

After penetration of the hornet venom into the body of an adult and a child, severe headaches can occur. Discomfort will help eliminate analgesics, antispasmodics, painkillers - Spazmalgon, Ketorolac, Bral, Spazgan, Next, Citramon.

“Warning: A hornet often attacks a person during friendly gatherings in a country house or in a forest. It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol after an insect bite. This will accelerate the absorption of the poison and its spread throughout the body. When ethyl alcohol is combined with toxic compounds, their negative effects are mutually reinforced. "The person will suffer not only from the symptoms of poisoning with hornet poison, but also from alcohol intoxication."