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Why is my bee sting swollen and itchy a week later?
Serum sickness is a type of delayed reaction that occurs a week to 10 days after a sting and may cause itching, rash, fever, joint pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
How long does a bee sting stay swollen and itchy?
Normal swelling from venom can increase for 48 hours after the sting. The redness can last 3 days. The swelling can last 7 days.
Why is my bee sting itchy days later?
Large Local Reactions and Bee Sting Swelling Days Later A local reaction can produce very uncomfortable pain, itching, and swelling. Some of this swelling can be delayed, increasing over 24 to 48 hours. It may take 3 to 10 days for these symptoms to resolve.
How do you make a bee sting stop itching?
You can treat itching and redness with hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion. If itching and swelling are severe, taking an oral antihistamine such as Benadryl may bring relief. To reduce your risk of infection, don’t scratch the sting site. Scratching can intensify itching, swelling, and redness.
What helps the itch of a bee sting?
Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease redness, itching or swelling. If itching or swelling is bothersome, take an oral antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine. Avoid scratching the sting area.
Is it normal for a bee sting to swell 2 days later?
Why does a bee sting itch so much?
The body produces a chemical known as histamine in an effort to protect the body from foreign substances, which is partly what causes the swelling and itching. Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Benadryl right after getting stung can reduce these symptoms.
What helps swelling from a bee sting?
To treat a sting from a bee, wasp, or hornet, dermatologists recommend the following tips:
- Stay calm.
- Remove the stinger.
- Wash the sting with soap and water.
- Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling.
- Consider taking over-the-counter pain medication.
How do you remove a bee stinger after a week?
If the stinger remains in your skin, remove it by scraping over it with your fingernail or a piece of gauze. Never use tweezers to remove a stinger, as squeezing it can cause more venom to release into your skin. Wash the sting with soap and water. Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling.
Does scratching a bee sting make it worse?
Avoid scratching the sting area. This will worsen itching and swelling and increase your risk of infection.