Insect bites - how to recognise an emergency

First of all, a distinction must be made between a normal sting reaction and an allergic sting reaction.

A normal sting reaction is completely harmless - even if a sting can lead to a swelling of five to ten centimetres around the sting site and the whole thing becomes really thick. On the hands and feet, it is not unusual for the swelling to only reach its peak after one to two days. From a medical point of view, however, it is completely harmless.

What can you do about it? Cool the sting site or put a cut raw onion on it or apply Fenistil gel. If the sting is really bad, it is also okay to apply a cortisone cream. But medical measures are not necessary. Especially not antibiotic treatments.

A genuine allergic sting reaction, on the other hand, is a very serious medical matter. Normally, if you are allergic to bee or wasp venom, you will have an allergic reaction from the second sting onwards. This is because you are first sensitised by the first sting - and the reaction (possibly) occurs with the second.

The good news is that such an allergic reaction is extremely rare. And when it does occur, it can be clearly recognised: Within five to ten minutes of the sting, sweating breaks out, a rash develops all over the body, the heart races, the circulation goes into overdrive ... In short, it is a serious and very clearly recognisable clinical picture.

What should you do? See a doctor immediately or call an ambulance. Absolutely! The children are then treated with an injection therapy called hyposensitisation. And the parents are also given medication that they must carry with them from then on so that they can react more quickly in the event of a sting.

Fortunately, the allergic reaction is extremely rare - a normal sting injury can be treated at home with simple means without medical help if it proceeds normally.