Bee, wasp and ant stings factsheet

Introduction

Bee, wasps, and ants are insects that use a sharp part of their body, called a stinger, to pierce the skin and inject a small amount of poison to cause a painful reaction. These insects will use their stinger to defend themselves from animals and humans that can hurt them.

It is important that your child learns about the types of insects that can sting, how to stay away from them and what to do if they get stung.

Bees

Bees can fly and are usually found in gardens and around flowers. A bee will sting you only once, as using their stinger causes them to die. Sometimes, the stinger will be left in the skin.

Wasps

Wasps can look similar to bees. They can fly and often build their nests in places with wood. This includes houses and children’s play equipment. Wasps are aggressive and can sting multiple times without hurting themselves.

Ants

Ants come in different colours, like black, red, brown, and green. They are usually found walking in large groups. Some ants will bite the skin to hold it in place while stinging multiple times. Because ants travel in groups, children are at risk of having multiple ant stings at the same time.

Signs and symptoms

You can usually tell which insect your child has been stung by.

a bee will leave its stinger behind in the skin
a wasp will usually try to continue stinging you
an ant may have bitten onto the skin before stinging and may still be attached.

These symptoms of a sting can develop slowly and last for days. They can be very painful and cause:

itching
redness
swelling
a hot feeling around the sting
a red lump with a border of white skin.

Some children can have a severe allergic reaction to stings called anaphylaxis.

Signs of anaphylaxis include:

wheezing, difficult, or noisy breathing
swelling of the tongue
swelling or tightness in the throat
a persistent cough
difficulty talking or a hoarse voice
dizziness
becoming pale and floppy in young children
collapsing.

Children at risk of anaphylaxis may also vomit.

If your child has signs of anaphylaxis, you should:

follow your child’s ASCIA action plan for anaphylaxis if you have one
use an EpiPen® or Anapen®, if there is one available
call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance.

Diagnosis

All children with anaphylaxis to insect stings will need to see a specialist doctor, such as an immunologist or allergist, for testing and treatment.

Treatment

Insect stings that do not cause anaphylaxis can be treated by:

carefully remove the stinger or ant by using tweezers or something firm like a bank card
washing the area with soap under cool running water
applying an antiseptic if available and covering with a bandage
putting an Icepack on the sting to reduce swelling
giving your child over-the-counter pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen to manage pain
giving your child oral antihistamines to manage itching, redness and swelling.

Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 if you have any concerns or if your child has had multiple stings.

Management

Preventing bee, wasp, and ant stings

Teaching your child to leave insects and animals alone is one of the most important ways you can help prevent stings. It is helpful to recognise where these insects live and places they might build their homes, including:

beehives on trees
wasp nests on houses or play equipment
ant’s nests or mounds in the park.

If your child comes across a bee, wasp or ant’s nest while playing outdoors, it is important that they do not try to hit or swat the insects or destroy their nests.

Disturbing or destroying a wasp’s nest or ant hill can cause these insects to react, making it more likely that your child will get stung.

Call an exterminator for advice or treatments if you notice more ants or wasps around the house.

You can also reduce the risk of stings by:

making sure food and drink are covered
cleaning up sticky or sweet spills, like honey, as soon as possible
dressing children in long pants, sleeves and closed shoes when bushwalking or exploring areas where bees, wasps and ants are commonly found.

Bee, wasp and ant stings