Bee, wasp and ant stings factsheet

Introduction

Bees, wasps, and ants are insects that use a sharp part of their body called a stinger to inject venom when they feel threatened. It’s important to teach your child how to recognise insects that sting, how to avoid them, and what to do if they get stung.

Bees:

can fly and are often found in gardens and near flowers
sting once and may leave their stinger in the skin before they die
honeybees are most likely to cause allergic reactions.

Wasps:

can look similar to bees
build nests in wooden areas.
are aggressive and can sting multiple times without dying
paper wasps are most likely to cause allergic reactions.

Ants:

come in colours like black, red, brown and green
walk in groups and can also sting in groups
can bite the skin to keep it in place while stinging multiple times
Australian jack jumper ants and green ants can cause allergic reactions.

Signs and symptoms

It is usually easy to tell which insect stung your child:

bees often leave their stinger behind
wasps can sting more than once
ants may still be attached to the skin, as they can bite and sting.

Symptoms of a sting can develop slowly and may last for a few days.

Symptoms can include:

itching
redness
swelling
a hot feeling around the sting.

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.

Stings and anaphylaxis

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 to insects may also vomit or develop tummy pain.

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 should see a specialist doctor, such as an immunologist or allergist, for testing and treatment.

Treatment

For stings that do not cause anaphylaxis, you can:

carefully remove the stinger or ant using something firm, like a bank card
wash the area with soap and cool running water
apply an antiseptic and cover with a bandage
use an ice pack to reduce swelling
give your child over-the-counter pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen
give oral antihistamines to reduce itching, redness, and swelling.

If you are concerned or if your child has been stung multiple times, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

Management

Preventing stings

Teaching your child to avoid disturbing insects and animals can help to prevent stings.

They will also need to know where insects live and build their homes, for example:

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

You can reduce the risk of stings by:

making sure food and drinks are covered
cleaning up sticky or sweet spills like honey quickly
dressing children in long pants, sleeves, and closed shoes when they are in areas where bees, wasps, and ants are common
call a pest control service for advice or treatments if you notice more ants or wasps around the house.

It is important to leave insects and their homes alone. Swatting or destroying insect nests can increase the risk of stings.

Mosquitos, midges, and sandflies

Mosquitoes, midges, and sandflies don’t usually cause allergic reactions, but their bites can lead to itchy, raised lumps on the skin.

Bee, wasp and ant stings