If you get stung by a wasp, you may need to seek treatment at an urgent care center. If, however, you experience swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat, or if you develop chest pain or shortness of breath, seek emergency medical attention at the nearest hospital. If you do not develop any of these symptoms, visit an urgent care facility so that the physician can assess your sting and provide the necessary treatment. Here are some medical interventions you can expect from your urgent care visit after getting stung by a wasp.
Remove The Stinger
The first thing the physician will do once you arrive at the urgent care center is to assess your overall health, including checking your vital signs to make sure that you are in stable condition. After confirming that you are not having a reaction to the wasp sting, the doctor will cleanse the area on your skin where the sting occurred, and then he or she will carefully remove the stinger.
After the stinger has been removed, the doctor or nurse may place an ice pack over the affected area to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. After the ice pack has been removed, an antibiotic ointment may be applied, and then the area will be covered with a bandage.
Antihistamines
If the wasp sting caused severe swelling or itching, you may receive an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine at the urgent care facility. The physician may also recommend that you apply a hydrocortisone ointment over the affected area a couple of times a day to keep inflammation to a minimum when you get home.
In addition to swelling and itching, antihistamines and hydrocortisone will also minimize redness and relieve pain. It is important to note, that because antihistamines cause significant drowsiness, the physician may be reluctant to administer them if you have driven yourself to the facility. If, however, someone drove you, the doctor will feel more comfortable allowing you to take an antihistamine while you are still there.
Your wasp sting should improve over a couple of days, however, if you develop increased pain or swelling, or if you develop fever, chills, or muscle pain, call your doctor. These may be signs of an infection and will need to be treated with oral antibiotics.
If you get stung by a wasp, visit an urgent care facility. Seeking prompt medical treatment helps ensure that the puncture site will be effectively cleaned and that the entire stinger will be properly removed. Failure to remove the entire stinger may result in an increase in pain, redness, swelling, and a higher risk for infection.
For more information on treating wasp stings, reach out to a local urgent care center.