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Is It Advisable To Take Antihistamines After Getting Stung By A Bee?

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Posted on Sat, 19 Dec 2015
Question: hi
my dad got stung by a bee about 4 or 5 hours ago.. he says there isn't any rash or itchiness and he says he isn't allergic to bees .. it stung him on the neck and he feels a swelling in the throat.. but he is able to speak and breath without any difficulty. . he went to the pharmacy but they just gave him antihistamine and told him that he probably needs some steroids or adrenaline and to see if the antihistamines work and if they don't work in an hour then to see doctor..
as he isn't getting any issues with breathing and it's been 4 or 5 hours already .. symptoms have not changed.. is it OK to wait it out?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Amarnath (15 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Better to go to a clinic now

Detailed Answer:
Welcome to Health Care Magic,
Bee stings though much of them are non poisonous it can cause severe allergic manifestations breathing difficulty and swelling around the bitten area . If it is a mild one the antihistamines alone will be enough .
when the sting is removed it is OK but many a time after a bite the sting is not fully removed and the partial sting which is left over cause many symptoms if you go to a clinic now, the physician will examine the bitten area he will remove the sting if present and then he will inject anti allergic medications like Chlorpheniramine maleate or Adrenaline if needed .

Hope this explains about the condition in details, do followup if needed.

With regards
Dr.Amarnath
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Amarnath (22 minutes later)
thanks for the answer.. he has taken the antihistamine and he will go to a clinic.
just wondering. . if there are no rashes or breathing problems or anything but just the swelling in the throat that has not gotten worse over the few hours.. would that be an allergic reaction or like a local reaction of swelling to the sting? he thought it was OK and just wanted to use some stingose cream for it but the pharmacist told him to use an antihistamine tablet and to go see doctor if it doesn't work in an hour. .
doctor
Answered by Dr. Amarnath (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Nothing to worry

Detailed Answer:
welcome to healthcare magic,
if it is only swelling there is no problem. as you said he has no respiratory difficulty or distress hope he is fine.
the swelling is only due to the local reaction. but you can expect bigger swelling in the second and third day after that everything will subside and he will be fine from the fourth day.
my humble advice is to remove the sting if present as early as possible. other than that nothing to worry
hope for speedy recovery
with regards
Dr.Amarnath
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Amarnath

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 463 Questions

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Is It Advisable To Take Antihistamines After Getting Stung By A Bee?

Brief Answer: Better to go to a clinic now Detailed Answer: Welcome to Health Care Magic, Bee stings though much of them are non poisonous it can cause severe allergic manifestations breathing difficulty and swelling around the bitten area . If it is a mild one the antihistamines alone will be enough . when the sting is removed it is OK but many a time after a bite the sting is not fully removed and the partial sting which is left over cause many symptoms if you go to a clinic now, the physician will examine the bitten area he will remove the sting if present and then he will inject anti allergic medications like Chlorpheniramine maleate or Adrenaline if needed . Hope this explains about the condition in details, do followup if needed. With regards Dr.Amarnath