If a child has been stung by a honeybee or bumblebee an adult should remove the stinger by gentling scraping across the site with a blunt object like a credit card. The stinger should not be pulled out because this can release more venom from the attached venom sac. Wasps and other stinging insects do not leave their stingers behind.

Children and their parents are likely to be unaware of the child’s allergy until after an insect sting has triggered an allergic reaction. Children who may have experienced such a reaction should be taken to a physician, who can treat them as appropriate for the symptoms with antihistamines, corticosteroids or epinephrine.

Patients with insect allergies should be referred to an allergist who can diagnose the specific insect allergy. Once an allergy is diagnosed, many prescription, over-the-counter and home-based remedies are available to help relieve symptoms of an allergic reaction to an insect sting.

In addition, a physician may suggest that a child participate in allergy shot treatments, also known as immunotherapy. The goal of immunotherapy is to build up a patient’s tolerance to an allergen. For example, children at risk from insect stings receive very low-dose injections of the insect venom over a period of weeks until they build up a tolerance to it. Once the tolerance has been established, the likelihood of suffering a severe allergic reaction to a sting is reduced.

A child who has insect sting allergies should carry an allergy kit that contains injectable epinephrine with them at all times, and be taught how to use it. This rescue medication should also be available at home, school, camp, or other places where the child could be exposed to insects and all the child’s caregivers should know how to administer the drug.

One dose of epinephrine is not always enough to reverse the symptoms of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can also recur several hours later. Therefore, children who receive an injection of epinephrine should still receive medical attention. It is also advisable that children have more than one dose of epinephrine available.  

When epinephrine is not available, medical attention should be immediately sought, either through calling an ambulance or driving the patient to a hospital.

Children with insect sting allergies may also benefit from wearing a medic-alert bracelet.