Wasp Stings Result In the Most Hospitalisations and Deaths
Australia is known to be the home of so many venomous and dangerous animals. Most of them are natives. But among them, the most dangerous one is the one we expect the least. Snakes can be poisonous, spiders can crawl under your sheets, but it’s the wasps that you have to take extra caution.
According to recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, more than 25% of hospitalisations caused by venomous animals and plants in 2017-2018 were related to wasp or bee stings. It was 927 out of 3,520 cases in number. The data also showed that there were 19 deaths from the same cause during 2017-2018 and 12 out of them were caused by bee and wasp stings.
But wasps are an enormously diverse array of insects with more than 30,000 identified species. They can be living in our garden for all we know and enter our house to threaten us. The last thing we can do is treat them the wrong way because if you have yet to know, wasp stings. And it hurts.
Facts About Wasps
Wasps are sociable insects and most of the species live in colonies of up to 10,000 workers. Their colony consists of queens, males, and workers that form self-contained communities. Social wasp colonies are started from scratch each spring by a queen who was fertilised the previous year and survived the winter by hibernating in a warm place. The fertilisation job is done by the males called Drone. Mating with the queen is their only job and they will die shortly afterward.
All wasps build nests. Social wasp nests are constructed from wood fibres collected and then mixed with water by industrious wasp workers to make a kind of papier maché capable of producing very strong and long-lasting structures. The nests start to develop in late spring when queen wasps emerge from hibernation.
Beware of the Sting
We humans are not the only creatures that have developed a fear of stinging wasps. Most animals have also developed caution as well. Anyone or anything who stumbles upon a wasp colony or has the audacity to disturb a nest will find themselves quickly swarmed. The fact is, a social wasp in distress emits a pheromone that sends nearby colony members into a defensive, stinging frenzy. Wasps can sting repeatedly, so imagine get stung by a colony of wasps. Once already painful.
The sting of a wasp usually wears off within 24 hours, but for some people, the venom in their sting causes anaphylactic shock which can be fatal. This can also lead to an increasing number of deaths. The majority of people without sting allergies will show only minor symptoms during and after a wasp sting. The initial sensations can include sharp pain or burn at the sting site. Redness, swelling, and itching can occur as well. An ordinary sting can be treated with deodorant containing aluminium.
The worst reaction of wasp stings is called “large local reactions”. People who have large local reactions may be allergic to wasp stings, but they don’t experience life-threatening symptoms, such as anaphylactic shock. Large local reactions to wasp stings include extreme redness and swelling that increases for two or three days after the sting. Nausea and vomiting can also occur. Usually, it takes around a week or so for the reactions to subside.
The best way to treat wasp stings is to see a doctor. Do not delay in seeing one because there is a much worse reaction to it: anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis occurs when your body goes into shock in response to wasp venom. Most people who go into shock after a wasp sting do so very quickly. It’s important to seek immediate emergency care to treat anaphylaxis.
How to Treat Wasp Stings
We can treat mild and moderate reactions to wasp stings at home. You can wash the sting area with soap and water to remove as much of the venom as possible. Make sure to compress the area with a cold pack to reduce the swelling and pain. Don’t forget to keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection.
Use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion if itching or skin irritation becomes bothersome. Baking soda and colloidal oatmeal are soothing to the skin and can be used during a bath or through medicated skin creams. OTC pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, can manage pain associated with wasp stings. Antihistamine drugs, including diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine, can reduce itching as well. Take all medications as directed to avoid potential side effects, such as stomach irritation or drowsiness.
You should also consider getting a tetanus shot within several days of the sting if you haven’t had a booster shot in the last 10 years. If your body is showing more severe reactions, it means you require immediate medical attention. Go see a doctor before it’s too late.
What to Do If You Find A Wasp Nest Near Your Place
Prevention is the best way for every bad thing to happen. Never attempt to remove a wasp nest yourself, as they can be dangerous. Contact a pest control company to help you get rid of the wasp nest. City Pest Control Services will treat the hive in the early evening or morning when the wasps are inactive, with either a dust or liquid pesticide. We’ll then destroy the hive and remove it.
City Pest Control Services will help you to eliminate it in Canberra and Queanbeyan areas. Do not hesitate to give us a call for the wasp pest removal services and price. You will be guaranteed great results!
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