Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey recently shared a close-up photo of himself, in which his right eye is swollen and his smile stretches from ear to ear. The 54-year-old actor, who was injured by a bee sting, captioned his photo: “Bee swelling”. Insect bites, especially bee or wasp stings, can be more common around agricultural areas, but can also occur in residential areas, parks and gardens, and open areas. They can be quite painful but heal within a few days.
“Usually bites cause a local reaction, with swelling and tenderness around the bite site. This can last for several days. The bite site is painful and itching is common,” says Dr Digvijay Dhananjay Adake, in-charge and consultant, emergency medicine, DPU Super Speciality Hospital, Pune.
Treatment
To treat stings, Dr. Adekye says, “If the bee stinger is present in the wound, remove it immediately. Try to scrape off the sting to avoid inhaling any remaining bee venom.” Wash the area with soap and water or a disinfectant to reduce the chance of infection. Apply a cold compress to deal with pain and reduce swelling.
Bee stings usually heal within two to three days with proper treatment and have no long-term consequences. “You can take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-allergic medications for the sting. Antihistamines can limit the discomfort and reduce swelling if there is significant swelling on the limbs,” explains Dr Vanuli Bajpai, Consultant – Ophthalmology, Manipal Hospitals Dwarka, Delhi.
Take extra precautions
If you are stung by any member of the Hymenoptera family in or around your eye, the most important thing is to not panic and rub your eye. This can cause more damage than the sting, causing swelling or abrasions on the cornea. “Bites and stings on the face can be worrying. Although the eyes are protected from external injuries by the blinking action, sometimes they can be affected,” says Dr Bajpai.
Sometimes, tiny insect hairs can get stuck in the eye, especially under the upper eyelid. This can cause eye pain, a feeling of a foreign body in the eye, and sensitivity to light. If it rubs against the sensitive cornea, it can damage it; in some severe cases, it can even cause infection.
