Symptoms of a Wasp Sting
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 burning at the sting site. Redness, minor swelling, and itching can occur too.
You are likely to develop a raised welt around the sting site. A tiny white mark may be visible in the middle of the welt where the stinger punctured your skin. Usually, the pain and swelling recedes within a few hours of being stung.
“Large local reactions” is a term used to describe stronger symptoms associated with a wasp or bee sting. People who have large local reactions may be allergic to wasp stings, but do not experience life-threatening symptoms, such as anaphylactic shock. Large local reactions to wasp stings include extreme redness and swelling that increase for one or two days after the sting.
Most of the time, large local reactions subside on their own over the course of a week or so. Let your doctor know if you have a large local reaction after a wasp sting. He or she may direct you to take an over-the-counter antihistamine medication to reduce your discomfort.
Having a large local reaction after a wasp sting one time does not necessarily mean you’ll react to future stings in the same way. You could have one strong reaction and never show the same symptoms again. On the other hand, a large local reaction could be the way your body routinely responds to wasp stings, and you will have one every time. Try to avoid being stung to prevent these uncomfortable symptoms.