If a child has any of these more severe symptoms within an hour of the sting, Graif said, he or she should be taken to the nearest hospital immediately. Once the emergency has passed, the child should see an allergist for follow-up, the researcher added.

Dr. Yael Graif is the lead author of an article published in the latest issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. His study shows that a lot of children who get serious insect stings are not brought to the hospitals. According to the Reuters health article:

Researchers found that only 6 percent of children who'd ever been stung by a bee, wasp or hornet were taken to the emergency room. More importantly, just 14 percent of those who'd had a moderate to severe allergic reaction -- including breathing problems, abdominal pain and loss of consciousness -- went to the hospital.

My son has mild allergic reactions to insect stings. Which insect, I am not yet sure as the two incidents happened while he was in kindergarten. He developed mild swelling over the sting area that persisted over a few days. However, there were no other symptoms, so I let it pass, and yes, count him as another statistic for those not brought to the hospital or to a doctor following a sting. Fortunately, his is not a fatal case of insect allergies.

The article says that it's within the first hour after the sting which is critical. In the meantime, Kid's Health has a list of what you can do, as first-aid and while observing your child for symptoms:

• Move the child from the area where he was stung.


• If the stinger is still there, remove it by gently scraping the skin horizontally with a blunt endged object, or a fingernail.


• Wash area with soap and water.


• Apply a cold pack for a few minutes.


• If area is itchy, a paste of baking soda and water, or calamine lotion may be applied (but not to genitals or face).

If the sting area is in the mouth area, immediate medical attention is needed.

Read more from Kid's Health.