Wasp Sting in the Mouth or Throat — an Emergency

A sting in the mouth or throat is one of the most dangerous situations involving wasps and bees — regardless of whether an insect venom allergy is present. This article explains why, and how to react correctly. It is no substitute for emergency medical care.

Why this sting is particularly dangerous

In summer and autumn, wasps are often drawn to sweet drinks and food outdoors. If a wasp or bee is swallowed while drinking from an open can or bottle, or gets into the mouth while eating, it can sting — resulting in swelling in the mouth, tongue or throat. Because the airways there are very narrow, even moderate swelling can make breathing considerably harder or impossible. This applies regardless of whether an insect venom allergy is present.

What you should do immediately

1. Call the emergency number 144 at once — even if the affected person is still breathing and speaking normally at first.
2. Cool from the inside: let the person suck on ice cubes or sip cold water in small mouthfuls to slow the swelling in the throat.
3. Cool from the outside: a cold pack or damp cloth on the neck can help as well.
4. Observe: watch for breathing difficulties, hoarseness, wheezing or trouble swallowing, and pass these observations on to the ambulance crew.

When it is especially urgent

Increasing hoarseness, difficulty breathing, heavy salivation or panic in the affected person mean an acute emergency — these may be signs of anaphylactic shock. In this case do not wait for things to get worse; act immediately and stay with the affected person until the ambulance arrives. You will find details on first aid in the guide «Anaphylactic Shock: First Aid». In children the swelling becomes critical particularly quickly because their airways are narrower; more on this in the article «Wasp sting in children: what to do». General immediate measures after a sting can be found in the pillar guide «Wasp sting — what to do?».