Guides

Wasp Sting First Aid

UK first aid, NHS-aligned. What to do, in order.

Call 999 immediately if you see any of these:

  • Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or noisy breathing
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or throat
  • Tightness in the throat or trouble swallowing
  • Dizziness, faintness, or sudden confusion
  • A rash spreading rapidly across the body
  • The person was stung inside the mouth or throat

These are signs of anaphylaxis. It can develop within minutes and is fatal if untreated. Do not wait.

For a single sting in an otherwise healthy adult

Most wasp stings need nothing more than basic first aid. Sharp pain fades within a couple of hours; redness and a small lump can persist for up to a week. The five-step process below mirrors NHS guidance.

  1. Move away. Wasps release an alarm pheromone the moment they sting, which attracts more wasps from the nest within seconds. Walk steadily away — don't swat or run, both make it worse.
  2. Wash the area with soap and clean running water. There is no stinger to remove. (If you find one, it was a honeybee, not a wasp — scrape it off sideways with a fingernail rather than pinching.)
  3. Apply a cold compress for 10–15 minutes. An ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a bag of frozen peas, both work. This reduces pain and limits the local swelling.
  4. Take pain relief if needed. Paracetamol or ibuprofen at standard adult doses. An over-the-counter antihistamine such as cetirizine helps with itching and the localised swelling.
  5. Watch for 30 minutes. Stay with the person and watch for the anaphylaxis signs at the top of this page. Most reactions appear within 15 minutes; if nothing has developed by 30 minutes, the risk drops sharply.

Multiple stings

If someone has been stung more than 10 times, or if a child has been stung more than 5 times, contact NHS 111 even if they appear well. Wasp venom is toxic in cumulative doses regardless of allergy status — large numbers of stings can cause vomiting, headache, and in rare cases kidney problems that need monitoring.

For very large numbers of stings (50+ in an adult, fewer in a child) treat as a medical emergency and call 999.

Children, pregnancy, and elderly

  • Children — same first aid steps, but check antihistamine and painkiller doses against their weight. Don't give aspirin to under-16s.
  • Pregnancy — paracetamol is safe; avoid ibuprofen, particularly in the third trimester. Antihistamines such as loratadine and cetirizine are generally considered safe but speak to a pharmacist.
  • Elderly or those on blood thinners — the local swelling can be more pronounced. Watch for signs of infection in the days that follow.

Pet stings

Dogs and cats often get stung in the mouth or paw chasing wasps. A single sting on the paw is usually fine — clean the area and watch them. A sting in the mouth or throat is a vet emergency because of the risk of airway swelling. Multiple stings, vomiting, or sudden weakness all warrant a same-day vet call.

Stop it happening again

If you've been stung once, there's almost certainly a nest nearby. Wasps forage within roughly 200 metres of their colony. Look for a steady stream of wasps flying to and from a single point — under a roof tile, into a soffit, or at ground level near a shed. Once you've spotted the entry, keep clear and book a treatment.

Found the nest?

£60 fixed fee, same-day across Stockport and Greater Manchester. We treat the nest, you stop getting stung.

Call to Book

Sources and further reading

This guide is general first aid information for UK residents. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If in doubt, call NHS 111 (or 999 for emergencies). Last reviewed: April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

For most people a single wasp sting causes pain, redness, and swelling that fades within a few hours and resolves fully within a week. It becomes dangerous in three situations: an allergic person experiencing anaphylaxis (call 999 immediately), multiple stings causing systemic toxicity, or a sting inside the mouth or throat causing airway swelling.

Yes. A first sting can produce only a mild reaction; a second sting in a sensitised person can cause anaphylaxis. This is why the NHS recommends keeping a close watch on anyone stung for the first 30 minutes — particularly children, anyone stung multiple times, or anyone with a previous unexplained reaction.

Wasps don't leave their stinger behind, unlike honeybees. If you can see a stinger in the wound it was a bee, not a wasp. Scrape it off sideways with a fingernail or credit card edge — pinching with tweezers can squeeze more venom in.

Sharp pain usually fades within 1–2 hours. Itching, redness, and a small lump can persist for up to a week. A larger localised swelling — a hand swelling to twice its size, for example — is a 'large local reaction', not anaphylaxis, and usually settles within 5–10 days with antihistamines and ice.

See a GP or call NHS 111 if: the sting is inside the mouth or throat, the area becomes infected (spreading redness, pus, fever) after 24 hours, the pain is unusually severe, or you've been stung more than 10 times. Call 999 immediately for any signs of anaphylaxis (see above).

Call Now