It's not necessarily dangerous if a bug bite turns purple. Sometimes, bug bites can bruise from the injury. However, in some cases, it can be cause for concern, because it can be a sign of necrosis (skin and tissue death).11 If purple skin is accompanied by infection or allergy symptoms, seek medical attention.
Bites and stings may become infected. Signs of infection include redness, warmth, pain, redness streaking up the arm, drainage of pus, and swelling. Infections will need treatment with antibiotics and should get better over the next 10 days.
Symptoms on your skin like swelling, skin discoloration and itching may last for a few days following the sting. Your skin will return to normal once your injury heals. While rare, severe allergic reactions to bee stings can happen. They're life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
If the reaction starts spreading, it's time to seek bee sting emergency treatment, particularly if you have a known allergy to bees or are suffering from multiple bee stings. Other severe allergic reaction symptoms to watch for include: Skin irritation such as hives, itching, and/or flushed or pale skin.
Severe allergic reaction
Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Skin reactions, including hives and itching and flushed or pale skin. Difficulty breathing. Swelling of the throat and tongue.
Normal swelling from venom can increase for 48 hours after the sting. The redness can last 3 days. The swelling can last 7 days.
It is possible to have a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting that is not life-threatening. Symptoms can include hives, feeling nauseous or lightheaded, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure and swelling in areas other than the general sting site.
Trouble breathing. Hives that appear as a red, itchy rash and spread to areas beyond the sting. Swelling of the face, throat, or any part of the mouth or tongue. Wheezing or trouble swallowing.
Step 1: Take Out the Stinger
You'll likely see a red bump. If a stinger was left behind, you'll also see a small black filament sticking out of the center. It may have a bulbous end, which is the venom sac. If the skin around the stinger is loose, pull it tight to get a better look.
Individuals may experience swelling in the sting area after the initial sting. The size of the swelling will vary from person to person, and it may last up to 1 week. If a person's symptoms are worsening or if the person is showing any signs of anaphylaxis, they should seek immediate medical attention.
You probably won't have a severe allergic reaction the first time you are stung. But even if your first reaction to a sting is mild, allergic reactions can get worse with each sting. Your next reaction may be more severe or even deadly.
If bee stings are left untreated it can cause a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis.
Allergic reactions after insect stings may have a delayed onset, differing from the usual immediate anaphylactic pattern. Ten patients, aged 6 to 78 years, had allergic reactions 1 to 2 weeks after an insect sting. Six patients had had multiple stings preceding the reaction.
The swelling and pain usually improve within a few hours. Approximately 10 percent of people develop severe redness and swelling after a sting. This is called a large local reaction. The area may become large (4 inches [10 cm] or more) over 1 to 2 days and then slowly resolve over 5 to 10 days.
The body typically starts to break down histamine within a few hours, which is why the itchiness from a bee sting usually goes away within a day or two. However, in some cases, the body does not break down histamine as quickly. This can cause the itchiness to last for days or even weeks.
Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease redness, itching or swelling. If itching or swelling is bothersome, take an oral antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine. Avoid scratching the sting area. This will worsen itching and swelling and increase your risk of infection.
Honey, aloe vera gel, and lavender oil can also take care of a honeybee sting. Make sure to dilute the lavender oil before using it. Dilute the lavender oil with some carrier oil like coconut or olive. You can also use ice packs to reduce the swelling and get relief.
What kind of symptoms should I expect? The symptoms of a bee sting vary from person to person, but you may see a pink or red welt or swelling of the skin around the sting site. A central white spot usually appears where the stinger punctured your skin, Hottel says.
People often associate blood poisoning with bites from mosquitoes, bees or wasps. To be precise, however, the insect bite itself cannot cause blood poisoning. Nonetheless, germs can enter the body – either via the insect itself, which is very rare, or if the skin around the bite is scratched and irritated.
To help alleviate the panic, it's important to know what to do — and not do — to treat a bee sting. The first thing to do is to get the stinger out quickly. The longer the stinger stays in the skin, the more venom it releases, adding to the person's pain and swelling. Stay calm.
Large Local Reactions and Bee Sting Swelling Days Later
A local reaction can produce very uncomfortable pain, itching, and swelling. Some of this swelling can be delayed, increasing over 24 to 48 hours. It may take 3 to 10 days for these symptoms to resolve.
Epinephrine is a medication that can help to reduce bee sting allergy symptoms. You may also need to be treated with antihistamines and cortisone through an IV. Your doctor will likely prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector to carry with you at all times.
You should call 911 and seek immediate emergency treatment if you or someone near you develops a severe reaction to a bee sting or if there are multiple bee stings. The following symptoms are a sign of an allergic reaction: Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Stomach cramps.