Hi Moms,
I hope you can help with this question. Last Saturday, while out with my husband, my 5 year old son was stung by a bee on his forearm (at least we assume it was a bee)- His first bee sting. My husband checked and didn't see a stinger and he put ice on it right away. When they got home I looked and didn't see a stinger either. It was a little red in that area, but nothing major. It seemed to get better and faded over the next day or so. Then I sort of forgot about it. Yesterday my son had a red blotchy patch in the same area. At first we thought he had Poison Ivy then I realized that's the same exact spot as the bee sting. The center is white and has a tiny little bump (no dark spots though) then it's red and a little swollen around it. He says it doesn't hurt and isn't itchy. I've only been stung twice in my life and don't remember much about it other than the initial pain of the sting. Is this normal with bee stings? Could it be something else? Is it odd that he has this reaction a week later? Any ideas and comments you have would be appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks moms for your great responses. Since I sent out the question the area has already faded and it's not swollen anymore. I'll definitely mention it to the pediatrician though. I appreciate your comments.
Hi J.,
If you place raw garlic over the sting immediately, it seems to take it away. It is a very old folk remedy that works! (I tried this after I'd been stung under my arm. However if the area is still raw and painful, my opinion is to see a doctor. Some kids are allergic.
Hope it gets healed,
S.
Hi, I haven't had that happen but I suggest a doctor visit, to at least rule out a (Lyme Disease) tic bite. Best of luck.
My daughter had a similar thing happen. Had the pediatrician look at it, she told me there is a certain kind of bug in MA that looks like a small bee, but isn't really. It feels like a bee sting and treatment is the same, but about 4-6 days later you get exactly what you describe, the white bump in the middle of a raised red area. She had 3 on her arm, actually. We just used the hydrocortizone or caladryl to dry it up and it went away after about another week or so, no scars or anything. If you're in doubt, check with the MD.
jenn,
just like another mom said, call your dr. it could be a spider bite or tick bite.
good luck!! watch hus syptoms close!
Hi J.
I don't know where you live but it sounds exactly like a reaction to a fire ant bite. We used to live in the south and were plagued with them constantly. But I don't believe they come this far north so if you live in NE that probably isn't much help. Maybe it could be a spider bite or a deer fly???
Hi J. -
Could be your son is allergic to bees and since this is his first sting he wouldn't have a life threatening reaction. You could always call the pedi and find out his opinion about it and if the pedi thinks it's a possibility, ask him about having your son tested. The pedi may not endorse that idea as it's not a definite on the allergy, but something to keep in mind when your son is outside playing. Good Luck!
Hi J.
It is probably a hive due to the bee sting, I get them. I would call our pediatric and see if they want to see him. You can have get a reaction days later as the body metabolizes the venom. Each bee sting the body can get more serve. It is something to be careful about.
E.
Hi J.;
Keep a close eye on the area. You might consider taking your child to his pediatrician. My concern is that this could be s spider bite and that you may be seeing delayed effects of a toxin. This does not sound like a bee sting. I'll be keeping a good thought!
K. T.
hi there...you might want to call the dr & explain the bite..if he was bit by a tick it can leave a target-like spot that sometimes doesn't come out until a few days later..good luck
I was stung about 15 times on my face and arms and afterwards the spots where I was stung became like mosquito bites, with a white head, hard, swollen and red and very itchy. It was almost worse than the initial sting! I would watch for any symptoms but I am sure he will be fine!
S.
I was stung a few years ago. I remember the initial sting, turned red then looked a little like a little white hard bump with a tiny hole (from the stinger) in the center. But it only lasted a few days and then was totally gone. I have heard that once you are stung for the first time you don't really get a reaction if you are allergic. So I would be very careful & if that were my son I would call the doctor and explain see what the suggest to do or maybe they want to see it?
sounds more like the rash from a tick bite
Hi J.,
Yes, it could be something else. Oddly enough, a few weeks ago, I was working in my garden(early morning), had shorts on and felt something on my leg, but continued working and thought nothing more about it. The next morning while taking a shower I noticed 2 very large, swollen, red splotches in the same area where I'd felt "something" the morning before. They neither itched nor hurt and were gone in a few days.
If those splotches were bee stings, I wouldn't be typing this as I'm allergic to bee venom. My guess of what bit your son and me: BLACK FLIES!
For all those who suggested that this might be a TICK bite:
a tick needs to be attached for 24 to 36 hours for a bullseye rash to occur. J. would have seen the tick. She describe a probable Bee Sting, but wasn't positive. This STILL sounds like a BLACK FLY or a HORSE FLY. Both sting quickly and fly off. A bee sting is of much longer duration and hurts like a hot needle; her son would be screaming with pain.
This is just another two cents thrown in to the discussion.
hi J.. here is somthing new i tried on my girls. when you get stung by a bee placea penny on the wound and tape the penny up around hissting leave it on for abour 40 minutes then take it of and the stinger will be gone it realy work .
B.
I don't ever remember getting another red spot after the bee sting. I would check with your Dr. on this one. Alway better to be safe than sorry... Give your Dr. a call.
if it looks like a bullseye...it's a tick bite and should be checked for lymes disease.
Hi there,
I trod on a bee a few weeks after my second baby and my memory is that the pain and sting was almost as bad as the delivery - and went on for much longer. It also got really ichy!! But I did have the red spot and white dot exactly as you described. Not sure if mine was worse because it was on my foot, but I definately remember not being able to sleep it was so ichy - so if he complains of it being ichy a week later I'd be inclined to believe him and put some stingoes or something on. Poor little mate!!
