Mom didn’t think son’s wasp sting was “big deal,” then the swelling began

When Bailey Cary’s son Oliver was first stung by a wasp, his mom was not overly concerned.

“Oliver was on his way back from fishing at a local dock. He thinks he might have disturbed a nest on the dock or maybe even brushed against one in a tree during his walk,” she told Newsweek.

“I was about to leave for an appointment when he rushed in saying a wasp had stung him. I gave him Benadryl and an ice pack.”

Cary can be forgiven for assuming that would be enough.

Most Americans will be stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet at some point in their lives. It’s a painful experience but, for the most part, a common one.

Oliver’s experience wasn’t quite like that.

Keeping a close eye on her son, Cary quickly realized something was wrong.

“Even with that dose, his face started to swell at a rapid pace,” she said. “He told me he thought something might be wrong.”

It turned out Oliver was part of the small percentage of people for whom a bee, wasp, or hornet sting is a big deal.

An estimated 0.5 percent to 3 percent of U.S. adults are at risk of a systemic allergic reaction from stinging insects such as wasps, bees, and hornets, according to the CDC.

It’s estimated that around 10 percent of people experience a large local reaction, characterized by significant swelling around the sting site.

More severe systemic allergic reactions, which can include hives, breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, and anaphylaxis, occur in approximately 0.3 percent to 3 percent of adults and are less common in children.

Cary could see Oliver was having a significant reaction to the sting, but despite feeling panicked at the sight, she knew it was important to stay calm.

“His lip was huge at this point, but I didn’t want to make him panic,” she said. “I tried to downplay the situation on our way to our local urgent care.”

Oliver was given a steroid shot and soon recovered. His doctor also referred him to an allergist for testing.

“He’s never had an allergic reaction before. This came out of nowhere for us,” Cary said.

Though Cary’s quick actions ensured there was never any danger of Oliver’s situation turning serious, his story serves as a reminder of the dangers these stings can pose to the unlucky few.

The CDC reported 788 deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings between 2011 and 2021, averaging about 72 deaths per year in the U.S. Most of these deaths are believed to result from severe allergic reactions rather than the direct toxic effects of venom.

Cary is urging parents to be vigilant.

“I hope I’ve helped other parents become more aware of the dangers of potential unknown allergies,” she said. “I assumed being allergic to wasps and bees was genetic.”

When Oliver was first stung on the lip, Cary didn’t think it was a “big deal.” She knows differently now.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang