Quick Scoop

For a child with a wasp sting, wash the area with soap and water, apply a cold pack wrapped in cloth for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, and watch closely for any allergic reaction. If your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness, or a widespread rash, call emergency services right away.

What to Do

  • Remove the child from the area so there are no more stings.
    • [3][4]
  • Wash the sting with soap and water.
    • [4][10][1]
  • Use a cold pack or ice wrapped in cloth to reduce pain and swelling, usually in short intervals.
    • [10][1][4]
  • Give acetaminophen for pain if needed and age-appropriate, following the label or your child’s clinician’s advice.
    • [7][1][10]
  • If your child’s doctor says it is okay, an oral antihistamine may help itching.
    • [1][7][10]

Get Help Now

Call emergency services immediately if your child has any signs of a severe allergic reaction, including trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat, faintness, or a rapid spreading rash.

Also get urgent care right away if the sting is in the mouth, nose, or throat, because swelling there can affect breathing.

Watch For

If symptoms stay local, the sting is often limited to pain, redness, itching, and swelling.

Seek medical advice if the redness keeps expanding, the area becomes warm or drains pus, or your child develops fever or vomiting.

Simple Rule

If it looks like a normal local sting, clean, cool, and monitor. If it looks like an allergy, breathing problem, or face/throat sting, treat it as an emergency.

If you want, I can also give you a very short “parent checklist” version you can save on your phone.