The doctor told you what would happen if you swallowed a wasp

The doctor told you what would happen if you swallowed a wasp

And she named the symptoms that require emergency care.

M.D., physician, head of EMC’s emergency and urgent care department.

“Many people know that the sting of a wasp is especially dangerous for allergic people who have a reaction specifically to the venom of this insect. However, a person may not be aware that they have such a reaction until the first incident.”

What is the danger of a wasp sting?

A wasp sting is dangerous in terms of the development of allergic reactions. Therefore, if there is redness and swelling at the sting site, it is important to see a doctor immediately.

In case of coughing, shortness of breath or even impaired consciousness, it is also necessary to call an ambulance.

If bitten, it is important to remove the sting. However, do not worry if it was not possible to do this completely: the doctor will extract it definitively during the appointment.

For a person, a wasp can be dangerous in other situations.

What happens if you swallow a wasp?

Almost 90% of foreign bodies that enter the stomach, freely exit through the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). There are also cases where non-operative intervention is required. Surgical treatment in this situation occurs in exceptional cases. This applies to objects at least 6 cm in length or 2.5 cm in diameter, as they will not be able to pass through the stomach.

Foreign bodies are divided into different groups:

• swallowed foreign bodies;
• introduced into the body by the ascending route (through the rectum);
• traumatic entry into the GI tract;
• formed in the body;
• living foreign bodies of the GI tract.

An ingested wasp belongs to the first group.

Three forms of manifestations are important in the clinical picture:

• latent form – a single foreign body of small size (2 to 5 cm) without any symptoms;
• manifest form, which has pronounced clinical manifestations: abdominal pain, heaviness in the epigastric region, nausea, vomiting, flatulence;
• complicated form – the presence of symptoms of perforation of the hollow organ of the GI tract or foreign body impingement. It is accompanied by intolerable pain in the epigastric region or right subcostal area, repeated vomiting, abdominal bloating.

It follows that in the case of accidental ingestion of a wasp, there will be no traumatization of the digestive tract. The insect easily passes through our digestive system and does not require additional interventions.

However, there is a danger here: there is still a risk of stinging the mucous membranes already after swallowing the wasp. This can lead to allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock (severe systemic allergic reaction of immediate type), as in the case of stings to exposed parts of the body.

What should you do if you swallow a wasp?

If a wasp or bee somehow got into your mouth, you should be as careful as possible and try to avoid swallowing the insect.

But if suddenly it still happened, it is worth observing your condition. In case of poor health or allergic reactions, you should immediately call an ambulance. Because there are no recommendations for independent medical care in this case.

When should I go to the doctor?

First, it is necessary to consult a doctor if after a wasp sting there is a pronounced local reaction. Secondly, if there are general signs of a generalized allergic reaction. These include coughing, shortness of breath, choking, unconsciousness, rapid heartbeat and decreased blood pressure.