While playing soccer, an 11-year-old boy was stung by a wasp. 10 minutes later, the child lost consciousness, blood pressure could not be measured, and was in critical condition.
The family said the child was stung by a wasp on the back and shoulder. A few minutes later, the child began to sweat and fainted, losing consciousness. At Ha Dong General Hospital, the child was in a critical coma. Doctors and nurses treated him with anaphylactic shock and then transferred him to the National Children’s Hospital.
On August 8, Dr. Nguyen Tan Hung, Deputy Head of the Emergency and Poison Control Department, said that the child suffered from anaphylactic shock and was prescribed adrenaline, oxygen, and other medications according to the anaphylactic shock treatment protocol. After 4 days of treatment, the child’s health was stable.
Previously, a two-year-old girl was stung by a swarm of wasps on her head, arms and back. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with elevated liver enzymes and acute rhabdomyolysis, and used diuretics to prevent acute renal failure. The child is now stable and has been discharged.
According to Dr. Hung, wasp venom is very dangerous and can cause anaphylactic shock, hemolysis, hematocrit, blood clotting disorders, rhabdomyolysis, and acute kidney failure. The severity of the dose depends on the type of wasp, the number of stings, and the location of the sting. For example, for adults, more than 30 stings are considered severe, while the corresponding number for children is 10.
“If not treated promptly, the victim’s life can be in danger,” said the doctor.
To avoid bee stings, children should be accompanied by a guardian. If there is a beehive around the house, ask someone with experience to remove it. Parents should instruct children not to poke, throw, or destroy it.
When going on a picnic, families should not wear colorful clothes or clothes with floral prints and avoid sweet foods and drinks that can attract bees. If you are unlucky enough to be stung by a wasp, stay calm, take a deep breath, do not run or swat the wasp, and wait for the animal to fly away.
In case a child is stung, parents need to remove the stinger (if any) by gently picking it out or using tweezers. Avoid squeezing it with your hands as this can spread the venom. Then wash the stung area with soap or clean water and take the child to the nearest medical facility for treatment.