The New Straits Times, August 28,1995
Q: How harmful is hornet sting? How should one react when one gets stung by hornets?
A: Hornets come from the family Vespidae. There are four families of the order Hymenoptera that are known to be venomous. They are Apidae (honey-bees), Bombidae (bumble-bees), Vespidae (wasps, hornets and yellow jackets) and Formacidae (ants).
Repeated stings from these animals may result in acute animals may result in acute anaphylactic (hypersensitivity) reactions involving cardiaovascular, respiratory or nervous system changes.
Those not sensitive to the venom, for example, may tolerate up to several simultaneous stings but any number higher than this can be fatal.
The venoms of the Hymenoptera are complex mixtures of enzymes and are delivered by various methods. The venoms also contain peptides, nonenzymatic proteins and amines such as histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. They are highly responsible for producing the anaphylactic reaction.
The dose of venom delivered per sting may vary from none to the entire contents of the venom gland. The toxic response is highly variable depending on individual sensitivity.
Once venom is injected, there is usually an immediate onset of severe pain followed by a local inflammation which include itching, blisters, edema and a sensation of warmth.
Those who develop acute anaphylactic reactions upon multiple stings by the animals may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, hypotension, breathing difficulty, clotting of blood and even death.
Most anaphylactic reactions occur within 10 minutes of envenomation. Acute anaphylactic reaction needs immediate medical attention and is best dealt with in the hospitals.
There is no specific drug or antidote for this type of envonomation. The sting of many Hymenoptera may remain in the skin and should be removed by teasing or scraping rather than pulling.
Wash the area with soap and water. In most cases, the painful localised tissue response will resolve in a few hours without therapy. Some symptomatic relief may be obtained by topical application of ice and analgesic-corticosteroid cream or lotion. Antihistamine creams are often useful.
