How to handle bee stings in time

The Emergency and Poison Control Department of the National Children's Hospital is treating two children who were stung by bees.

According to the family, the three children were relatives. On the afternoon of September 16, the children followed their grandmother to work in the fields when they were suddenly attacked by a swarm of bees. Because they were too young, the children panicked and ran away but were unable to escape. The grandmother and the three children were stung by bees in many places on their bodies.

When they returned home, the family saw that the 3 children had swollen faces and many wounds all over their bodies, fever, and difficulty breathing, so they took them to the commune health station for emergency treatment. The children were then transferred to the provincial hospital. Unfortunately, the 3-year-old child died due to 80 bee stings, and his condition was so severe that he died. The remaining 2 children were contacted for consultation and transferred to the National Children's Hospital.

Here, the two children were closely monitored and actively treated at the Emergency and Poison Control Department.

Specialist Doctor I Pham Van Tuan, Department of Emergency and Anti-Poison, National Children's Hospital said: "The number of bites on each child's body is up to nearly 20. As soon as we received them, we assessed their clinical condition and performed urgent tests on the children. The results showed that the two children had liver and kidney damage, blood clotting disorders and rhabdomyolysis. Therefore, the doctors quickly carried out treatment according to the protocol with measures of fluid infusion, forced diuresis, adjustment of blood clotting disorders and protection of liver cells."

Currently, after 48 hours of treatment, the indicators of the 2 children have improved significantly, and their clinical condition is more stable. If progress is favorable, the 2 children can be discharged in the coming days.

Also in early September, the National Children's Hospital received and treated two other cases of bee stings, a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old, both from Son La, with complications of rhabdomyolysis. The two children were stung by bees while playing with a beehive in the garden. Fortunately, thanks to timely detection and treatment, both were in stable condition and were discharged after 5 days.

From these dangerous situations, doctors warn the community not to be subjective about bee stings, especially in young children. Even if only a few stings are experienced, children are still at risk of serious complications if not monitored and treated properly.

Parents should pay special attention to the following recommendations from doctors: Always supervise young children, especially when playing near densely wooded areas, gardens, hills, and fields; educate children not to tease or throw stones at beehives.

To avoid serious consequences, when children are stung by bees, parents need to calmly handle the situation and quickly move the child to a safe area to avoid more stings.

Then practice first aid steps: