Where's the worst place for a bee sting? One scientist found out...

[astr0144]

Where's the worst place for a bee sting? One scientist found out...

Be careful where you get stung when Gardening. (or anywhere !)


https://uk.news.yahoo.com/where-s-the-worst-place-for-a-bee-sting--one-scientist-found-out---172312645.html

[ArMaP]

Where's the worst place for a bee sting?

Me.

[burntheships]

He went away and developed his masochistic plan to receive stings all over his body.

I will say that while cutting Lavender last summer
a bee sting in my upper arm was barely noticeable,
rating it about the same as he did.

[sky otter]

how stupid can you get.. i sure hope this 'student' isn't on any scholarships

it isn't WHERE you are stung that is important it is your own personal SENSITIVITY to the
bee toxin {apitoxin}

[ArMaP]

When I was 5 or 6 years old I was stung by a wasp on the upper lip, that, apparently, is the second worst place to be stung, unless bee stings are different from wasp stings.

[sky otter]

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/05/17/how_do_bee_and_wasp_stings_differ/


Home /Business Ask Dr. Knowledge
How do bee and wasp stings differ?
May 17, 2010

  What's the difference between a bee sting and wasp sting? I know bee stingers are barbed and stay in, but what about the poison?

For a bee, a sting is all or nothing; the bee loses its stinger and injects a relatively large volume of venom — typically about 50 micrograms.

A wasp, which retains its stinger, injects from 2 to 15 micrograms — but it can do it many times.

Chemically, the venoms are quite different, though the effects are similar. You can be allergic to one type of sting and not the other. Both types are complicated mixtures of chemicals, but here's a rough idea of what's in them:

Wasp venoms have enzymes that break down cell membranes, as well as neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and serotonin, which get nerves firing. They also have substances that trigger the release of histamine, producing an intense allergy-like reaction similar to getting hives.

Bee stings are more than 50 percent melittin, a powerful toxin that works by stimulating an enzyme involved in inflammation. Like wasp venoms, a lot of what it does involves making the body release histamine and produce a hives-like reaction.

Both venoms contain hyaluronidase, which breaks down the barrier between cells, helping the venom to spread. Wasps and bees also both signal others of their kind after they sting, so it's a good idea to get far away after the first sting.

Since the venoms are injected, most folk remedies have little basis in science, but anything that either cools or numbs the wound and takes the victim's mind off the pain will help.

Bee stingers should be removed, since the venom sac remains attached when the bee flies off and can continue injecting venom for some time. Antihistamines may help a bit, but in case of a severe allergic reaction, call 911 immediately.

Ask Dr. Knowledge is written by Northeastern University physicist John Swain. E-mail questions to drknowledge@globe.com or write to Dr. Knowledge, c/o The Boston Globe, PO Box 55819, Boston, MA 02205-5819.

© Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company.

[A51Watcher]

Worst place eh?...


I once witnessed a bee land on a guys thigh who wearing shorts, and then it climbed right up into his shorts.

So add to worst place, the worst action to take, and he panicked and started swatting his shorts trying to kill it.


So of course he wound up getting stung in the worst place.

[Shasta56]

repeated exposure to the venom can also increase the chance of an allergic reaction.  Anaphylaxis is not pleasant.

Shasta

[ArMaP]

So of course he wound up getting stung in the worst place.

Inside the nostril?

[Fruitbat]

When I was about 9 years old I kicked a globular object I found in a ditch which turned out to be a wasp nest.

I picked up 11 stings for my trouble, before I out ran the buggers. Fortunately it would appear I was not very sensitive to wasp venom... :c)

FB.