Bees keep emergency rooms buzzing

Flailing arms, running in circles and a few choice words are tell-tale signs a person is fighting an angry bee.

A change in season often seems to bring a change in bee and wasp temperament, and Dickinson medical centers are seeing an influx of sting victims.

Dr. Michael Cassidy of St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Center's emergency medicine said in the last 10 days, the emergency room has experienced a tremendous increase in sting victims.

However, not all were life-threatening.

"Ninety-eight percent of these stings do not require emergency-room care and could be managed at home," Dr. Cassidy said. "Emergency room visits can be three to four times more costly than a clinic visit."

Dr. Kamille Sherman, with Medcenter One in Dickinson, said the clinic has had a few wasp sting victims.

"Some have started to look infected after a few days," Dr. Sherman said. "Typically, the patients we see in the clinic are having minor localized reactions."

Dr. Cassidy said symptoms that warrant an emergency room visit are difficulty breathing, including chest tightness and wheezing, weakness, fainting, feelings of dizziness, a feeling of swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, rapid spreading of itching and or redness, fever and signs of infection.

These symptoms could be the sign of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.

According to the Children's Hospital in Boston, about 2 million people in the United States are allergic to bee stings and they estimate 3 percent of children who are stung will experience systemic allergic reactions.

Jim Splichal, of South Heart, hadn't been stung by a bee for about 10 to 12 years until last month.

Working outdoors near Baker, Mont., Splichal was stung in the neck and ended up in the emergency room after a friend with a bee allergy noticed he was having difficulty speaking.

"By the time I got to the hospital, I could no longer swallow, I could no longer talk and I was fighting for air," Splichal said.

Total time from the sting to Splichal's arrival at the hospital was about 15 minutes, he said. Doctors then acted swiftly.

"They immediately gave me a shot of epinephrine, a shot of steroids and gave me a tetanus shot and a big dose of Benadryl," Splichal said. "I had no idea I was allergic to bees."

Thankfully, Splichal was five minutes outside of Baker, Mont.

"The doctor told me if I had been farther out, I probably wouldn't be talking to you today," Splichal said.

For those who are severely allergic to bee stings, an EpiPen is crucial.

The EpiPen is filled with epinephrine, used to combat anaphylaxis. Splichal now carries an EpiPen with him at all times.

Splichal said he has noticed more angry bees this year than years past.

Jan Knodel, entomologist for North Dakota State University's Extension Service, said people are more likely to be stung in August and September as bees and all flying stingers, such as yellow jackets, become much more aggressive.

"The best thing is to try and not aggravate them," Knodel said.

Swatting heightens the bee's anger level, she said.

Knodel said yellow jackets and hornets are the same thing. The term "bee" generally refers to a typical honey bee and the term wasp can refer to both hornets and bees.

With cold weather on its way, high numbers of angry bees won't last much longer.

"Everyone dies in the nest except for the female -- the queen," Knodel said. "She'll leave the nest next spring and make a new nest."

For those who are having hornet or bee problems and wish to exterminate them, time of day is crucial.

"If you want to get rid of them, wait until the colony is all back at the nest in the evening, so you'd want to do your control measures at night time," she said.

Splichal said he has become acutely aware of his surroundings and if bees are present, and for good reason.

"He (his doctor) said if I get stung by the same kind of bee, my reaction time could be less this time than it was the last time," Splichal said.

Dr. Cassidy advises the same.

"Future reactions could be worse each time you get stung, so avoiding situations where you might get stung again is important," Dr. Cassidy said.

Honey bees nest in trees, whereas wasps and yellow jackets nest in the ground, trees and roof eaves, Dr. Cassidy said.

"If you get stung, move away from the nest area immediately, he said. "The stinger of the honey bee releases a substance that will attract other bees to you. Once you are away from the nest, remove the stinger as quickly as possible."

Yellow jackets, wasps and hornets do not leave a stinger behind.