UCSF

Bee stings are very common worldwide. About 5% to 15% of those afflicted have a large local reaction, defined as a skin reaction around the sting site with edema, erythema, itching, and an injury diameter >10 cm. Standard treatments for large local reactions include ice, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, antihistamine medications, and topical or systemic corticosteroids, none of which immediately treat the pain associated with the symptoms nor initiate immediate treatment of the allergic and inflammatory response. We present a dramatic and rapid reversal of a periorbital large local reaction treated with subcutaneous and intradermal injection of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine into the sting area. The lidocaine rapidly reversed the symptoms of pain and pressure, and the low dose of epinephrine, within 2 hours, significantly reversed the allergic periorbital and eyelid edema. No further symptoms evolved, suggesting that the epinephrine terminated the allergic cascade.