On the 9th, Xi'an Central Hospital reported treating over 20 bee sting cases during the National Day holiday, with three patients requiring hospitalization due to critical conditions.Doctors caution travelers in mountainous areas to be vigilant against bee stings, particularly wasp stings which carry a higher fatality rate. The first 24 hours after a sting constitute the critical early stage, with prompt treatment being vital—especially within the first six hours, known as the "golden six hours." Failure to seek timely medical attention may prove life-threatening.
During the interview, experts from the hospital's Occupational Disease and Poisoning Department stated that all three critically ill patients had more than 10 bee sting lesions. Beyond local skin redness, swelling, pain, and small areas of necrosis, two patients developed severe myocardial damage with cardiac enzymes elevated to 10 times the normal level, accompanied by symptoms like palpitations.The most critically ill patient developed multiple organ failure, with severe abnormalities in cardiac enzymes, liver function, and kidney function. Medical staff collaborated with nephrology specialists to administer bedside hemoperfusion and blood purification treatments, alongside antidotes. After three days of intensive care, the patient's life was stabilized, though vital indicators remained significantly abnormal, requiring further specialized treatment.
It is reported that the mortality rate from hornet stings can reach 4.48%. In other words, one in every 20 patients stung by hornets may die. Hornets belong to the Hymenoptera order, Apocrita suborder, and Sphecidae family. When their stingers pierce human skin, they release toxins that invade the body and cause poisoning.Within minutes to hours after stinging, these components can trigger allergic reactions. Symptoms may include localized pain, redness, swelling, papules, erythema, or black pinhead-like necrotic lesions at the wound site. If anaphylactic shock occurs, rescue efforts often prove futile, making it the primary cause of early mortality.Bee stings may also cause systemic damage to multiple organs including the circulatory, nervous, hematopoietic and coagulation systems, kidneys, and liver. Severe poisoning can be fatal.