Insect Sting Care In Westmont, IL

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology describes three kinds of reactions:

• Normal reaction: pain, redness and swelling at the sting site only.
• Large local reaction: swelling that spreads well beyond the sting, such as a whole arm swelling after a sting on the forearm. It can look alarming and may take 5 to 10 days to go away.
• Allergic reaction: symptoms away from the sting, such as hives, itching or swelling elsewhere, stomach cramps, vomiting, chest tightness, a hoarse voice or trouble breathing. This needs emergency care.

A provider looks at the sting, asks what stung you and when, and reviews any past reactions and allergies. Care may include:

• Removing a stinger or other material left in the skin
• Cleaning the area and advice on cold packs and keeping the limb raised
• Oral or injectable medicine for larger or more uncomfortable reactions, when appropriate
• Checking for signs of skin infection, which can show up days later as spreading redness, warmth or pus
• Referral for allergy testing if your reaction suggests a venom allergy

First aid at home: scrape a stinger out sideways with a straight edge such as a card rather than squeezing it with tweezers. Wash with soap and water, then apply ice wrapped in a cloth for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off.

Anaphylaxis can start within minutes of a sting and can be life-threatening. Call 911 for trouble breathing or wheezing, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue or throat, throat tightness, dizziness, fainting, or bluish skin. If you carry an epinephrine auto-injector, use it and call 911. ACAAI advises carrying two doses, since one may not be enough.

Also call 911 for many stings at once, or a sting inside the mouth or throat.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for chest pain or pressure, severe trouble breathing, sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, sudden trouble speaking or seeing, fainting or severe confusion, a seizure, or heavy bleeding.

• Bee sting treatment
• Allergy testing
• Skin rash evaluation
• Kids urgent visits

Summer yard work, sports and picnics bring patients to us for sting care from nearby towns, including:

• Clarendon Hills, IL: about 1 mile east of our Cass Ave clinic
• Oak Brook, IL: about 2.9 miles northeast of our Cass Ave clinic
• Western Springs, IL: about 4 miles east of our Cass Ave clinic
• Darien, IL: about 3.1 miles south of our Cass Ave clinic
• Burr Ridge, IL: about 4.4 miles southeast of our Cass Ave clinic

Distances are straight-line miles. Neighbors in our home town can read more on our Westmont, IL urgent care page.

We accept most major plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO), BCBS Advocate Good Samaritan (HMO), BCBS Medicaid Community, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, Meridian, CountyCare, Multiplan/PHCS, ACPN, USAMCO and State of Illinois Benefit Plans. Coverage for lab work depends on your plan, so please call (630) 324-6825 to confirm before you come. Details are on our cost and insurance page.

No insurance, or prefer not to use it? We offer flat, upfront self-pay urgent care pricing, with a general visit from $125. Ask us about the cost of any lab test before it is ordered.

Both of our locations are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The main clinic is at 29 N Cass Ave, Ste A, Westmont, IL 60559. Our second location, inside Jewel-Osco, is at 4 E Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL 60559. Walk in, or check in online to save your place.

How long does swelling from a sting last?

A normal reaction usually settles within a few days. A large local reaction can take 5 to 10 days to go away.

Does a large local reaction mean I am allergic?

Not necessarily. A large local reaction stays around the sting site. Symptoms in other parts of the body point to an allergic reaction, and an allergy evaluation may help.

Should I use tweezers to pull out a stinger?

MedlinePlus advises scraping the stinger out with a straight edge instead, because squeezing may release more venom.

Do you treat children for stings?

Yes. Walk in, or check in online for sting care.