Doctor says hornet stings usually pose little risk

Hornet stings are generally no more dangerous than wasp or bee stings for healthy people, but they can quickly become life-threatening for those with an insect venom allergy, ORF reported. The warning follows the fatal sting of a 32-year-old man in Mettmach, in the Ried im Innkreis district.

Dominik Födinger, a senior physician specialising in anaesthesia and intensive care at Salzkammergut Klinikum Vöcklabruck and medical director of the Vöcklabruck emergency medical service, said hornet stings were often described as more painful but were not inherently more dangerous.

Healthy people usually experience swelling, pain and redness after a sting. The affected area should be cooled and kept still. Antihistamines may help if itching occurs, Födinger said.

People with an insect venom allergy may initially develop severe itching or hives. The reaction can then lead to serious circulatory and breathing problems.

Anyone experiencing a severe allergic reaction should call emergency services immediately rather than wait, Födinger said. Oral medication may not work quickly enough in such cases, which may require adrenaline from an EpiPen or emergency medical personnel. “Time is a crucial factor,” he said.

According to media reports, the 32-year-old who died in Mettmach was allergic and did not have his adrenaline pen with him. His life could not be saved despite the rapid arrival of an emergency doctor.

Födinger said the incident did not change the fact that hornet stings were usually harmless for healthy people and that the widespread fear of hornets was not consistent with the actual medical risk.