Wasp sting allergy- what to do?

Is there any over the counter medication you could get that you could keep with you 'just in case'. It may not be strong enough to cure but might get you by until you get to medical help. Maybe nHS direct or the chemist could recomend something.

I really don't know, sorry.

Won't do any harm though to make sure you carry antihistamines with you at all times.

I've had to learn to do this as I appear to be allergic to random things - none serious (so far) but my lips and face will swell up every now and again, within 1/2 hour of taking an antihistamine I can be almost back to normal.

I try to carry anti histamines when I remember but I'm not great at remembering. I don't know whether taking them as a matter of course during the summer would help.

I got stung by a wasp on friday on my leg, 5 minutes after being stung it looked as though i had a giant smartie stuck to my leg. This then changed and spead all over my calf. I didnt really do anything at first but over weekend it got worse. I took piraton (sp?) and was putting sudocrem on. By sunday night I went late night chemist who confirmed allergic reaction and said the venom had caused an infection to start in my leg. They prescribed a antihistamine cream called Benadryl and also said use vasaline but I needed to go and get antibiotics on the monday morning, which I have now started. My leg is now just starting to feel a little better. I'd say definitely get the cream in as i think it has worked wonders for me. Although my leg looks like it has a huge red/purple birthmark on it and swollen it is calming down. If you keep cream in medical cupboard then at least if you do get bit you have something to put on asap. I also run and have been a little more weary. Good luck and I hope the wasps keep away.

I am not a doctor but have serious allergy sufferers in my family and none has been told that taking anti-histamines as a matter of course would help. It is very useful to keep them on you though - although perhaps a bit difficult when running. Why not have a word with your GP though?

I react quite badly to wasp stings since I trod on a nest when I was 14 and got stung about 100 times. I was stung three times in the thigh by a dozy wasp who got stuck in my skirt last year and most of my leg swelled up in a very horrid way. GP told me that it wasn't anything to worry about particularly and that even a large amount of swelling wasn't necessarily cause for concern. He said that a "systemic" (I think that was the word) reaction is something to look out for - when you get swollen lips, wheezing, that sort of thing. My mum and SIL both have severe cat allergies and this is how they are affected. They both carry epi-pens in case of emergency. Best thing is probably to speak to your GP or ask for referral to allergy specialist.

Thanks everyone, i probably ought to see the GP. It's very difficult to get an appointment at a time I can actually make it if I'mnot actually ill.