what happens if you leave a bee stinger in?

The simple answer to this question is that nothing much will happen, as long as you are not truly allergic. Just like a splinter, a bee stinger should work itself out of the skin eventually. If you can see it, you can remove it carefully with tweezers. You would not want to dig around and cause further damage to your skin as this could increase the chance for infection. Leaving the stinger in will not cause more venom to be released as there is a finite amount that it contains.

Most people who are stung by a bee will experience a local reaction that can include redness, itching, and swelling which can last from a few hours to a few days. In the case of your daughter, this is a relatively large lesion. If she is a child, she will be at a higher risk for a more dramatic reaction, but as long as it is localized, it should resolve.

The symptoms of a localized reaction to a bee sting can be treated by quickly removing the stinger, then using an ice pack, calamine lotion, or a paste of water and baking soda to soothe itching, heat, and redness.

In a systemic allergic reaction, swelling can occur at sites other than the sting and symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fainting, or dizziness may occur. Treatment is in the same as in a local reaction, but topical or oral antihistamines may also be used.

Bee stings are only truly dangerous when they cause an anaphylactic reaction and this will most likely happen within the first hour of being stung but can happen up to four hours later. This is a true medical emergency and will cause wheezing, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure leading to shock. This type of reaction requires immediate emergency medical attention.

As long as the reaction in your stays local, regardless of how large it is, you can treat the symptoms of pain and itching and it should resolve. If there is any other involvement elsewhere in the body or she begins to exhibit signs of anaphylaxis, seek medical attention.