What should be done immediately after an insect sting, particularly from a bee?

When a person is stung by a bee, the priority is to remove the stinger as quickly as possible. This is because bee stings can continue to release venom into the body as long as the stinger remains embedded in the skin. Scraping or flicking the stinger out, ideally with a flat object such as a credit card, helps to minimize the amount of venom injected.

While it's important to follow up with monitoring for allergic reactions and possibly applying an antiseptic afterward to prevent infection, the immediate action to alleviate the potential effects of the sting itself is to remove the stinger. This step reduces the venom exposure and can mitigate the severity of the reaction.

Taking painkillers may relieve discomfort but does not address the venom already injected through the stinger; thus, it is not the immediate action required after a sting. Monitoring for allergic reactions is necessary after any sting but should follow the removal of the stinger to ensure the best possible outcome for the person who has been stung.