Cyclist Suffers Life-Threatening Throat Swelling After Wasp Sting, Hospitalizes After ChatGPT Advice

A man in his 60s, identified as D., was stung inside the mouth by a wasp while cycling in the Sharon area, leading to a dangerous throat swelling that required emergency medical care. Initially, D. continued his ride but soon experienced severe pain, difficulty swallowing, and speech problems. His family first consulted ChatGPT, which advised taking an allergy medication and seeking emergency care. Following a family doctor’s urgent referral, D. went to Meir Medical Center for evaluation.

At the hospital, an ENT team performed an endoscopic exam revealing significant swelling around the epiglottis extending to the base of the tongue, threatening to block his airway. Doctors removed the wasp sting using specialized equipment under local anesthesia. He was hospitalized for observation, treated with steroids to reduce swelling, antibiotics, and painkillers, and later discharged after improvement.

Medical staff at Meir emphasized that wasp stings inside the mouth or throat can be life-threatening even for non-allergic individuals due to rapid swelling that can obstruct breathing. They urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, speech issues, or breathing problems after such stings to seek immediate medical attention rather than relying solely on online advice.