|
Insect/Bug Bites and Stings
Overview
Most insect/bug
bites or stings are just painful nuisances, but they can be
life-threatening if you’re allergic to them. And some poisonous
spider bites, while rarely fatal, can cause serious symptoms. If
you’ve ever had a severe reaction to an insect bite/sting in the
past, ask your healthcare provider about getting a prescription
for an anaphylaxis kit (Epi-pen). Carrying one of these small
kits at all times can be lifesaving for those with severe
allergies to bites/stings.
Signs and Symptoms
-
Lump(s) or spot(s) on the skin that appear within minutes or
up to 6 to 12 hours after the bite/sting.
-
Swelling around the bite/sting.
-
Itching and pain (sometimes severe) at the site of the
bite/sting.
Self-Care Measures
-
Clean the wound. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel
for up to 20 minutes at a time.
-
If
the stinger is visible, wash your hands and gently try to
 scrape
the stinger out with your fingernail. Tweezers could leave
some of the stinger behind or squeeze more toxins into your
wound.
-
For tick bites, apply petroleum jelly over the bite until
the tick starts to smother and withdraws from the skin.
-
Take an oral OTC antihistamine to help limit your body’s
reaction to the sting or bite.
-
For stings, rub a paste of meat tenderizer and water onto
the site.
-
Take an OTC analgesic for pain and inflammation. After the
first 24 hours, you may also apply warm compresses.
-
For itching, use an OTC oral or topical antihistamine and/or
apply calamine lotion.
Red Flags
Check in with the
nurse if there is..
-
Nausea, vomiting, headache, or fever of 100.5 degrees F (38
degrees C) or higher.
-
Significantly increasing pain.
-
Severe swelling at the site, especially if it’s causing
increased pain or numbness.
-
Hives on your body other than where you were bitten or
stung.
-
An
increasing area of dark discoloration or ulceration around
the bite/sting.
-
Symptoms that don’t go away or improve with self-care within
48 hours.
-
A
“target” or “bull’s eye” rash at the site of a tick bite
that occurs 3 – 32 days after the bite. This usually appears
as a circular rash around a fairly clear center that gets
bigger over several days. This is a potential sign of Lyme
Disease.
CALL 911 OR GO DIRECTLY TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM IF ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING OCCURS:
-
Dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest
tightness, rash, or seizures.
-
Swelling of your face or lips or generalized body swelling.
-
You’ve ever had a severe (anaphylactic) reaction to the same
type of bite/sting.
Go to Health Center Information
|
