Insect Bites and Stings

Most reactions to insect bites and stings are mild, causing little more than redness, itching, stinging or minor swelling. Rarely, insect bites and stings, such as from a bee, a wasp, a hornet, a fire ant or a tick, can result in severe reactions. Some insects also carry disease, such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

Prevention

• Use screens on windows and doors at home and while camping and keep them in good repair.
• If biting insects are present, cover a child’s crib, playpen or stroller with a fine mesh netting.
• If biting insects and/or ticks are present, dress your child in long, loose-fitting clothes that cover the arms and legs, a hat and closed shoes (not sandals). Tucking shirts into pants and pants into socks are extra precautions.
• Light-colored clothes make it easier to see and remove ticks before they bite, and do not attract mosquitoes as much as dark clothing.
• When residing in or visiting a tick habitat, inspect yourself and your children thoroughly at least daily: include the head, neck and behind the ears.  If a tick is found, remove it as soon as possible. Ticks can stay attached to skin, feeding on blood and growing larger, for five or more days. However, removing a tick within 24 h to 48 h of starting to feed is likely to prevent Lyme disease because the bacteria will not yet have been transmitted from the tick to the individual

Treatment

For mild reactions:

To take care of an insect bite or sting that causes a mild reaction:

• Move to a safe area to avoid more bites or stings.
• If needed, remove the stinger.
• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply a cool compress. Use a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice. This helps reduce pain and swelling. If the injury is on an arm or leg, elevate it.
• Take an antihistamine (Benadryl, others) to reduce itching.
• Usually, the signs and symptoms of a bite or sting disappear in a day or two. If you’re concerned — even if your reaction is minor — call your pharmacist.
• Topical anti-itch creams, oral pain relievers, and antihistamines may be used to combat uncomfortable symptoms. You may also want to consider applying a thin paste of baking soda and water to the sting to calm the itching.

 

For severe reactions:

CALL YOUR DOCTOR

 

How Do I Remove a Tick?

It’s important to remove a tick as soon as possible. Follow these steps:

a.    Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to the skin.

b.    Pull firmly and steadily until the tick lets go of the skin. Do not twist the tick or rock it from side to side. Parts of the tick might stay in the skin, but eventually will come out on their own.

c.     Wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water.

d.    Swab the bite site with alcohol.

     

How Do I Remove a Stinger?

 

1.                Stay calm. Although most bees usually only sting once, wasps and hornets can sting again. If you are stung, calmly walk away from the area to avoid additional attacks.

2.                Remove the stinger. If the stinger remains in your skin, remove it by scraping over it with your fingernail or a piece of gauze. Never use tweezers to remove a stinger, as squeezing it can cause more venom to release into your skin.

3.                Wash the sting with soap and water.

4.                Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling. However, if the swelling moves to other parts of your body, such as your face or neck, go to the emergency room immediately, as you might be having an allergic reaction. Other signs of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, nausea, hives, or dizziness.

5.                Consider taking over-the-counter pain medication. Bee, wasp, and hornet stings are painful. Painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain. Always follow the directions on the label and use the correct dose.

 

Speak to your Square 1 Health Group Pharmacist Today! 

(P) 905-232-4007      (Email) pharmacy@sq1healthgroup.com