Insect bites and stings
Inforamtion about insect bites and stings
Insect bites and stings are usual and normally cause minor irritation. Although, some stings can be painful and activate a serious allergic reaction.
An insect bites by making a hole in your skin to feed. Most insects sting as a support by injecting venom into your skin.
Symptoms of an insect bite or sting
When an insect bites, it releases saliva that can lead the skin around the bite to become red, swollen and itchy.
The venom from a sting frequently also give rise to a swollen, itchy, red mark to form on the skin. This can be painful, but it is not harmfull in most cases. The affected area will normally remain painful and itchy for a few days.
The seriousness of bites and stings differs depending on the type of insect involved and the sensitivity of the person.
In some of the cases, people can have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a bite or sting that needed sudden medical treatment.
Treating insect bites and stings
Most bites and stings are prevented by:
washing the affected area properly with soap and water
placing a cold compress on the area to lower swelling
Try not to scratch the affected area to stop infection. If you are in pain or the area is swollen, take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
If you have a more serious reaction, your Doctor can prescribe other medication or suggest you to an allergy clinic for immunotherapy.
Preventing insect bites and stings
You are more probable to be bitten or stung if you work outside or regularly take part in outdoor activities, for e.x. camping or hiking.
Using insect resistant and keeping your skin fully covered when you are outside will help you being bitten or stung.
Try not to panic if you experience wasps, hornets or bees, and back away slowly. Do not wave your arms around or smash at them.
Insect bites
Different insect bites can give rise to different symptoms.
Bedbugs
Bites from bedbugs are not painful, and if you are not been bitten by bedbugs before, you may not have any symptoms.
If you have been bitten before, you can develop more irritating weals or lumps.
Bedbug bites frequently occur on your:
face
neck
hands
arms
Fleas
Flea bites can be collected in lines or clusters. If you are especially sensitive to flea bites, they can give rise to a condition known as papular urticaria, where a number of itchy red lumps is form. Bullae can also take place.
Fleas from cats and dogs can frequently bite below the knee, commonly around the ankles. You may also get flea bites on your forearms if you have been touching or holding your pet.
Midges, mosquitoes and gnats
Bites from midges, mosquitoes and gnats frequently lead to small papules (lumps) to form on your skin that are normally very itchy. If you are especially sensitive to insect bites, you may develop:
bullae – fluid-filled blisters
weals – circular, fluid-filled areas nearby the bite
Mosquito bites in specific areas of tropical countries can lead to malaria.
Horseflies
Horsefly bite can be very painful. Also the formation of a weal around the bite, you can also undergo:
urticaria – a rash of weals (also known as hives, welts or nettle rash)
dizziness
weakness
wheezing
angio-oedema – itchy, pale pink or red swellings that frequently happens around the eyes and lips for short periods of time
Horseflies cut the skin when they bite, quite than piercing it, so horsefly bites can take a more period of time to cure and can lead to an infection.
The Blandford fly
The Blandford fly (sometimes called blackfly) is normally found near rivers. It is common in:
Dorset
East Anglia
Oxfordshire
Herefordshire
Although, there have also been reports of Blandford fly bites happening in other areas of England.
In May and June you are most at risk of being bitten by a Blandford Fly. Bites frequently take place on the legs and are very painful.
They can generate a severe localised reaction with symptoms such as:
swelling
blistering
high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or over
joint pain
Ticks
Tick bites are not normally painful and sometimes only give rise to a red lump to develop where you were bitten. Although, In some of the cases they can give rise to:
swelling
itchiness
blistering
bruising
Ticks can carry a bacterial infection known as Borrelia burgdorferi, which lead to Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be serious if it is not been treated on time.
Mites
Mites cause very itchy lumps to take place on the skin and can also cause blisters. If the mites are from pets, you can be bitten on your abdomen (tummy) and thighs if your pet has been sitting on your lap. Or else, mites will bite any uncovered skin.
Spiders
You are more probably to be bitten by a spider while you're abroad, if you keep non-native spiders as pets, or if you have a job that involves handling goods from overseas.
Spider bites leave small puncture marks on the skin, which can be painful and lead to redness and swelling.
In some cases, a spider bite may lead to nausea, vomiting, sweating and dizziness. Very rarely, a spider bite can give rise to a serious allergic reaction.
Wasps and hornets
A wasp or hornet sting give rise to a sharp pain in the area that is been stung, which normally stay for a few seconds.
A swollen red mark will frequently then form on your skin, which can be itchy and painful.
Bees
A bee sting feels same to a wasp sting, but the sting and a venomous sac will be left in the wound. You should take out this immediately by scraping it out using something with a hard edge, such as a bank card.
Do not pinch the sting out with your fingers or tweezers because this can spread the venom.