10 Tips For Treating Insect Bites

Souvenirs of outdoor activities in the summertime include insect bites. It is almost impossible to have one without the other - except if you visit Antarctica where there are neither - no insects and no real summer.

1. Recognize serious allergic symptoms.

Life-threatening reactions to insect bites (anaphylaxis) are extremely rare, especially in children. Such reactions are usually due to stings by bees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets and fire ants. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, itchiness, swelling of face, lips or tongue; weakness, and profuse sweating. Call 911 if any of these symptoms occur.

2. Check children daily for embedded insects.

Ticks are the most troublesome and cause several diseases. Ticks are found in almost all woodland areas of North America, but are especially common in the Northeast, upper Midwest and the southern Appalachian region. Daily checks will prevent ticks from being embedded more than 36 hours, the time it takes ticks to begin injecting disease-causing parasites into the skin. If you find a tick and you think that it may have been imbedded longer, seek medical attention promptly.

3. Use tweezers or a piece of cloth between your fingers to remove ticks.

Place tweezers or fingers as close to the skin as possible. Pull straight back. Save the insect in a plastic bag for later identification.

4. Do not use tweezers or fingers to remove honeybee stingers.

They have a barbed stinger and leave the stinger with the venom sac attached in the skin. It takes several minutes for the sac to inject all its venom. Instant removal reduces harmful effects. Scrape away with a sideways movement (one quick scrape) with the edge of a credit card. Using tweezers or fingers forces more venom into the skin. For most individuals bites are annoying, not alarming.

5. Keep bite sites clean to prevent infection.

Wash with soap and water immediately and then several times a day. Apply antibacterial ointments. Cut children's fingernails to prevent infection from scratching.

6. Minimize itching.

Itching leads to scratching. Carry an anti-itching cream and an oral antihistamine (see Ten Tips: Medical Kit). 1% hydrocortisone ointments are effective. Generally avoid antihistamine and “caine” ointments; these may sensitize skin. Use moisturizers, makeup, toothpaste or shaving cream if no other anti-itching substance is available. .

7. Apply an icepack.

Cold reduces pain and prevents swelling when used promptly. Heat is effective later. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen also give relief.

8. Recognize infection.

Enlarging redness and swelling around the bite a day or two later are signs of infection. Apply warm compresses frequently. If fever appears or red streaks extend from the site, seek medical attention.

9. Be familiar with unusual or delayed reactions.

Recluse and black widow spider bites may not become symptomatic for many hours. Symptoms include pain, swelling, numbness and hardness of the skin at the bite site. Seek medical attention promptly. Ticks may carry Lyme disease. A single bull's eye-type rash occurs a week or more later. This is an early sign of the disease. See your doctor.

10. Inform doctors of recent travel and outdoor activities in case of illness.

Knowing that your family was overseas or in a distant national park alerts doctors to diseases not seen locally.

See an allergist if your child has severe or unusual reactions to bites. A small percentage of people are allergic to specific insects. Generally, the first bite sensitizes such people to that insect. Subsequent bites may be life threatening.