What causes a bug bite with a white ring around it. How to identify different insect bites and stings. When should you seek medical attention for a bug bite. What are effective treatments for various types of bug bites and stings.

Understanding Bug Bites with White Rings

Encountering bug bites is a common occurrence for outdoor enthusiasts. While most are harmless, some can lead to concerning symptoms, such as a white ring around the bite site. This distinctive feature often raises questions about its cause and potential severity.

A bug bite with a white ring around it typically indicates skin necrosis, a condition where skin tissue dies. The white ring consists of dead lymphocytes – white blood cells that have rushed to the area to combat toxins from the bite or sting. It’s crucial to determine whether this reaction stems from a secondary infection or necrotic venom.

Common Culprits: Insects and Arachnids

Various insects and arachnids can cause bites that result in a white ring. Let’s explore some of the most frequent offenders:

Mosquitoes

Mosquito bites usually appear as itchy welts that heal within days. However, in some cases, they can lead to more severe reactions. Can mosquito bites cause serious illness? Yes, mosquitoes carrying certain viruses or parasites can transmit diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika virus, and even encephalitis.

Ticks

Tick bites can be particularly concerning due to their potential to transmit Lyme disease. How can you identify a Lyme disease-infected tick bite? Look for a welt surrounded by red rings radiating outward, often referred to as a “bull’s-eye” pattern. This distinctive mark is a hallmark of Lyme disease infection.

Spiders

Spider bites can vary in severity, but some species pose significant health risks. The brown recluse spider, for instance, injects necrotic venom that can cause extensive skin damage. Its bite often results in a centered blister surrounded by a red ring, which is then encircled by a white ring.

Recognizing Symptoms of Insect Bites

Identifying the type of insect bite you’ve received is crucial for proper treatment. Here are some common symptoms to watch for:

• Deep blue or purple area around the bite, surrounded by white and red outer rings
• Burning, itching, pain, or redness developing within hours or days
• Ulcer or blister that turns black
• Fever
• Rash
• Nausea or vomiting

Understanding Insect Stings

While bites can be troublesome, stings often cause more immediate and intense pain. Let’s examine some common stinging insects and their effects:

Bees, Wasps, and Hornets

These insects typically cause localized reactions, including intense pain, redness, and swelling at the sting site. For most people, these symptoms subside within hours. However, some individuals may experience a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. How quickly can anaphylaxis occur after a sting? Symptoms can develop within minutes and, if left untreated, can lead to anaphylactic shock and potentially death.

Scorpions

While scorpion stings are painful, most species in North America are not life-threatening. However, certain species can inflict potentially fatal stings, particularly dangerous for the elderly and young children.

Fire Ants

Fire ants, originally from Mexico, deliver multiple painful bites that can form ulcers at the sting site. Their venom may cause serious systemic reactions, although fatalities are extremely rare.

Symptoms of Insect Stings

Recognizing the symptoms of an insect sting can help you determine the severity of the reaction. Common signs include:

• Burning and itching
• Redness and swelling of the sting area
• Circular shaped white and red rings (bull’s-eye pattern)
• Ulcer or blister formation
• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Weak and rapid pulse
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or fainting

Treatment Options for Bug Bites with White Rings

While many common insect and spider bites can be treated at home, certain situations require immediate medical attention. How can you determine if a bite needs professional care? Bites from brown recluse spiders or black widows should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider due to their potential for severe complications.

Home Remedies

For less severe bites and stings, several home remedies can provide relief:

1. Clean the affected area with soap and water
2. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
3. Use over-the-counter antihistamines to alleviate itching
4. Apply hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation
5. Take oral pain relievers if necessary

Medical Treatments

In cases of more severe reactions or bites from dangerous species, medical interventions may be necessary:

• Antivenin administration for black widow spider bites
• Dapsone medication to halt the spread of necrotic lesions from brown recluse spider bites
• Antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary infections
• Tetanus booster if needed
• Epinephrine injection for severe allergic reactions

Preventing Bug Bites and Stings

Taking proactive measures can significantly reduce your risk of encountering problematic bug bites and stings. Consider the following preventive strategies:

• Use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors
• Avoid areas with high insect activity, especially during peak hours
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping outdoors or in areas with high mosquito populations
• Regularly inspect your body for ticks after spending time in wooded areas
• Keep food covered when eating outdoors to avoid attracting stinging insects

When to Seek Medical Attention

While many bug bites and stings can be managed at home, certain situations warrant immediate medical care. Be alert for the following signs:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Swelling of the face, throat, or mouth
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness or confusion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe pain or rapidly expanding redness around the bite site

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately. Prompt treatment can be life-saving in cases of severe allergic reactions or venomous bites.

Understanding Allergic Reactions to Bug Bites and Stings

For some individuals, bug bites and stings can trigger severe allergic reactions. How can you recognize an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting? Watch for these symptoms:

• Widespread hives or rash
• Swelling beyond the site of the bite or sting, especially if it affects the face or throat
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Dizziness or fainting
• Nausea or vomiting
• Anaphylaxis – a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction

If you have a known allergy to insect bites or stings, it’s crucial to carry an epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) at all times. How quickly should you use an EpiPen after a sting if you’re allergic? Administer the epinephrine immediately upon suspecting an allergic reaction, then seek emergency medical care.

Long-Term Management of Insect Allergies

For those with severe allergies to insect stings, long-term management options are available. Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, can help reduce sensitivity to insect venom over time. This treatment involves receiving gradually increasing doses of the allergen to build tolerance. Can immunotherapy cure insect sting allergies? While it may not provide a complete cure, immunotherapy can significantly reduce the risk of severe reactions in many individuals.

Complications of Untreated Bug Bites

Failing to properly care for bug bites, especially those presenting with a white ring, can lead to various complications. What are the potential risks of leaving a bug bite untreated?

• Secondary bacterial infections
• Cellulitis – a potentially serious bacterial skin infection
• Lymphangitis – inflammation of the lymph vessels
• Systemic illness from vector-borne diseases (e.g., Lyme disease, West Nile virus)
• Scarring or permanent skin discoloration

To minimize these risks, it’s essential to monitor bug bites closely and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or fail to improve within a few days.

The Role of Climate Change in Bug Bite Prevalence

Climate change is altering the distribution and behavior of many insect species, potentially increasing human exposure to bug bites and associated diseases. How is climate change affecting insect populations and associated health risks?

• Expanded geographical ranges for many insect species
• Longer active seasons for insects in temperate regions
• Increased reproduction rates in warmer climates
• Altered migration patterns of birds and other animals that carry insects

These changes may lead to more frequent encounters with biting and stinging insects, as well as increased transmission of vector-borne diseases. Staying informed about local insect populations and taking appropriate precautions is increasingly important in the face of these environmental shifts.

Emerging Technologies in Bug Bite Prevention and Treatment

As our understanding of insect behavior and human immune responses evolves, new technologies are emerging to prevent and treat bug bites more effectively. What innovative approaches are being developed to combat bug bites and their effects?

• Advanced insect repellents with longer-lasting protection
• Genetically modified mosquitoes to reduce populations of disease-carrying species
• Wearable devices that emit ultrasonic frequencies to repel insects
• Improved diagnostic tools for rapid identification of insect-borne diseases
• Novel treatments targeting the specific components of insect venom

These advancements hold promise for reducing the impact of bug bites and stings on human health, particularly in regions where insect-borne diseases are prevalent.

The Importance of Proper Identification and Documentation

When dealing with unusual bug bites, especially those presenting with a white ring, proper identification and documentation can be crucial for effective treatment and potential future prevention. How can you best document a concerning bug bite?

1. Photograph the bite site, including a clear image of the white ring and surrounding area
2. Measure the diameter of the bite and white ring, noting any changes over time
3. Record the date and location where the bite occurred
4. Note any symptoms experienced, including their onset and progression
5. If possible, safely capture the insect responsible for identification purposes

This information can be invaluable to healthcare providers in determining the appropriate course of treatment and identifying potential risks associated with the bite.

Educating Communities About Bug Bite Awareness

Raising awareness about bug bites, their potential risks, and prevention strategies is essential for community health. How can communities effectively educate their members about bug bite safety?

• Organize workshops or seminars on insect identification and bite prevention
• Distribute informational materials through local health departments and community centers
• Implement educational programs in schools to teach children about bug safety
• Utilize social media and local news outlets to share seasonal bug bite prevention tips
• Collaborate with outdoor recreation facilities to post informational signs in high-risk areas

By fostering a well-informed community, individuals can better protect themselves and their families from the potential dangers associated with bug bites and stings.

The Future of Bug Bite Research and Treatment

As our world continues to change and new challenges arise, research into bug bites and their effects remains crucial. What areas of study are likely to shape the future of bug bite prevention and treatment?

• Development of universal antivenoms effective against multiple species
• Exploration of natural compounds with insect-repelling properties
• Investigation of genetic factors influencing individual susceptibility to severe reactions
• Advancements in immunotherapy techniques for more effective allergy management
• Research into the long-term effects of climate change on insect populations and associated health risks

These areas of research hold the potential to revolutionize our approach to bug bite prevention and treatment, potentially reducing the global burden of insect-borne diseases and severe allergic reactions.

Bug Bite with White Ring Around It – TSMP Medical Blog

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022

For anybody that spends any time outdoors, bug bites and stings are commonplace. From ticks, spiders, bees, wasps, and ants, to mosquitos, bug bites and stings are the result of a feeding, or a defence mechanism. Fortunately, most bites and stings are usually just uncomfortable, and heal on their own. However, those people who are sensitive to bug bites, or have a bug bite with white ring around it, can have severe or even life threatening reactions.

What does Bug Bite with White Ring Around It Indicate?

Skin necrosis is a complication that results in the death of the skin tissue. The white ring around a bug bite are dead lymphocytes, or white blood cells that have sacrificed themselves rushing to the scene to kill off the toxic saliva from a bite or sting. What’s important to distinguish is whether the white ring is the result of a secondary infection, or from necrotic venom.

1. Insect Bites

All biting insects produce local reactions and produce an itchy welt that can last a few hours to a few days. However, with some bites a skin wound or ulcer may result, creating a white ring of dead skin tissue around the ulceration. More importantly, some arachnids, like ticks and mosquitos, may cause infection or transmit disease through their bites.

Mosquito bites are the itchy welts that appear after they puncture your skin and feed on your blood. The bite-bump usually heals on its own in a couple of days. However, mosquitoes carrying certain viruses or parasites can also cause severe illness. Mosquito-borne infections include malaria, yellow fever, the Zika virus, and sometimes may cause a brain infection called encephalitis.

Aside from the intense itching and resulting ulceration from a tick bite, Lyme disease is a major concern. Ticks infected with Lyme disease carry a microorganism (spirochete), that is injected when they bite causing an illness similar to the flu in humans that may become chronic. A tick bite that results with a welt surrounded by red rings that radiate outward (Bulls- Eye), is the hallmark of a Lyme disease infection.

2. Spider Bite

Although any spider bite can be painful, a secondary infection may lead to a white ring of dead skin cells around an open sore. What does a bug bite with white ring around it indicate? It could be a brown recluse spider bite. This is because the brown recluse spider injects a necrotic venom that leads to skin cell death. It’s important to note that with a brown recluse spider bite, the wound ulcerates into a larger wound that includes a centred blister surrounded first by a red ring and then by a white ring.

Symptoms of an insect bite may include:

• Deep blue or purple area around the bite, surrounded by white and red outer rings
• Burning, itching, pain or redness that may develop within hours or days
• Ulcer or blister that turns black
• Fever
• Rash
• Nausea or vomiting

3.

Insect Stings

The one thing many people know about insect stings is that they can be painful. Many people are sometimes surprised by how much pain a sting can produce.

Bees, Wasps, or Hornets

Bees, wasps and hornets can cause two reactions by their stings. The first most common reaction is to the venom from the sting. This typically includes localized intense pain, followed by redness and swelling at the sting site. Although uncomfortable, the pain and swelling diminishes over a couple of hours. However, for some people, this venom could trigger a life threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis (allergic reaction). If not treated immediately, the person could eventually go into anaphylactic shock resulting in death.

Scorpions

Scorpion stings can be painful, but most of them are harmless. However, some species can inflict potentially fatal stings. Stings are most serious with the elderly and in young children.

Fire Ants

Fire ants, imported from Mexico, deliver many bites that are painful and form ulcers at the sting site. Their venom also may cause serious and systemic reactions; however, death is very rare.

Symptoms of an insect sting may include:

• Burning, and itching
• Redness, and swelling of the sting area
• Circular shaped white and red rings (bull’s-eye)
• Ulcer or blister
• Hives
• Trouble breathing
• A weak and rapid pulse
• Nausea, or vomiting
• Dizziness or fainting

Treatments for Bug Bite with White Ring Around It

1. Insect Bites

Many common spider and insect bites may be simply treated at home. However, bites by a brown recluse spider or a black widow require immediate medical care.

• For black widow bites that are observed to be affecting a person’s health, a vial or two of antivenin (equine) may be administered intravenously, which can save a life.
• For a brown recluse spider bite, medication, such as Dapsone, will stop the necrotic spread of lesions that develop into deep ulcerations.

2. Insect Stings

Identifying the insect can be a benefit when treating stings. Serious scorpion poisoning requires emergency treatment to support and monitor respiration, heart rhythm, and blood pressure. Commercially available antivenins are able to rapidly reverse much of the life threatening problems. Monitor for anaphylaxis, because it is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

3. Other Tips to Help

Fortunately, most insect bites and stings can be treated with a cold pack and pain medication. However, a bug bite with white ring around it indicates a more serious condition. If the bug bite or sting;

• Does not develop ulcers, treatment includes applying a cold pack while elevating and avoiding moving the bite area.
• Causes an ulcer and necrosis (white ring of dead skin), treatment includes removing the dead skin, and may require replacing the dead skin with skin grafts.

When You Should Worry about a Bug Bite

Get immediate medical attention if any of these conditions apply:

• Intense pain and stiffness
• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea
• Irregular heartbeat
• Rapid swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue, and throat
• Difficulty breathing
• Abdominal pain that develops a couple of hours after a spider bite
• Loss of consciousness

These are the signs of either anaphylactic shock (allergic reaction) or of a severe, non-allergic reaction to multiple stings.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs: Step-By-Step Plan From Entomologists

Thinking you may have a pest problem is never fun, but most homeowners dread one infestation in particular: bed bugs. It’s understandable why: Bed bugs can be difficult—not to mention expensive—to get rid of.

The reason bed bugs are able to stick around so long, often going unnoticed until they’ve become a bigger problem, is that they’ve evolved to become the “perfect parasite,” says Timothy Gibb, PhD, a clinical professor of entomology at Purdue University who’s studied bed bug infestations.

“They’ve had millions of years of evolution to fine-tune their feeding system and not wake the host,” says Edwin Rajotte, PhD, a professor of entomology at Penn State University. That means you often won’t realize you might have a problem until the bed bug population has become especially pervasive, or until you start waking up with bites you received the night before.

What are bed bugs, anyway?

A bed bug is what is called a blood-feeding ectoparasite, which means its only source of food is our blood, says Kenneth Haynes, PhD, a professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky who specializes in bed bug biology. That need for our blood is why bed bugs are often found exactly where their name implies: our beds. “They like to live near the host, meaning in our bedrooms, near our beds—as close as they can get to where we sleep as is possible,” says Haynes.

But another hard part of realizing you have a bed bug infestation is that bed bugs will remain hidden until nighttime, using a chemical signal to aggregate together in cracks, crevices, or other dark spaces, says Haynes. Then, during the middle of the night—typically between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.—our body odor, body heat, and the carbon dioxide we emit stimulates the bugs to get close to us for feeding. “Once they find us, then they take their soda straw-like mouth part and stick it directly into a blood capillary and tap into their food,” says Haynes.

How to get rid of bed bugs the right way

It’s particularly difficult to get rid of bed bugs because they’re resistant to a lot of insecticides, including many of those you’ll find in bed bug treatments at the hardware store, says Gibb. Plus, in order to truly get rid of bed bugs, you need to banish all of them. “Because all you need is one pregnant female, and you get a whole new population going there rather quickly,” says Rajotte.

That means the best way to get rid of bed bugs is to avoid bringing them home in the first place. But should you encounter a bed bug situation, follow these steps to nix them from your home for good.

1. Prevent bringing them home.

The key to avoiding a nasty bed bug situation is to identify them before you bring them into your home. But where do bed bugs come from? They are often brought into the home after travel, where the bed bugs might have crawled into your suitcase or backpack at a hotel, says Rajotte.

And don’t think just because you stayed at a five-star resort that means you’re exempt from getting bed bugs. “The insidious thing is anybody can get them,” says Rajotte. “It has nothing to do with how good a housekeeper you are or what your socioeconomic status is.”

So whenever you go into a hotel or vacation rental—regardless of the price or quality—expect that bed bugs can be there, says Rajotte. “A good practice is to put the suitcase in the middle of the bathtub until you’ve had a chance to inspect the room,” he says.

Where do bed bugs hide?

Since they’re most likely to be on the mattress, start by looking there first. Pull back the sheets and check the corners of the mattress with special focus on the cord that goes around the mattress—a favorite spot for bed bugs, according to Rajotte—and around the head end of the mattress, as that’s where most people sleep.

You should also look behind the headboard, behind any pictures on the wall, and in any electrical sockets, which are all places bed bugs like to camp out. “If there’s a decent infestation, you should be able to find them,” says Rajotte.

If you don’t spot any bed bugs, you’re probably safe to take your suitcase out of the bathtub and go about your business. But if you do spot bed bugs and suspect they might have gotten into your bag, take all of the clothes out of your suitcase and put them in a plastic bag, taping up the end of the bag, says Rajotte. “The one saving feature about bed bugs is they are killed by heat,” he says. “So if they are exposed to temperatures over 122 to 123 degrees Fahrenheit, they’ll die.”

That said, once you have the clothes taped up in a plastic bag, run them through the dryer at high heat for 30 minutes. “That’s your main defense against bringing them home,” says Rajotte.

2. Identify the problem.

Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, very flat (almost as thin as a piece of paper), and brownish color.

John-Reynolds//Getty Images

Let’s say you went on a trip, came home, and soon after, you start waking up with bites. “If you’re getting strange bites at night, or you wake up and there’s a row of three or four bites on your upper arm or something like that, and you have screens on the windows so you’re not getting a lot of mosquitos in there, I would suspect bed bugs,” says Rajotte.

This is what will start off what experts call your “monitoring” process in which you’ll need to identify: 1) if you have bed bugs, and 2) how big that bed bug population is.

⚠️ If you are waking up with three to four bites in a line or clustered together you may be dealing with bed bugs, especially if they are red, swollen, and itchy.

What do bed bugs look like?

To identify bed bugs, conduct a search in your own home the same as you would in a hotel room. Look for an insect that’s about the size of an apple seed, that’s very flat from top to bottom—almost as thin as a piece of paper—and that has a brownish color, says Rajotte. These would be adult bed bugs. However, you should also keep your eye out for pinhead-sized bugs that are brownish in color, as they could be baby bed bugs, and look for black spots on your sheets, mattress, and mattress cover, which could be bed bug feces.

If you spot bed bugs, then you’re next going to want to determine how big your population is. If it’s smaller and newly established—think 10 to 15 bed bugs—you’ll likely be able to control the situation on your own, says Gibb. However, if it’s a bigger population, your best bet is going to be calling in a pest control management team to get rid of the problem. “If it’s really entrenched and there’s thousands, I just don’t see a person being able to control it themselves,” says Gibb.

3. Control the bed bug population and prepare for treatment.

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Once you know you have a bed bug infestation on your hands, you’re going to want to take steps to control the population and prepare your bedroom for treatment.

Similarly to as you would at a hotel, start by putting your sheets, bedding, mattress cover, and any other fabrics that might have been exposed to the bed bugs—like stuffed animals or clothing—into the washer and dryer at high heat, says Rajotte. “Then, don’t reintroduce those until the bed bugs are gone,” he adds.

From there, you can use other tactics like vacuuming around the areas bed bugs might be—think around the mattress and in cracks and crevices—or steaming those same areas, says Gibb. You can also get a zippered bed bug mattress encasement to prevent bed bugs from further spreading.

4. Kill the bed bugs.

Now that you’ve prepared your room for bed bug treatment and know the population you’re dealing with, it’s time to get ready to kill the bugs. To control the bed bug situation, you’re going to want to use what experts call integrated pest management (IPM), which essentially means using more than one tactic to get rid of the parasites, says Rajotte. “Our recommendation is never to just use one approach, because chances of success there are pretty slim,” adds Gibb.

Once you’ve taken the steps above, then you’re going to want to begin other methods, including heat and pesticide treatment.

When it comes to heat treatments, this is something you’re especially going to want to get done by professionals. That’s because in order to kill the bed bugs via this method, you need to get the room up to at least 119 degrees, says Gibb, including in every crack and cranny where the bed bugs might be residing. Although this can be difficult on your own, pest controllers have the right equipment and training to thoroughly heat the room and kill off the population.

Do bed bug sprays work?

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If you take the pesticide route, you can choose to either hire a professional who will be able to use restricted pesticides unavailable for consumer use—which is what experts recommend—or you can try to tackle the treatment yourself.

If you do decide to try the pesticide treatment yourself, recognize that bed bugs are resistant to lots of different chemicals, including pyrethroids, which are often found in stores and tout false bed bug control labels. Instead, use diatomaceous earth—which is a white powder that you’ll apply directly to wherever the bed bugs are and can be found online—or a bio-oil spray designed specifically to kill bed bugs, like Eco-Raider, says Gibb, which you’ll apply the same way. Both are long-lasting and don’t break down over time like other pesticides, which means you should only have to apply them once.

5. Monitor the treatment to make sure the bed bugs are gone.

After every treatment you perform, you’re going to want to monitor your attempts until all of the bed bugs are gone, says Rajotte. If you hired a pest control company, expect them to check in two weeks after each treatment, he says, and if you did the treatment yourself, perform a similar check at home.

One thing you should expect is that it might take a couple rounds of treatment to consider yourself completely rid of bed bugs. “I think we’ve kind of spoiled our society in terms of, ‘I have a pest problem, come in and spray for it, and I expect it to be gone as soon as you leave,’” says Gibb. “That’s just not the case with bed bugs, unfortunately.”

But the good news is, as long as you follow these measures—and continue to perform tactics like washing and drying materials that might have been affected by bed bugs until the parasites are gone—bed bugs won’t stick around forever. “Anybody can get bed bugs,” says Gibb. “But it takes a concentrated effort to get rid of them.”

Stay updated on the latest science-backed health, fitness, and nutrition news by signing up for the Prevention.com newsletter here. For added fun, follow us on Instagram.

Brielle Gregory

Brielle Gregory previously worked at Men’s Health magazine, where she reported, edited, and fact checked all things health, nutrition, and weight loss related; she currently spends her time digging into similar topics as a freelancer writer and editor. She’s a doting dog mom to a half-corgi and an aspiring world-traveler who’s probably planning her next trip right now (the dog included).

Animals that can kill a person: the most dangerous insects in Russia – June 18, 2013

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A huge variety of insects with a total number of 10 quintillion lives on the planet. In winter, as a rule, we don’t think much about their existence, while some insects simply hide. But in the summer there is simply no end to this living creature. Well, if this is an ordinary midge that does no harm. But among insects there are also dangerous specimens that can cause irreparable harm to a person and even kill … You can learn about the most dangerous insects in Russia from our material.

Ant stings can cause allergies and even anaphylactic shock. A well-known cross-reaction between the venom of wasps and red ants. These reddish-brown ants live in nests up to 90 cm in diameter and 45 cm in height. Up to 250,000 ants can live in such nests. Therefore, it is dangerous to approach the nests, and even more so to destroy them or otherwise provoke insects. Red ants can attack without any reason and cause great trouble. They dig into the victim with their jaws, arch their backs and pierce the skin with a sting from behind. So, arching the body, they make eight bites in a circle in a row, which are dangerous and rather painful. Of course, not all types of ants pose a great danger to humans, but only some? fiery, for example. If an ordinary ant bites and injects harmless acid into the wound, then the fire ant bites only to gain a foothold on the body, and then injects solenopsin? toxic poison. When bitten, a person experiences the same sensations as with a thermal burn, hence the name fiery.

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Ticks

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The largest group in the class Arachnida: currently described over 48 thousand species of these vile creatures. Some of them are so microscopic that they do not pose any danger to humans and have already lived side by side with them for many hundreds of years (for example, in carpets, like a house dust mite). The greatest danger is represented by a larger variety, which lies in wait for its prey in nature. Favorite habitat of such ticks? sunny hillsides covered with low bushes. Having attached its hind legs to a twig or leaf, the tick puts forward its front legs, on which well-developed organs of smell are located. The worst thing is encephalitis mites. The incubation period for encephalitis is 2 to 4 weeks. Signs? fever, aching bones. Possible death. A frequent consequence of the transferred disease are disorders of the central nervous system of varying severity, up to paralysis.

vsluh.ru

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Gadfly

There are dozens of varieties of gadflies. All gadflies? parasites and have a high degree of attachment to a certain type of host, having characteristic names: horse, sheep gadfly, etc. Some types of subcutaneous gadflies can be dangerous for humans. Are there times when they squirt the larvae into the eyes, which leads to conjunctivitis? inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes. Even more dangerous is the penetration of larvae into the eyes and head of a person. It can not do without a special rather complicated operation, as a result of which the victim may lose his sight.

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Wasps and bees

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We know from experience how painful it is. As a rule, such an unpleasant event does not require medical attention, unless you have an allergy. If there is no tendency to unexpected reactions to bee or wasp stings, then there is nothing to worry about. But in the presence of allergies, serious problems are possible: the poison causes anaphylactic shock, which manifests itself in hives, breathing difficulties, confusion and blanching. The final stage is loss of consciousness, and even death. Dangerous toxic reactions from bites to the head, blood vessel and oral cavity. A swallowed bee can cause swelling of the pharynx and death by suffocation. It is useful to know that when a bee stings, you should not immediately kill it. Firstly, she will die without a sting (unlike a wasp, which can sting several times), and secondly, a killed bee will release a special chemical into the air, which will be an alarm signal for its other relatives.

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Book-bug

This bug with an elongated body leaves traces developing in blisters and abscesses. Wounds and scratches (especially in children) exacerbate poisoning? kidney and bladder disease may occur. Once inside, the poison of blisters (kontaridin) can lead to death. In the old days, kings were poisoned with this toxin, who died in terrible agony (the insides of a person were corroded like acid). In medicine, blister patches were prepared from these beetles. Bug beetles are a background group of insects in the dry regions of Kazakhstan. The family includes about 2300 species in the world and is represented in all zoogeographic regions of the Earth.

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Karakurt

This spider has an average size: female 10?20 mm, male 4?7 mm. The body is black, the male and female have red spots on the abdomen, sometimes with a white border around each spot. The bites of the female can be fatal to humans and animals such as camels or horses (the venom is second only to that of the black widow, but has a longer effect). The male, having a much smaller size, does not pose a danger to humans, since it cannot bite through the rather thick human skin. It does not pose a danger to animals to the same extent as the female. The number of bites by karakurt of people and animals increases just during the periods of migration of females in June and July. They are found in the desert zone of Kazakhstan, in the steppes of the Astrakhan region, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Yenisei, in North Africa, Southern Europe and in southern Ukraine (Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov). Cases of bites of people in the south of the Urals, border areas with Kazakhstan (Orsk, Orenburg region) have been noted. In the last decade, cases of karakurt bites have also been recorded in Azerbaijan. Recently, the number has increased in the Rostov region, findings of this species have appeared in the Altai Territory and the Novosibirsk Region. In 2010, they were also found in the Volgograd and Saratov regions. In hot years, karakurt can also migrate to more northern regions, such as the Moscow region. And even at much higher latitudes it can sometimes be found, but it can only live there until winter.

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Asian giant hornet

This is the largest hornet in the world, measuring five centimeters or more and with a wingspan of more than seven and a half. Habitat of the Asian giant hornet? Korea, China, Taiwan, Nepal, India, Japan, the highlands of Sri Lanka. In large numbers, Asian giant hornets also live in the Primorsky Territory of the Russian Federation. The sting of the huge Asian hornet reaches a size of 6 millimeters. The poison produced by its sting is highly toxic. That is why the bite of a huge Asian hornet is very dangerous for humans. In terms of toxicity, the bite of the Asian giant hornet is many times more dangerous than the bites of other hornets, since an impressive amount of poison is released during the bite. The bite of a huge Asian hornet should be feared by people who are allergic to bee and wasp venom? For them, it is deadly. By the way, such a hornet, like a wasp, can use its sting repeatedly.

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bees, hornets, fleas, horseflies, spiders, ticks

. In scientific terms, a bite is usually called a stab wound or a gap made by an insect in self-defense, excitement or nutrition. At the site of the bite, as a rule, reddening of the skin, a small, sometimes bleeding wound, and a small swelling appear.

Lice bites . Lice are among the small, almost indistinguishable to the naked eye, insects. Their habitat is human hair, the method of infection is close contact with a sick head lice. Lice bites are almost imperceptible, but can cause severe itching, the appearance of purulent wounds at the site of the bite, enlargement and softening of the lymph nodes, and fever.

Flea bites are manifested by the appearance of reddish bumps on parts of the body: arms, neck, legs, etc.

Tick bites look like large moles, on top of which the insect is held. Moose tick bites (these ticks are smaller than usual) resemble small dark bubbles. When the tick lags behind the skin, a small red spot or swelling remains at the site of its introduction.
In Lyme disease transmitted by moose tick bites, which are carried by elks or field mice, a spot appears at the site of the bite with a red center and two white rings around on a reddened background, or a spot with a red center and a reddened area expanding around it. At the site of mosquito bites, severely itchy blisters appear.

Stings of wasps, bees, hornets are painful and burning, a significant swelling appears at the site of the bite. Usually these insects leave a sting in open places of the body.

HOW TO AVOID INSECT BITES

Insect bites are almost invisible in most cases . But sometimes they can cause and provoke certain complications: allergic reactions, redness of the skin, itching in the ears, eyes, mouth, cough and other symptoms.

Children with hypersensitivity to insect bites and allergic reactions should be tried to isolate as much as possible from places where insects accumulate or their possible presence. It should be excluded the use of perfume or other scented products by the child, wearing bright clothes, walking barefoot on the grass, as well as other factors that attract insects and provoke their bites.

The degree of reaction to an insect sting will depend on the individual natural allergic protection of the body of an adult or child. Among the most aggressive insects are: bees, wasps, hornets, stinging ants, mosquitoes, fleas, horseflies, and ticks.

The chance of being bitten by fleas is increased by the proximity of flea-infested pets. The centers of the spread of lice are often children’s groups of kindergartens and schools.

METHODS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF INSECT BITES

Ant, mosquito or horsefly bites can be treated at home . To do this, it will be enough to wash the bite with soap and water, apply a cold compress or ice to it to relieve pain and itching.

Treatment of bee, hornet, wasp stings requires a more serious approach, especially in the case of multiple stings or when accompanied by symptoms such as reddening of the skin, severe swelling, hives, nausea or difficulty breathing. In the case of a single and uncomplicated bite, the affected area is washed with soap and water and treated with an insect bite medication. In order to reduce itching, ice is applied to it, and a bandage is applied to prevent infection from entering the wound.

In case of bee stings , it is necessary to inspect the bite site and carefully remove the sting with venom using tweezers, without damaging it, and thereby eliminating the possibility of penetration of the venom into the body.
It is strictly forbidden to apply earth to the site of a bee or wasp sting (according to the advice of traditional medicine), in order to avoid penetration into the wound of a purulent infection or the appearance of tetanus.

Help for insect bites

Medical help for bee, wasp, hornet stings

Medical treatment for bee, wasp, and hornet stings includes measures to reduce the tumor, the use of antihistamines to reduce itching, and in shock conditions, injections of ethynephrine or oxygen.

If the body is suspected of being susceptible to allergic reactions to insect bites, the doctor may suggest: an anti-bite kit to carry with you at all times or a keychain containing information about the disease and measures to be taken in case of an insect bite.

HELP FOR TICKS

If you have been bitten by ticks and there is no way to seek help from a medical institution, you must remove the ticks yourself using tweezers. After each removal, a thorough examination of the bite site is necessary to exclude the possibility that the head of the tick may not be removed. You can remove it with tweezers or a sterile needle (if necessary, removing it from under the skin). To avoid crushing the tick, removal must be done very carefully.

There is another effective and proven way to remove mites. A few drops of vegetable oil are applied to the bite site (usually it is a yellowish-green bubble). The oil closes the pores, thereby blocking the breath of the tick. After one or two minutes, by turning the bubble counterclockwise with tweezers, it is necessary to achieve the appearance of a tick head with red antennae. Their stirring indicates the successful and complete extraction of the tick. Upon completion of the removal procedure, the bite site must be lubricated with iodine, brilliant green or alcohol.

For mosquito bites Wipe the bite area with alcohol, alcohol-based solution or cologne to reduce itching. When organizing a trip out of town, provide for the availability and use of mosquito repellents.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if :

• a significant tumor develops around the site of an insect bite,
• having a fever, headaches, drowsiness or other symptoms for several days,
• accumulations at insect bites, pus,
• swollen lymph nodes,
• lice detection,
• flea bite detection,
• tick bite detection,
• the appearance of itching in the head, urticaria, redness of the skin.