What do bedbug bites look like. How can you differentiate between various insect bites. What are the symptoms of different bug bites. How to treat and prevent painful insect bites.

Understanding Bedbug Bites: Appearance and Symptoms

Bedbug bites are a common concern for many people, but identifying them can be challenging. These bites typically appear on exposed areas of the body during sleep, such as the neck, shoulders, arms, and legs. Steve Durham, president of EnviroCon Termite & Pest, notes that bedbug bites often manifest as itchy bumps within a day of being bitten.

How do bedbug bites differ from other insect bites? Here are some key characteristics:

• They resemble mosquito bites, appearing as somewhat swollen red spots
• Bites can occur in clusters or zigzag patterns
• Unlike flea bites, they usually don’t have a red dot in the center
• Bedbug bites tend to persist longer than mosquito bites

It’s important to note that reactions to bedbug bites can vary significantly between individuals. Eric Braun, a board-certified entomologist, explains that the same bedbug could bite two people with drastically different results – one person might have no reaction, while another could experience extreme swelling or an itchy rash.

Timeframe for Bite Reactions

How long does it take for bedbug bites to appear? The answer isn’t straightforward:

• Some people may have an immediate reaction
• Others might not see any signs for up to two weeks
• With repeated exposure, the body often becomes more sensitive, potentially reacting within seconds

Decoding Different Insect Bites and Stings

While bedbug bites are concerning, numerous other insects can leave painful or itchy marks on your skin. Understanding the characteristics of different bites can help in identifying the culprit and determining the appropriate treatment.

Mosquitoes, Midges, and Gnats

These flying insects often leave small, itchy lumps on the skin. For those with heightened sensitivity, bites might develop into:

• Bullae – fluid-filled blisters
• Weals – circular, fluid-filled areas surrounding the bite

It’s crucial to note that mosquito bites in certain tropical regions can transmit malaria, making proper protection essential when traveling to these areas.

Flea Bites: More Than Just a Pet Problem

Flea bites often appear in lines or clusters and can be particularly troublesome for sensitive individuals. What makes flea bites unique?

• They commonly occur below the knee, especially around the ankles
• Forearm bites are possible if you’ve been in close contact with pets
• In sensitive individuals, they can lead to papular urticaria – a condition characterized by itchy red lumps

Horsefly Bites: A Painful Encounter

Horsefly bites are notorious for their pain and potential complications. Unlike many insects that pierce the skin, horseflies actually cut it, leading to a range of symptoms:

• Intense pain at the bite site
• Formation of a weal around the bite
• Possible urticaria (hives or welts)
• In some cases, dizziness or weakness
• Potential for angio-oedema – itchy swellings around eyes and lips

Why are horsefly bites particularly problematic? The cutting action of their bite can lead to a longer healing time and increased risk of infection compared to other insect bites.

The Blandford Fly: A Regional Menace

While less widely known, the Blandford fly (also called blackfly) poses a significant threat in certain regions of England. These bites are characterized by their severity and specific geographical distribution.

Where and When to Watch Out

The Blandford fly is primarily found near rivers in areas such as:

• Dorset
• East Anglia
• Oxfordshire
• Herefordshire

However, reports of bites have been expanding to other parts of England. The peak season for Blandford fly activity is typically May and June.

Recognizing Blandford Fly Bites

What makes Blandford fly bites distinct from other insect bites?

• They often occur on the legs
• The bites are exceptionally painful
• They can cause severe localized reactions

Symptoms of a Blandford fly bite may include:

• Significant swelling
• Blistering
• High fever (38°C/100.4°F or above)
• Joint pain

Preventing and Treating Insect Bites

Given the discomfort and potential health risks associated with various insect bites, prevention is key. How can you protect yourself from these painful encounters?

• Use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, especially in wooded areas
• Avoid peak insect hours, typically dawn and dusk
• Use bed nets when sleeping in areas with high mosquito populations
• Regularly inspect and clean your living space to prevent bedbug infestations

If you do get bitten, what’s the best course of action? Most insect bites can be treated at home:

• Clean the affected area with soap and water
• Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
• Use over-the-counter antihistamines to relieve itching
• For pain relief, consider acetaminophen or ibuprofen

When should you seek medical attention for an insect bite? Consider consulting a healthcare professional if you experience:

• Signs of infection, such as increasing redness, warmth, or pus
• Severe allergic reactions, including difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or throat
• Persistent symptoms that don’t improve with home treatment
• Fever or flu-like symptoms following a bite, which could indicate a more serious infection

The Impact of Climate Change on Insect Populations

As our global climate continues to shift, so too does the distribution and behavior of insect populations. This change has significant implications for the prevalence and spread of insect-borne diseases and the frequency of painful bites.

Expanding Habitats

How is climate change affecting insect habitats? Several key factors are at play:

• Rising temperatures are allowing insects to survive in previously inhospitable areas
• Changes in precipitation patterns are altering breeding grounds for many species
• Milder winters are reducing natural population control, leading to larger insect populations

These changes mean that regions previously unaffected by certain insects may now be at risk. For example, mosquito species capable of carrying diseases like dengue fever and Zika virus are expanding their range into more temperate climates.

Increased Disease Transmission

The relationship between climate change and insect-borne diseases is complex. How does warming affect disease transmission?

• Higher temperatures can accelerate the development of pathogens within insect vectors
• Extended warm seasons provide more time for disease transmission
• Changes in human behavior (e.g., spending more time outdoors) can increase exposure to insects

As a result, we may see an increase in the incidence of diseases like Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and malaria in areas where they were previously rare or non-existent.

Emerging Technologies in Insect Control and Bite Prevention

As the challenges posed by insects evolve, so too do the technologies designed to combat them. What innovative approaches are being developed to prevent and treat insect bites?

Advanced Repellents

Scientists are working on next-generation insect repellents that offer longer-lasting protection with fewer side effects. Some promising developments include:

• Nanoparticle-based repellents that provide controlled release of active ingredients
• Genetically-engineered bacteria that produce natural repellent compounds
• Clothing treated with long-lasting repellents or insecticides

Smart Monitoring Systems

How can technology help us predict and prevent insect outbreaks? New monitoring systems are leveraging data and AI to do just that:

• Drone-based surveillance to identify and map insect breeding grounds
• IoT sensors that detect changes in insect population density
• Machine learning algorithms that predict insect activity based on environmental factors

These technologies could allow for more targeted and effective insect control measures, reducing both the environmental impact of pesticides and the incidence of painful bites.

Genetic Approaches

Genetic technologies are opening up new possibilities in insect control. What are some of the cutting-edge approaches being explored?

• Gene drive techniques to reduce populations of disease-carrying insects
• Sterile insect techniques to suppress pest populations
• Genetically modified insects that are incapable of transmitting diseases

While these approaches show promise, they also raise ethical and ecological questions that must be carefully considered before widespread implementation.

The Psychology of Insect Bites: Understanding and Managing Fear

For many people, the fear of insect bites goes beyond the physical discomfort they cause. This fear, known as entomophobia, can have a significant impact on quality of life. How can we better understand and manage this fear?

Origins of Insect-Related Fears

What causes some people to develop intense fears of insects and their bites? Several factors can contribute:

• Evolutionary instincts that promote avoidance of potential threats
• Traumatic experiences with insects in childhood
• Cultural attitudes that reinforce negative perceptions of insects
• Misinformation about the dangers posed by various insects

Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has shown effectiveness in treating insect-related phobias. How does CBT help individuals overcome their fears?

• Challenging irrational beliefs about insects and their bites
• Gradual exposure to insects in a controlled environment
• Teaching relaxation techniques to manage anxiety
• Providing accurate information about insect behavior and the true risks of bites

By addressing both the cognitive and behavioral aspects of the fear, individuals can learn to respond more rationally to encounters with insects.

Mindfulness and Acceptance

Mindfulness-based approaches offer another avenue for managing insect-related fears. How can mindfulness help?

• Increasing awareness of automatic fear responses
• Developing a non-judgmental attitude towards one’s fears
• Cultivating acceptance of the presence of insects in the environment
• Reducing overall anxiety levels, which can exacerbate specific fears

By combining these psychological approaches with practical prevention strategies, individuals can develop a more balanced and less fearful relationship with insects and the possibility of bites.

What Do Bedbug Bites Look Like?

The bites can appear on any part of the body that’s exposed while you sleep — places like the back of your neck, shoulders, arms, and legs are common, says Steve Durham, president of EnviroCon Termite & Pest in Tomball, Texas.

For most people, bedbug bites result in itchy bumps where the bite occurred, within a day of being bitten. (4) The bites usually look like mosquito bites and will appear as a somewhat swollen red spot that might itch. (3)

RELATED: How to Identify 11 Common Bug Bites and Stings

But the bites will look different from person to person, and some people won’t develop any reaction whatsoever. “The same bedbug could bite two different people and one could have no reaction at all and the other can have an extreme reaction with a swollen arm or itchy rash,” says Eric Braun, a board-certified entomologist and business manager for the national pest control company Rentokil Steritech, who is based in Redding, Pennsylvania. Some people end up developing a rash that looks like eczema. (5)

It’s also possible that you won’t see a reaction the first time a bedbug bites since it sometimes can take the body a while to react. (6) Some people will have an immediate reaction, while for others it could take two weeks to emerge. Your body will likely become more sensitive to bedbug bites over time, and if you get bitten repeatedly, it could be only a matter of seconds before your body shows a response.

You may notice a single bite, while other times several bites will appear in a line. (3) “In most cases, they occur in clusters or zigzags of flat, itchy bites,” Durham says. “One bedbug will usually take more than one bite, so the severity of your infestation can have a big impact on the severity of your physical reaction to the bites.”

RELATED: 7 Skin Conditions That Look Contagious, but Aren’t

Bedbug bites differ from other bites in a few ways:

• They can appear anywhere on the skin that’s exposed while you’re sleeping. Flea or chigger bites, on the other hand, usually only appear around your ankles, Durham says.
• They sometimes bite in a zigzag pattern. (6)
• Bedbug bites don’t normally have a red dot in the center, while flea bites usually do. (7)

Bedbug bites tend to stick around longer than mosquito bites, though they look very similar. (7)

Insect bites & stings – Injuries & first aid

An insect bite or sting often causes a small lump to develop, which is usually very itchy.

A small hole, or the sting itself, may also be visible. The lump may have an inflamed (red and swollen) area around it that may be filled with fluid. This is called a weal.

Insect bites and stings usually clear up within several hours and can be safely treated at home. 

Insect bites

The symptoms that can occur from different types of insect bites are described below.

Midges, mosquitoes and gnats

Bites from midges, mosquitoes and gnats often cause small papules (lumps) to form on your skin that are usually very itchy. If you’re particularly sensitive to insect bites, you may develop:

• bullae – fluid-filled blisters
• weals – circular, fluid-filled areas surrounding the bite

Mosquito bites in certain areas of tropical countries can cause malaria.

Fleas

Flea bites can be grouped in lines or clusters. If you’re particularly sensitive to flea bites, they can lead to a condition called papular urticaria, where a number of itchy red lumps form. Bullae may also develop.

Fleas from cats and dogs can often bite below the knee, commonly around the ankles. You may also get flea bites on your forearms if you’ve been stroking or holding your pet.

Horseflies

A bite from a horsefly can be very painful. As well as the formation of a weal around the bite, you may also experience:

• urticaria – a rash of weals (also called hives, welts or nettle rash)
• dizziness
• weakness
• wheezing
• angio-oedema – itchy, pale pink or red swellings that often occur around the eyes and lips for short periods of time

Horseflies cut the skin when they bite, rather than piercing it, so horsefly bites can take a long time to heal and can cause an infection.

Bedbugs

Bites from bedbugs aren’t usually painful, and if you’ve not been bitten by bedbugs before, you may not have any symptoms.

If you have been bitten before, you may develop intensely irritating weals or lumps.

Bedbug bites often occur on your:

The Blandford fly

The Blandford fly (sometimes called blackfly) is usually found near rivers. It’s common in:

• Dorset
• East Anglia
• Oxfordshire
• Herefordshire

However, there have also been reports of Blandford fly bites occurring in other areas of England.

You’re most at risk of being bitten by a Blandford fly in May and June. Bites often occur on the legs and are very painful.

They can produce a severe localised reaction (a reaction confined to the area of the bite) with symptoms such as:

• swelling
• blistering
• a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or over
• joint pain

Arachnid bites

Ticks

Tick bites aren’t usually painful and sometimes only cause a red lump to develop where you were bitten. However, in some cases they may cause:

• swelling
• itchiness
• blistering
• bruising

Ticks can carry a bacterial infection called Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be serious if it isn’t treated.

Mites

Mites cause very itchy lumps to develop on the skin and can also cause blisters. If the mites are from pets, you may be bitten on your abdomen (tummy) and thighs if your pet has been sitting on your lap. Otherwise, mites will bite any uncovered skin.

Spiders

Spider bites from spiders native to the UK are rare. You’re more likely 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 cause redness and swelling.

In severe cases, a spider bite may cause nausea, vomiting, sweating and dizziness. Very rarely, a spider bite may cause a severe allergic reaction.

Insect stings

Wasps and hornets

A wasp or hornet sting causes a sharp pain in the area that’s been stung, which usually lasts just a few seconds.

A swollen red mark will often then form on your skin, which can be itchy and painful.

Bees

A bee sting feels similar to a wasp sting, but the sting and a venomous sac will be left in the wound. You should remove this immediately by scraping it out using something with a hard edge, such as a bank card.

Don’t pinch the sting out with your fingers or tweezers because you may spread the venom.

Allergic reaction

Most people won’t have severe symptoms after being bitten or stung by an insect, but some people can react badly to them because they’ve developed antibodies to the venom.

You’re more likely to have an allergic reaction if you’re stung by an insect. The reaction can be classed as:

• a minor localised reaction – this is normal and doesn’t require allergy testing, although the affected area will often be painful for a few days
• a large localised reaction (LLR) – this can cause other symptoms, such as swelling, itching and a rash
• a systemic reaction (SR) – this often requires immediate medical attention because it can cause a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Although insect bites and stings are a common cause of anaphylaxis, it’s rare to experience anaphylaxis after an insect sting, and it’s rarely fatal.

Large localised reactions and systemic reactions are described in more detail below.

Large localised reaction (LLR)

If you have a large localised reaction (LLR) after being bitten or stung by an insect, a large area around the bite or sting will swell up. The area may measure up to 30cm (12in) across, or your entire arm or leg could swell up.

The swelling will usually last longer than 48 hours, but should start to go down after a few days. This can be painful, but the swelling won’t be dangerous unless it affects your airways.

If you’re bitten or stung many times by one or more insects, your symptoms will be more severe because a larger amount of venom will have been injected.

You may have an LLR several hours after being bitten or stung. This could include:

• a rash
• nausea
• painful or swollen joints

Systemic reaction (SR)

You’re more likely to have a systemic reaction (SR) if you’ve been bitten or stung before and become sensitised, particularly if it was recently. People who’ve been sensitised to bee stings are more likely to have an SR than people who are stung by wasps.

Dial 999 immediately to request an ambulance if you’ve been bitten or stung and have any of the following symptoms:

• wheezing, hoarseness or difficulty breathing
• nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• a fast heart rate
• dizziness or feeling faint
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• a swollen face or mouth
• confusion, anxiety or agitation

It’s rare for an SR to be fatal, particularly in children, although someone with an existing heart or breathing problem is at an increased risk.

Read about treating insect bites and stings.

Bed bug bites: Pictures, treatment, and prevention

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Most people who are bitten by bed bugs experience symptoms that include irritation, sores, or itchiness. But how should bed bug bites be treated and can they be prevented?

There are several ways of reducing the chances of getting bites, while the treatment options include good hygiene and antihistamines.

This article explores bed bug bite treatment and prevention methods in detail.

Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on human blood.

While they are a public health concern, bed bugs are not known to transmit disease through their bites.

Bed bugs use a small tube-like structure called a proboscis to pierce the skin and drink a person’s blood. The pests are most active when humans are asleep, during the night and early morning.

An estimated one in five Americans have personally dealt with a bed bug infestation or knows someone who has encountered the pests.

Bed bugs can bite anywhere on the body where there is skin. Typically, bites tend to occur on areas exposed during sleeping, such as:

• neck
• face
• hands
• shoulders
• arms
• legs

Many people do not feel the bite itself or develop clear symptoms other than the dots where the bug bit and some minor, surrounding inflammation and irritation. Others are considered hypersensitive to bites and develop more severe symptoms.

In most cases symptoms occur more or less immediately after the bite, but they can develop or progress over the following days as well. Without further irritation, symptoms typically resolve after a week or so.

Almost all bed bug bites will produce some degree of discomfort, typically itchiness and inflammation. Other signs and symptoms of bed bug bites include:

• a burning painful sensation
• a raised itchy bump with a clear center
• a red itchy bump with a dark center and lighter swollen surrounding area
• small red bumps or welts in a zigzag pattern or a line
• small red bumps surrounded by blisters or hives
• papular eruptions or areas of skin with raised or flat patches that may be inflamed
• small spots of blood from bites often dried or stained onto sheets or bed clothing
• reddish or reddish-brown dried stains on fabrics due to bed bug droppings
• white or clear skins, shed by the nymphs as they mature

Individual characteristics of the bug’s bite and the person who is bitten also influence the resulting sore.

While fairly rare, some people have or develop severe reactions and symptoms from bed bug bites. Serious symptoms that require medical attention include:

• difficulty breathing
• blisters
• fever
• feeling nauseous or flu-like
• swollen tongue
• irregular heartbeat

Living with bed bugs can cause additional health complications:

• Increased likelihood of infection: Due to the skin’s surface being compromised.
• Sleep deprivation: The idea of being fed on can be extremely stressful. Given that the bugs only feed at night, some people will avoid sleep or will only get fitful or restless sleep.
• Decreased wellbeing: A continual lack of sleep has been linked to feelings of depression, anxiety, general fatigue, and lowered immune function. The misconceptions surrounding bed bugs, especially the mistaken association with lack of cleanliness, can add to feelings of depression and low self-esteem.

Share on PinterestBed bug bites should heal on their own, but may be itchy and swollen in the meantime.
Image credit: James Heilman MD, 2013

There are relatively few treatments options when it comes to uncomplicated bed bug bites.

The first recommended line of treatment involves cleaning the wound, ideally with soap and water.

For itchy bites, the following may relieve minor symptoms:

• over-the-counter hydrocortisone, which can be purchased online.
• anti-itch creams
• antihistamines

Most wounds heal on their own within a week, sometimes two.

If severe swelling, inflammation, or itchiness occurs or persists, a person should seek medical attention.

A dramatic immune response may be a sign of an allergic reaction. If this is the case, one of the following may need to be administered:

• an injectable corticosteroid
• antihistamine
• epinephrine medication

If infection occurs, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Severe itchiness may result in further complications, such as infection or scarring. If severe itching is experienced, people may be prescribed corticosteroid creams and antihistamine pills or liquid.

Share on PinterestOlder bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and are brown in color.

One way to help prevent exposure and potential infestations by bed bugs is to be able to recognize bed bugs and distinguish them from other pests.

In a 2017 study, some 35 percent of polled American business travellers and 28 percent of leisure travellers were unable to tell a bed bug apart from other household pests.

Common characteristics of nymphs (young bed bugs) include:

• being less than than 5 mm in length
• whitish-yellow and or clear-colored
• invisible without a microscope or magnifying glass

The nymphs are easier to see if they have just feed when the blood fills their abdomen, giving it a reddish brown color.

Adult bed bugs are typically far easier to spot than nymphs. Identifiable characteristics of most adult bed bugs include:

• an oval-shaped body
• apple seed in size
• a body that is fairly flat unless recently fed and inflated
• reddish-brown to light-brown or tan color of shell, depending on how recently it fed
• a length of 5-7 millimeters (mm)
• three segments, an antenna with four parts, short yellow hairs, and unusable wings
• a musty or stale-sweet scent released by glands on the underbelly

Controlling bed bugs needs the identification and complete removal or destruction of the pest’s eggs.

On average, one female can produce at least 345 eggs over her lifetime. Egg-laying females often increase the volume and frequency of feeding to support their brood.

Common characteristics and signs of bed bug eggs include:

• they are often laid in the same places where the female choses to rest
• they resemble tiny barrel-shaped, pearl-colored specks, no bigger than the head of a pin
• they develop a noticeable eye spot after a few days

The key to preventing bed bug bites is to stop the insects entering, feeding, and breeding in human environments.

In the daytime, bed bugs often seek refuge in the cracks and crevices of furniture, flooring, walls, and mattresses.

The seams and folds of upholstered furniture can also offer an ideal hiding place. Bed bugs have been known to persist in vacuum canisters or units.

The insects tend to pick hiding spots near human sleeping quarters, including bedrooms. Bed bugs found in other rooms are usually a sign of a severe infestation.

Areas where bed bug infestations commonly occur include:

Share on PinterestSearching for bed bugs includes looking for reddish-brown stains caused by their droppings and the clear skins shed by nymphs as they mature.

• apartment or condominium buildings
• large office spaces
• hotels
• vacation rentals
• cruise ships
• daycares
• nursing homes
• hospitals
• college dormitories or housing units
• public transportation, including airplanes
• shopping malls
• furniture or second hand stores
• urban areas
• rented homes

Items commonly responsible for spreading bed bugs include:

• used or secondhand furniture
• new furniture or textiles exposed to bed bugs during transit
• items of luggage
• chairs or loungers where people fall asleep
• bedding or bed clothes
• moving or storage boxes
• shipped items, especially if held at several locations or warehouses

Bed bugs do not have a preference between sanitary, messy, or unsanitary conditions.

They can, however, be found at higher rates in places, such as hotels, if infestations are not properly cleared.

Home tips for preventing, controlling, and clearing bed bug infestations include:

• Avoid furniture or items from infested areas or environments commonly impacted by bed bugs, such as apartment buildings.
• Pick furniture or items made out of materials that do not typically contain cracks, crevices or seams, including plastic, stone, metal, plaster, and high-weave textiles.

Share on PinterestWashing bedding at high temperatures and checking for signs of bed bugs in hotel rooms can help prevent bed bug bites.

• Fill or seal cracks, crevices, and seams with products, such as glue or calking.
• Clean bedding and bed clothing regularly.
• Wash and dry bedding at high heat.
• Vacuum upholstered items regularly and thoroughly, including mattresses, pillows, etc.
• Clean heavier bedding items, including mattresses, pillows, comforters, and duvet covers, using high heat, ideally the “dry steam” setting available on modern washing machines.
• Use a hand steamer to kill eggs and bugs in luggage or upholstered items.
• When traveling, keep luggage on racks and away from floors, beds, and furniture.
• Check for signs of bed bugs upon entering hotel rooms or other pest hot spots.
• Remember, where there is one bed bug there are usually many, often in the areas surrounding or adjacent to the infected room or item.
• Cover as much of the skin as possible while sleeping.

In severe or persistent cases, furniture or infected items may need to be destroyed, ideally by burning.

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Identify Bug Bites – Common Bug Bites

How to Identify Insect Bites and Symptoms

Symptoms

Symptoms of Severe Allergic Reaction

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Signs of anaphylaxis typically occur within seconds to minutes of exposure and include sneezing, wheezing, hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden anxiety, dizziness, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, chest tightness, and itching or swelling of the eyes, lips, or other areas of the face. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that warrants calling 9-1-1 immediately. If you or your child has had an allergic reaction to a sting or bite, you should be evaluated by an allergist. You may be advised to wear an allergy identification tag or to carry epinephrine, a medication used to treat allergic reactions in emergencies.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, and can cause fever, headaches, fatigue, and a skin rash that looks like a circular red patch, or “bull’s-eye.” Patients who are treated with antibiotics in the early stages of the infection usually recover rapidly and completely, but left untreated, infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system.

Symptoms of West Nile Virus

West Nile virus, which is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, can produce flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, stiff neck, body aches, and skin rash. While most infected individuals have mild disease and recover spontaneously, infection can be serious or even fatal. West Nile virus treatment consists of supportive care and occasionally, intravenous anti-viral therapy.

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Initial symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, severe neck pain, muscle pain, and lack of appetite. The characteristic red, spotted rash of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is usually not seen until the sixth day or later after symptoms begin, and as many as 10 percent to 15 percent of patients may never develop a rash at all. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is treated with antibiotics.

Signs of Infection

It is normal for a bite or sting to result in redness of the affected area and minor swelling. However, if redness or swelling persists for more than 72 hours, or if a fever develops, it may signify an infection. Doctor-prescribed antibiotics are a common treatment for infection.

Should you suspect that you or a family member may be infected with any of the above diseases, or if you are experiencing any of the above reactions, please seek immediate medical attention.

Mosquito Bite Symptoms and Treatment | Mosquitoes

Female mosquitoes bite people and animals to get a blood meal. Most female mosquitoes cannot produce eggs without a blood meal. Male mosquitoes do not bite people and animals.

What Happens When a Mosquito Bites You

Mosquito bite on the back of a boy’s neck. Credit: Getty Images.

When a mosquito bites you, it pierces the skin using a special mouthpart (proboscis) to suck up blood. As the mosquito is feeding, it injects saliva into your skin. Your body reacts to the saliva resulting in a bump and itching.

Some people have only a mild reaction to a bite or bites. Other people react more strongly, and a large area of swelling, soreness, and redness can occur.

Symptoms

Mosquito bite signs include:

• A puffy and reddish bump appearing a few minutes after the bite
• A hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, or multiple bumps appearing a day or so after the bite or bites
• Small blisters instead of hard bumps
• Dark spots that look like bruises

More severe reactions can occur in:

• Children
• Adults bitten by a mosquito species they haven’t been exposed to previously
• People with immune system disorders

Mosquito bite on the inside of a person’s forearm. Credit: Getty Images.

People experiencing more severe reactions may have the following signs:

• A large area of swelling and redness
• Low-grade fever
• Hives
• Swollen lymph nodes

Treatment

• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce swelling and itching. Reapply ice pack as needed.
• Apply a mixture of baking soda and water, which can help reduce the itch response.

  Anti-itch cream for a mosquito bite. Credit: Getty Images.

  • Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to create a paste.
  • Apply the paste to the mosquito bite.
  • Wait 10 minutes.
  • Wash off the paste.
• Use an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to help relieve itching. Follow the product label directions.

Complications

Infected bite

• Do not scratch bites. They can become infected.
• An infected bite may appear red, feel warm, or a red streak will spread outward from the bite.
• See a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen.

Mosquito-borne diseases

• Mosquitoes spread germs through bites. Viruses like West Nile and dengue and parasites like malaria can make you sick.
• A mosquito gets infected with a virus or parasite when it bites a person or animal that is infected. The infected mosquito can spread germs to other people or animals through bites.
• Not everyone infected with a mosquito-borne germ gets sick.

Prevent Mosquito Bites

You can protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.

Resources

Activity Book for Kids – Mosquito Bites are Bad!

Insect Stings and Spider Bites

Summer time is here along with more outdoor activities. Outdoor activities also bring increased exposure to insect stings and spider bites, which often cause minor swelling, redness, pain, and itching. These mild reactions are common and may last from a few hours to a few days. Home treatment is often all that is needed to relieve the symptoms. Take precautions when spending time outdoors such as applying appropriate insect repellent and avoiding peak insect hours. Below are some common insect sting and spider bite symptoms.

Mosquito Bites

Mosquito bites typically occur at dusk or at night as mosquitoes swarm. Spring and summer seasons are the worst. Mosquito bite symptoms typically occur hours or days later. Redness and itching on and around bites is common. Swelling may occur as itching aggravates bite sites. Virus infected mosquitoes can spread the West Nile virus to people, causing an inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Parasitic infected mosquitoes can spread malaria.
 

Fire Ant Bites

Fire ant bites have symptoms similar to other insect or bug bites. However, a fire ant’s bite is painful. A fire ant attaches to a person by biting with its jaws. Then, pivoting its head, it stings from its belly in a circular pattern at multiple sites.Redness typically surrounds the bite forming lighter colored rings around a darker center. Pain is present as symptoms progress. Runners of redness will shoot out from the bite area at times. Fever, nausea, aches, tiredness, and other flu-like symptoms may occur.
 

Bees, Hornets, Wasps

Stings from bees, hornets and wasps cause more deaths than bites from all other insects and spiders. Death may result from an allergic reaction. If stung by a bee, check the wound to see if the stinger is still there. If it is, flick it out with something stiff, such as cardboard or a credit card. A bee leaves its stinger behind and then dies afterwards.

Africanized honeybees, the so-called killer bees, are more aggressive than common honeybees and often attack together in great numbers. Meanwhile, wasps,can sting repetitively.

Symptoms typically include pain and swelling. Atypical symptoms can signal the onset of an allergic reaction. There are two types of allergic reactions.

• Swelling at the bite or sting site becomes excessive, and the patient may experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headache.
• A severe, sometimes life-threatening, reaction can cause puffiness or swelling of the eyes, nose and lips. The tongue and throat can also swell and breathing difficulties may develop.

If you experience any severe reaction, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Chigger Bites

Chigger bites produce small raised red lesions on the skin. Bites can cause pain and itching. Symptoms may be similar to contact dermatitis or poison ivy or oak rash. Hypersensitive persons may experience swelling or blistering. Itching may cause chigger bite areas to spread and appear as a rash.
 

Tick Bites

Tick bites are noticed after redness, pain, discomfort or swelling occur in the area of the tick bite. Blisters, rash and itching may also occur. Early removal of the tick body and head followed by thorough cleaning is beneficial. While most ticks do not carry diseases, some ticks can cause the following:

• Lyme disease,
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Colorado Tick Fever
• Tularemia.

Watch for symptoms of these diseases in the weeks following a tick bite. Symptoms include muscle or joint aches, stiff neck, headache, weakness, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and other flu-like symptoms. Watch for a red spot or rash starting at the location of the bite.

Flea Bites

Flea bites typically begin as a rash with small bumps that itch and may bleed. Bites are typically located on the armpit, in a crease of skin or joint (arm or leg) of the body where fleas hide. A larger skin area may be affected over time as bite areas enlarge. Touching bites will turn bite areas white. Itching may be localized or can become generalized and may result in severe itching. Swelling around flea bites or rash areas my result and take several day to subside. Symptoms can begin suddenly.
 

Spider Bites

There are almost 20,000 spider species, and all of them have venom. Some spider venom are more powerful than others. Fortunately, most spiders are not dangerous because their fangs are either too short or too fragile to penetrate human skin. Spiders rarely bite more than once so multiple bites are usually caused by insects such as fleas, bedbugs, ticks, mites and biting flies.
 

Brown Recluse Spider

Named for its habit of hiding in dark corners, the brown recluse spider is also known as the violin or fiddleback spider because of a violin-shaped mark on its head. Usually about a half-inch long (including legs), the brown recluse has no marking on the tail end section, which is solid light brown. The brown recluse has six eyes rather than the typical eight eyes. Spider experts agree that the true brown recluse is native only to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi.

The brown recluse spider bite usually causes some pain or burning in the first 10 minutes, accompanied by itching. The wound takes on a bull’s-eye appearance, with a center blister surrounded first by an angry red ring and then by a blanched (white) ring. This blister breaks open leaving an open ulcer that scabs over. The ulcer can enlarge and involve underlying skin and muscle tissue. Pain may be severe. A generalized red, itchy rash usually appears in the first 24-48 hours. Other symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and hemolytic anemia.

Treatment consists of washing the wound. In case of infection, an ulcer that does not heal, or a rash, see a physician.
 

Black Widow Spider

The black widow is a shiny, inky black spider with a large round tail segment. Only the female is dangerous to humans. Including its legs, the black widow generally measures from one-half inch to one inch in length.

Red to orange colored markings, usually in the shape of an hourglass, are always found on the underside of the belly. Black widow spiders generally live in trash, wood piles, garages and other dark places. A black widow spider bite gives the appearance of a target, with a pale area surrounded by a red ring.

Severe muscle pain and cramps generally develop within the first two hours. Severe cramps are usually felt first in the back, shoulders, abdomen and thighs. Other symptoms include weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure. Young children, the elderly and those with high blood pressure are at highest risk from a black widow spider bite.

If a person is bitten by a black widow spider, do not panic. Wash the area well with soap and water. If muscle cramps develop, take the patient to the nearest hospital. A black widow spider bite is rarely life-threatening, although young children, especially, may be admitted to the hospital overnight for observation and treatment. Various medications are used to treat the muscle cramps, spasms and pain of a black widow spider bite.

90,000 Who has the worst sting in the world?

15 August 2016

Photo by MYN / Gil Wizen / naturepl.com

The sting is used by many living things to hurt enemies and inject poison, but they will seem to you innocent babies compared to those monsters about which says BBC Earth columnist Ella Davis.

The sting is one of nature’s most brutal inventions.

To begin with, it hurts, piercing the flesh like a sharp lance.But the sting is also a chemical weapon that injects a dose of toxins directly into the bloodstream.

Whose sting is more terrible than all other stings; which animal should be avoided at all costs?

This question is more complicated than it might seem at first glance. You can think about who stings the most painful, or about whose poison is the most toxic or most deadly – and this is not the same thing.

Let’s start with the pain. Checking who stings the most is easy: you just have to allow yourself to be stung.

Photo by Martin Dohm / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata)

In his famous experiment, entomologist Justin Schmidt allowed many insects to sting themselves in the name of science and developed his own pain index with heartbreaking descriptions of the sensations of each sting.

The unfortunate inhabitants of Central and South America will probably agree with Schmidt that the sting of the bullet ant hurts the most. The very name of this insect is associated with the pain of a gunshot wound.

And the most generous portion of poison – 2.5 milligrams – is injected into its victim by a road wasp of the genus Pepsis. However, Schmidt claims that this bite is “essentially non-toxic, just painful.”

The ants of the species Pogonomyrmex Maricopa, on the other hand, have perhaps the most powerful venom of all stinging insects. Each ant has very little poison, but they live in colonies of 10 thousand insects, ready to repel any threat together, which can be very dangerous.

This is important to understand: stinging insects not only cause pain, but can also pose a threat to life and health.In particular, scorpions are known for their dangerous stings.

Photo by Daniel HEUCLIN / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

Yellow scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus)

Scorpions possess one of the most terrifying-looking stings: the last segment of the tail, telson, ends with a needle and a pair of venom glands …

However, scorpion researcher Lorenzo Prendini from the American Museum of Natural History claims that out of 2,000 known species of scorpions, only about 20 have “medical significance”, that is, they pose a threat to human life.

All but one of these dangerous scorpions belong to the butid family, whose representatives live in different parts of the world: from Mexico to Brazil and from southern Africa to India. However, the worst of them are concentrated in a kind of “hot spot”.

“There are many very venomous species in North America and the Middle East,” says Prendini. “The yellow scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) and various species of androctonus, especially the southern one (A.australis) and fat-tailed (A. crassicauda). “

The yellow scorpion is also known as the” deadly hunter “and androctonus means” murderer. “This is no exaggeration.

Photo by MYN / Gil Wizen / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

Androctonus bicolor

Southern Autoctonus is a fearless creature that does not dig holes, but hides in crevices, including the walls of village houses.

This scorpion can grow up to 10 centimeters in length, and its venom contains powerful toxins that affect the nervous system.

“The consequences of poisoning with scorpion venom depend on the amount of poison that has entered the body and the degree of its toxicity – the strength of the effect at the cellular level,” specifies Prendini.

“Thus, a larger scorpion whose venom contains less potent toxins but is capable of injecting more venom into the victim — such as A. australis or Parabuthus granulatus — may pose a more serious threat to life than a smaller scorpion with a more potent a poison that nevertheless enters the body in smaller doses, such as Leiurus quinquestriatus. “

Most healthy adults are able to survive after being stung by a scorpion, but only with the provision of qualified medical care, including obtaining an antidote.

“Most deaths from scorpion poisoning occur in young children, the elderly or the sick,” says Prendini.

“The majority of scorpion attacks occur in poor rural areas near scorpions.”

Due in part to the fact that death from scorpion stings most often occurs in remote places, the available data on such cases cannot be considered completely reliable. The same applies to the most dangerous stinging inhabitants of the oceans.

Photo by Visuals Unlimited / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

Bulldog ant (Myrmecia piliventris) stings its prey

Jellyfish and their relatives use stinging cells called nematocysts to hunt for prey and protect themselves.

These specialized cellular structures act like tiny harpoons. Some of them, piercing the flesh, carry a poisonous charge, aimed primarily at slowing down the movement of rapidly swimming prey – for example, fish.

Of the 2000 species of jellyfish known to science, only 10-15 species pose a threat to human life.

But their close relatives box jellyfish, which, despite such a similar name, belong to a different group, can be really dangerous.

The largest of these is the sea wasp, or the Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), which can weigh up to a kilogram. Its numerous three-meter tentacles are studded with hundreds of poisonous needles that affect muscle and nervous tissue.

Photo by Aflo / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

Compass jellyfish – nettle of the northern seas (Chrysaora melanaster)

“C. fleckeri is responsible for most of the deaths from jellyfish stings in Australia, while other Chironex species are responsible for the murders elsewhere, “explains jellyfish connoisseur Lisa-Ann Gershwin of the Australian federal science agency called the National Research and Applied Research Association.

In particular, if you measure the danger of the sting by the speed of death, the Australian box jellyfish will lead this hit parade.

“C. fleckeri is considered the most poisonous animal in the world,” Gershwin says. “[Its victims] die in just two minutes. And not in some cases, but very often.”

“Death occurs as a result of blockage of the heart muscle in a contracted state,” she adds. “After that, survival is unlikely – you cannot squeeze even more what is already compressed.So the whole safety precaution comes down to avoiding the bite and immediately giving the victim cardiopulmonary resuscitation. “

Another name that comes up in conversations about the deadly box jellyfish is the irukandji jellyfish. .com

Photo caption,

Irukandji jellyfish (Carukia barnesi)

Until recently it was believed that there was only one type of Irukandji jellyfish, named after the indigenous Australians living along the northeastern coast of the country, where in the 1950s for the first time a bite of this creature was recorded.

But now experts distinguish about 25 species of jellyfish in the Caribdeida order – they all have a terrifying ability to sting their victims and are found all over the world.

The smallest of them has a bell – only one centimeter, but at each corner they have tentacles, which can reach a hundred times the length of the whole body.

The venom released by stinging cells located both on the tentacles and on the bell disrupts the natural processes necessary for life.

Unlike other jellyfish bites, symptoms in this case are not immediately noticeable. “Irukandji syndrome” begins to manifest itself after 20-30 minutes: the victim has back pain, nausea, muscle spasms and a feeling of inevitable trouble, a heart attack is also possible due to a sharp increase in blood pressure.

“The most common Irukandji bites are Carukia barnesi – these jellyfish are swarming,” Gershwin clarifies. poison. “

Compared to the Australian box jellyfish, the poison of the Irukandji is “much more potent for the same volume,” but according to Gershwin, with timely medical attention, the likelihood of dying from an Irukandji bite is lower.

However, it should be noted that Irukandji bites do not leave any traces, so it is possible that the number of reports of these encounters with invisible killers is less than the number of cases themselves.

At the same time, during the period since 1883, 68 people have died from the bite of the Australian box jellyfish in the waters of Australia.

Photo by NAture Production / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica)

However, today not many people die from a jellyfish bite – thanks to information about the seasonal appearance of dangerous jellyfish and improved quality of treatment …

Therefore, in search of the stinging animals responsible for the massacres, we will have to return to land.

The Asian giant hornet is the world’s largest stinging insect, nicknamed the “Hell Hornet”.

In Japan, 30-50 people die every year from the bite of a giant hornet, which causes severe swelling.

In Ankang, China, 41 people died in 2013 as a result of a seasonal increase in the number of hornets in three months.

At least at first glance, it seems that these insects are ahead of other species in the number of victims. However, an important caveat must be made: the number of deaths as a result of attacks by scorpions and box jellyfish is not well documented, that is, a direct comparison turns out to be incorrect.

However, it is possible that the deadliest sting belongs to those without whom we, perhaps, could not do.

Schmidt argues that the species that poses the greatest danger – or at least deserves the most respect – is well known to us all – the honey bees.

Photo by Simon Colmer / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) live in colonies

All these bees belong to the genus Apis.In Europe and North America, European honeybees (A. mellifera) are well known to many, while in Asia, giant bees (A. dorsata) are more common.

“The honeybees A. mellifera and A. dorsata have a lot of potent venom, attack in the thousands and are quite aggressive,” Schmidt writes.

For most people, a single bee sting simply causes local pain and swelling. However, a stinging bee releases an alarming pheromone, which is a signal for an attack for its relatives.

However, there must be a lot of bites for a fatal outcome. In most cases, Schmidt said, “with fewer than 500 bites, there is little risk of serious toxicity.”

Of course, it is very unpleasant when you are stung by several hundred bees, but most of us will not die from this.

At the same time, there are several factors that make honey bee stings the most deadly.

Photo author, Tim Martin / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

African killer bee (Apis mellifera)

First, because of man’s love for honey, honey bees have spread all over the world.Among other things, this means that the person often comes into contact with them, thereby increasing the likelihood of an attack.

Second, some honeybees are particularly aggressive.

Domesticated bees are bred to obey their masters, but in Africa, wild honeybees are much more likely to attack predators in droves.

In the twentieth century they were brought to South America and during this time they spread to the north, where they are called “killer bees”.

Over several decades, killer bees sent hundreds of people to the next world.However, they only attack if they believe that someone is threatening their hive.

Photo by Visuals Unlimited, Inc / naturepl.com

Photo caption,

European honey bee (Apis mellifera)

If left alone, they will almost certainly leave you alone.

Finally, a single bite can be fatal if you develop an allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis occurs when a person’s immune system reacts too strongly to an allergen, causing swelling to develop rapidly, resulting in tissue damage and breathing difficulties.

The most severe reaction, called anaphylactic shock, can cause asphyxia, especially in the presence of a disease such as asthma.

A similar reaction can occur when an ant, hornet or jellyfish bite, but cases of bee stings with anaphylactic shock are recorded more often.

Fortunately, anaphylaxis is not very common. For example, in the UK fewer than three people die from bee stings a year, while in the United States the number is about 55.

Dirofilariasis in humans: what are the consequences of a mosquito bite.

Dirofilariasis in humans: what are the consequences of a mosquito bite.

Dirofilariasis is a disease caused by the parasitization of the nematode Dirofilaria repens in the subcutaneous tissue of various parts of the body, mucous membranes and conjunctiva of the organ of vision, in the genitals (scrotum, testicle, etc.), mammary glands, internal membranes of tissues and organs of the human abdominal cavity. This is tissue helminthiasis, characterized by slow development and long-term chronic course.

Human infection is transmitted through the bites of blood-sucking mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Culex and Anopheles.
The source of mosquito infection are infested domestic dogs, as well as cats, less often wild carnivores (wolves, foxes, etc.).
Transmission of the invasion to humans is carried out by a mosquito infected with invasive dirofilaria larvae.
Dirofilariasis is common among residents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.
In the Russian Federation, the risk zone for transmission of the invasion includes 11 subjects where dirofilariasis was registered (Krasnodar, Stavropol Territories, the Republic of Crimea, Khakassia, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Ingushetia). Like other diseases of this kind, it is most recorded in hot countries: in Africa, India, Vietnam, etc.
In 2015, 129 cases of dirofilariasis were registered in the territory of the Russian Federation in 37 subjects against 169 cases in 2014 in 42 subjects. The largest number of cases of dirofilariasis was registered in the city ofMoscow (16 pages), Belgorod Region (9 pages), the Republic of Crimea (8 pages).
Infection. Dirofilariasis in humans develops after the bite of a mosquito-carrier of dirofilaria larvae. The incubation period ranges from 1 month to several years and depends on the state of the body’s immune system and the rate of development of the parasite. Naturally, not all people will guess to associate the mysterious manifestations with a mosquito bite a month ago.

Symptoms. Symptoms begin with a small lump in the area of ​​the bite.It grows and develops as a larva, reliably hidden under the skin.
The main feature of this parasite is considered to be its ability to migrate. So, in 24 hours, the larva can cover a distance of up to 30 centimeters. Due to these “travels”, the location of the seal is constantly changing: for example, yesterday it was on the shoulder, and today it has shifted closer to the elbow. In this case, dirofilariasis in humans, as a rule, is not accompanied by pain. However, many patients complain that something is crawling under their skin.In medicine, there are cases when therapists, unfamiliar with this disease, sent the unfortunate for a consultation with a psychiatrist. In addition, a parasite nesting under the skin is often mistaken for a neoplasm, lipoma, or cyst. Dirofilaria is often detected already during surgery.

Dirofilariasis of the eyes is the most common and visible form of the disease. In 50% of cases of dirofilariasis, the parasite is localized under the skin of the eyelids, under the conjunctiva and mucous membrane, and sometimes in the eyeball.

Treatment. The only way to get rid of the larva is to surgically remove it. If the worm is not removed in time, an abscess may develop at the site of its localization. It should be emphasized that the use of antihelminthic drugs will not give any result.
Measures for the prevention of dirofilariasis.
• There is no specific prophylaxis.
• Prevention of contact with mosquitoes (use special sprays – repellents, preferably long-acting, from insects and try to expose the skin as little as possible when outdoors).
• Keep mosquitoes out of closed rooms (install mosquito nets, use fumigators in rooms).
In case of “suspicious” bites, increased itching, uncharacteristic pain sensations, the appearance of a seal, you should immediately consult a doctor – the sooner the parasite is identified and removed, the less harm it will have time to cause with its unwanted neighborhood.

http://65.rospotrebnadzor.ru/press/public/145854/

If you were bitten …

Rodnikov Sergey

In the warm season, the number of victims of animal and insect bites and burns caused by plants and some animals increases.Moreover, not somewhere in the distant Amazon, but here in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region and in places of traditional recreation – in the Crimea, Bulgaria, the Mediterranean.

Snakes

The common viper is widespread in Russia, as well as in Northern and Central Europe and Northern Asia. The poison causes pain, swelling at the site of the bite, a rise in temperature, the work of the heart can deteriorate sharply, in severe cases, loss of consciousness is possible.Deaths from a viper bite are quite rare. However, allergy sufferers can have a very strong reaction. Therefore, the first thing to do is to take an antihistamine and go to the doctor. It is necessary to maintain peace, drink more fluids (but not alcohol). Sometimes it is recommended to suck out the poison if there are no damaged teeth or abrasions in the mouth.

The steppe viper lives in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Europe, Kazakhstan and China. Its bites are less venomous than those of a common viper. Cases of death of people from bites of a steppe viper are not known.But the bites of large species of vipers are dangerous to humans. For example, a gurza bite, which injects about 50 mg of poison. This snake lives in the Transcaucasia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, in northern Africa, in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, etc.

Bees, wasps, bumblebees

From the bite, there is short-term pain and burning, followed by redness and swelling. In most cases, pain and itching will go away in one to two days. It is dangerous if a person is stung by dozens or hundreds of bees at the same time (lethal dose – 100-500 bites).If an insect bite fell on the inside of the mouth or throat, in the eyeball – in these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. There are people with hypersensitivity to Hymenoptera bites. They may have a severe reaction, even if they have been stung by one or two insects.

For a country walk, it is better to have clothes made of light fabric that cover the neck, arms and legs as much as possible. Bright and dark colors attract insects more. If a wasp or bee is flying next to you, do not make sudden, fussy movements.

If stung by a bee, you must carefully remove the sting. It is not recommended to squeeze the sting out with your fingers, as this can lead to the spread of the poison. Put a cotton swab moistened with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or water and soda on the bite site. You can apply ice. Allergy sufferers should always carry the antihistamines recommended by their doctor.

Scolopendra

Ringed centipede is found in large quantities in the Crimea, the Mediterranean and Transcaucasia.The bite is dangerous to humans, but not fatal.

Scolopendra often crawl into tents and houses. You can step on it on the beach or accidentally hit it with your hand while assembling the tent or turning over a stone.

Many people tolerate a scolopendra bite rather hard. The site of the bite is very swollen, and the swelling gradually spreads over a significant area of ​​the body. The temperature often rises to 38-39 °, chills and aches are often present. Symptoms usually resolve within 24 to 48 hours.However, in any case, the victims should urgently consult a doctor. Bites are especially difficult for children, allergy sufferers or people with heart disease.

In Australia and South America, there are larger species of purple, red and yellow scolopendra. In total, about 600 species of scolopendra are known.

Scorpions and Spiders

Scorpion venom has a toxic effect on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.The most dangerous on the territory of the former USSR is karakurt (“black widow”). Karakurt is found in the desert and steppe zone of Central Asia, in the Crimea, the Caucasus, southern Europe and northern Africa. Female bites can be fatal to humans and animals such as a camel or a horse – the poison of a karakurt is 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake. A spider does not attack a man unless he is disturbed.

After a bite of karakurt, a small red speck appears on the skin, which quickly turns pale.After 10-15 minutes, there is acute pain in the abdomen, lower back, chest, severe anxiety, agitation, fear of death. The victim’s legs become numb, breathing is difficult, vomiting and headache appear. The face becomes bluish. The heart rate drops, the pulse is arrhythmic. It is necessary to introduce an anti-caracourt serum, so the patient must be taken to a medical facility.

Dogs, cats, foxes, rats

Animal bites can cause rabies and tetanus.Rabies is a 100% fatal infectious disease of the nervous system. The victim is prescribed a course of vaccination against rabies. If the dog can be monitored, then after 10 days, in the absence of rabies in the dog, vaccinations can be stopped, in all other cases, vaccinations are continued until the course is completed.

Tetanus is another dangerous animal-borne disease. It is recommended that you get a tetanus shot every 10 years.If more than five years have passed since the last vaccination, and the wound is deep and dangerous, it is necessary to re-vaccinate within 48 hours from the moment of the bite. Less dangerous, but much more frequent complications of animal bites are wound infection and the development of an abscess.

Avoid contact with unknown animals. Even animals that seem friendly can bite. Do not feed or try to catch or play with wild animals – squirrels, raccoons, rats. Do not disturb the animal while it is eating or feeding its offspring.And don’t stick your fingers in the cages at the zoo.

Sea urchins and jellyfish

Many people suffer from injections from sea urchins. They are at the bottom off the coast of Turkey, Cyprus, Montenegro, etc. The injections are very painful and take a long time to heal. Small shards of sea urchin needles are often left in the wound. Removing them is not always easy – they are very fragile. It is better not to swim where there are hedgehogs, or to go into the water in rubber slippers. If the injection could not be avoided, you will have to see a doctor.

You shouldn’t joke with jellyfish either. When you touch the jellyfish, a burn occurs, sometimes quite severe. Rinse the damaged area with salt water, not fresh water, which can intensify the burn. Apply ice well. Allergy sufferers may experience a strong reaction, and in such cases, an urgent need to consult a doctor, and before that, take an antihistamine. There are known cases of anaphylactic reactions to burns of ordinary jellyfish, which ended tragically.

In the Black Sea, Aurelia and Cornerot are most often found, they are not very dangerous.More aggressive jellyfish live in the Mediterranean – cyanea (“hairy jellyfish”), pelagia (“little lilac sting”), chryzaora (“sea nettle”), etc. Their burns are stronger than those of the Black Sea, and allergic reactions are more common. Most dangerous of all jellyfish in the waters of Australia.

Dangerous plants

Some plants can cause severe long-lasting burns.

Ash, or burning bush, is a plant with very beautiful flowers.They are sniffed, brought to the face, ripped off … At the moment of touching a person does not feel anything, but after 10-12 hours the skin at the place of touch turns red, becomes blistered and burns (up to the second degree) are formed. Large skin lesions are life-threatening. Grows in Europe, Turkey. It can be found in the Crimea and the Caucasus.

The hogweed is common throughout the European part of Russia, in Estonia. A short exposure to the sun of a skin area stained with plant sap is enough, and a second-degree burn occurs.They are treated in the same way as regular burns. You need to remember how these plants look and not touch them, do not inhale their aroma.

Healer-bloodsucker and other useful creatures

It turns out that some bites and poisons are not only painful but beneficial.

Doctors actively use leeches, bees and snakes to treat many diseases. Bee venom is used to treat pain of various origins, chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma, the consequences of a stroke, etc.From snake venom, medicinal preparations are made that have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

It is widely used in medicine and hirudotherapy – treatment with leeches. 82 different substances were found in the saliva of leeches. A negligible amount of this “medicine” enters the patient’s bloodstream and does its good work there. Leeches help in the treatment of arthrosis and arthritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, myopathy, neurodermatitis, bronchial asthma.

Treatment with leeches also has contraindications: hemophilia, congenital incoagulability of blood, severe anemia, hemorrhagic diathesis, pregnancy.In addition, leeches are not recommended for people with persistently low blood pressure, as well as those with individual intolerance to any component from the secreted salivary glands of these useful annelids.

The “bite” itself is no more painful than a mosquito: piercing the skin, the leech injects a special substance, and it relieves swelling and pain. The famous surgeon Nikolai Pirogov, even during the Russian-Turkish war, put a hundred or more leeches on extensive lacerated wounds. And this saved hundreds of wounded from pain shock and infections!

There are about 400 species of leeches on the globe, but only medical and pharmaceutical leeches are capable of performing miracles.The first information about their healing properties belongs to Ancient Egypt. These are murals found in the tomb of the 18th Dynasty pharaohs (1567–1308 BC). They say that the secret of Nefertiti’s extraordinary beauty is that she added dried leeches to her cosmetic preparations.

Specialist comment:

Sergey Rodnikov, traumatologist-orthopedist:

– Our clinic is often visited by patients who have received wounds or injuries from animal or insect bites – dogs, cats, bees, ticks and even foxes, iguanas, parrots and jellyfish…

Often there are difficult cases, bite wounds are lacerated, extensive, multiple, often infected. Jellyfish burns take a long time to heal. Animals and insects can carry various dangerous infections. Allergy sufferers, asthmatics, children, and the elderly especially suffer from insect venom with bites. They need to be especially careful and protect themselves, and if the bite could not be avoided, then immediately consult a doctor. Going even for a short walk in the forest, you need to carefully cover your body in any weather, even hot.It is necessary to use agents that repel insects and ticks – now there is a large selection in pharmacies and stores. Be careful when dealing with pets and even more so with wild animals. Be sure to have at home and take a small first-aid kit with you outside the city and to the resort, in which you put a bandage, iodine, a plaster, a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and soda powder. Soda needs to be diluted with water and a bite bandage made – this is one of the simple and effective methods of first aid. People with manifestations of allergies must have antihistamines with them, which are recommended to them by the attending physician.

For the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis, you need to take a course of vaccination. When planning to travel to epidemiological areas, you also need to make the necessary vaccinations in advance. All vaccinations, except rabies vaccination, can be done in our clinic. Rabies vaccination in St. Petersburg is done only at the City Antirabies Center at 26 Kavalergardskaya Street.

90,000 Insect bites: species, first aid for bites

In summer, activity increases not only in humans, but also in ticks, spiders, bees, midges, mosquitoes, bedbugs and other insects.The types of reactions to insect bites are divided into cutaneous and systemic. The manifestation of reactions also depends on the location, the number of bites and the state of human health.

Consider the differences in insect behavior!

Flightless insects: fleas, lice, bugs, ticks – parasitize humans.

Blood-sucking insects: mosquitoes, midges, horseflies, etc. – are united by the collective concept of “gnat”, they need the blood of animals or humans for nutrition.

Stinging insects: bees, hornets (wasps), bumblebees, etc.- they attack themselves only if disturbed. Allergic reactions are often caused by the bites of these insects [2].

Symptoms of insect bites are often the same, but there are also differences, which depend on the number of bites, the area of ​​skin reaction, cross-allergic reactions in a person in history, individual intolerance to the components of the poison, and even on the circumstances under which the insect bite occurred. Insects without poison are not dangerous to human life, except for cases of an individual allergic reaction caused by the immune system of a person who has been bitten by an insect [1].
Normal reaction to a bite
In the absence of an allergic reaction, the bite may cause redness, swelling, itching and pain at the site of the bite, which disappear on its own after a few hours. You can relieve the condition with a cold compress or taking an antihistamine. For example, a gel, emulsion or Fenistil drops can be used, taking into account the indications and contraindications.

Local allergic reaction
An allergic reaction may be more pronounced: an area of ​​redness and swelling of at least 5 cm, lasts longer than 24 hours and grows without treatment, accompanied by severe itching [1].

Edema grows within 1-2 days, can persist for 10 days or more. A delayed reaction occurs periodically, when redness and swelling appear 4-6 hours after the nascombite bite. ⠀

Systemic allergic reaction
Characterized by the appearance of a rash, swelling throughout the body, sometimes causing difficulty in breathing. This leads to shortness of breath, dizziness, loss of consciousness [1]. The earlier the reaction begins, the more severe the consequences.

A systemic allergic reaction can manifest itself as a general allergic reaction: widespread urticaria (rash in the form of blisters, as after contact with nettles), Quincke’s edema (swelling of the skin, mucous membranes, lips, tongue), general malaise, indigestion, pain in areas of the heart, an attack of bronchial asthma or anaphylactic shock.
First Aid for Insect Bites
First Aid Guidelines apply to both adults and young children. When examining the site of an insect bite and if a sting is found in the wound, it should be carefully removed. Try not to break the sting. After removing it, the bite site is treated with an antiseptic, but not alcohol-containing solution. First aid for insect bites includes applying cold, which will cause vasospasm, preventing the spread of the inflammatory response, and also relieve itching.It is important to carefully monitor the general condition of the body after a bite.
You should immediately seek medical attention from a doctor if you experience symptoms such as: dizziness, weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting.

Signs of anaphylactic shock
Attention! If symptoms such as dizziness, loss of consciousness, disturbance or difficulty in breathing appear, you must immediately call an ambulance.

Measures to prevent insect bites

Blood sucking
To avoid mosquito and other blood sucking bites [2]:
• Place mosquito nets on the windows;
• use fumigators and special spirals against bites of blood-sucking insects;
• Use insect repellents in nature and apply them to clothing that covers the entire body.

Stinging
You can protect yourself from stings of bees, wasps, hornets and bumblebees by taking the following measures [2]:
• Do not approach apiaries without special clothing;
• In nature, it is better not to wear sweet and floral fragrances, and bright clothes;
• Do not make sudden movements at a distance close to insects, as they perceive this as aggression;
• Make sure there is no nest or ant tract near your outdoor area.

Parasites
Prevention measures for parasite bites depend on the specific insect.Here are some of them:
• To avoid tick bites, wear close-necked clothing in nature with tight-fitting sleeves. Tuck your trousers into your shoes, hide your hair under a hat. Favorite places for tick bites are the scalp, neck, armpits and abdomen. Special protective agents help from the bites of these insects.
• Bedbugs most often appear in rooms with a large number of people and with an unsatisfactory sanitary and hygienic environment [3]. Perform sanitary cleaning using a vacuum cleaner, change bed linen often, wash it without long storage.Periodically inspect sofas, carpets and pay attention to traces of bedbug activity: dark dots at the joints of furniture parts, picture frames, on the inside of lagging wallpaper, specks of blood on bed linen, etc. To protect against bedbugs, treat old furniture, objects with insecticides everyday life.
• So as not to disturb the lice, wash your body and head regularly (at least once every 7-10 days), change your underwear and bedding, comb your hair every day, wash outerwear, and keep the house clean.
Seek medical attention
Severe local reaction to insect bites may be a manifestation of an infection and must be diagnosed by a doctor!

Used literature:
1. Artishevsky S.N. Clinical features of diagnosis and treatment of insect allergy
// Medical news. 2016.No12 (267), p. 27.
2. Natalia Trushenko. Rampant stinging and blood-sucking. Who to be afraid of and what to do // Asthma and Allergy. 2014.No2, p. 11.
3. Department of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare in the Altai Republic, 2006—2015About bed bugs and methods of dealing with them. [http://04.rospotrebnadzor.ru/index.php/epid-otdel/org/9783-03102018.html]

90,000 Insect Bites – Appotek

Insect bites can itch and hurt. But they are usually harmless and disappear after a few days. This page contains information about mosquito bites, midges, horseflies, bees, wasps and bumblebees.

At APPOTEK you can get help and advice on insect bites.

Symptoms

Mosquitoes, midges and horseflies

Mosquitoes suck blood through their proboscis. Usually, it does not hurt, and we do not notice that we are being bitten, and we understand only when it starts to itch.

Midge (a small type of mosquito) bites off a small part of the skin to gain access to blood. It hurts more than a mosquito bite. The skin where you were bitten becomes red and swollen.

Horseflies , which are much larger than midges, also bite off part of the skin. Therefore, the gadfly bite is very painful. The skin also becomes more swollen than from mosquito bites, and sometimes bruising may appear.

Bees, wasps and bumblebees

Bee or wasp stings are often very painful. After a while, the skin becomes swollen and red, and you may feel burning and itching. Wasp bites usually cause severe skin reactions, with burning, swelling and redness over a large area.Bumblebee bites are generally easier to tolerate.

There may also be an allergy to wasp and bee stings. Hypersensitivity can appear even if you have been stung in the past and have not had any serious reactions.

Severe hypersensitivity can lead to anaphylactic shock. The reaction can come quickly, so you need urgent help.

Signs of an anaphylactic reaction are:

• nausea
• cough
• itching
• abdominal pain
• breathing problems (asphyxiation)
• skin edema
• Vertigo with cold sweat and rapid pulse.

Causes

When mosquitoes , midges and horseflies suck blood, they simultaneously inject saliva into the skin to prevent blood clotting. The reason the bites itch and swell is because the body’s immune system reacts to insect saliva. This is a natural reaction and does not depend on allergies or hypersensitivity.

However, some people are hypersensitive, for example, from mosquito bites, and then they develop severe itching and more swelling.

Bees, wasps and bumblebees

Bees, wasps and bumblebees only sting when they are afraid. Therefore, we can avoid being bitten by keeping calm and not frightening them. Wasps sting much more often than bees and bumblebees. Basically, bees feed on the nectar of flowers and are not interested in our food. Wasps, on the other hand, are omnivorous and are more likely to come into contact with humans. They have no chipping on the stinger and can sting multiple times. The bee has barbs on the stinger so it can only sting once and then dies.Bumblebees only have a sting in females, but they are quite rare. When a bumblebee bites, you feel a burning sensation.

Prevention and protection

To prevent mosquito bites, you can:

• wear bright clothes
• use mosquito nets at night
• Wear long sleeves and long pants
• Use a mosquito repellent (some mosquito repellent should not be used by children, read the annotation).

Treatment

Bee, wasp and bumblebee sting

To avoid being stung by bees, wasps and bumblebees, you just need to avoid contact with them. If you do get stung and the sting remains in your skin, you can try to pull it out with tweezers. Then place something cold on the bite or rinse with cold water to relieve pain.

There are medicines that help with pain, itching and burning. You can use rubbing alcohol, alcohol gel, cold balm, hydrocortisone ointment (do not use hydrocortisone for children under 2 years old without a doctor’s recommendation), and topical anesthetic ointments.Medicines containing antihistamines can also be used for stings.

Never comb the bite site to avoid local skin infections. Signs of a bacterial infection: The bite becomes red, swollen, and painful.

When should you seek medical attention

If you have had a severe allergic reaction requiring urgent medical attention (anaphylaxis) after a bee or wasp sting, you should consult your doctor.Sometimes medication is dispensed by hand if you have had an allergic reaction to prevent recurrence.

See a doctor if:

• you were stung in the mouth or near the eyes
• you have a skin infection that does not go away
• You have been stung several times and your skin is very swollen and itchy
• you feel unwell, dizzy and have difficulty breathing immediately after being bitten by a wasp or bee
• you feel worse a few days after being bitten
• you are allergic to wasp or bee stings.

How APPOTEK Can Help You

• Consultation
• Individualized assessment and prescribe medications as needed

90,000 Farmers complain that insects overwhelm their livestock in the heat / Article

The weather is hot and humid, and in these conditions an incredible number of stinging insects have bred, which are very annoying to herds, according to ReTV. Although the Food and Veterinary Service (PVS) has yet to receive reports of animal deaths, midges and gadflies have become a real threat to livestock health.The peasants solve the problem as best they can and can.

“I use big blankets, I just cover them,” says Atvari farm owner Iveta Kuryakina. Cow Bille is not so dressed up for a fashion show: the fabric protects her from bites.

“The situation is, one might even say, tragic. The cow is completely black – it cannot stand still, it is impossible to milk it, and it is so weak that the milk yield has dropped by more than half, ”says the hostess.

The most dangerous are biting midges, their attacks cause pain to animals, cause inflammation, and if there are many wounds, anaphylactic shock can also occur.As a result, the animal will die from heart failure and respiratory failure.

Gadflies, mosquitoes and horseflies are not so dangerous, but they prevent livestock from feeding on pasture. If there are a lot of them, animals cannot eat normally, lose weight, cows have little milk. Therefore, now the cattle are mainly kept in the barn – and fed there, which increases the cost of milk, said the owner of the Gaigalieši farm Anita Zondare.

PVS has not yet received news of the death of livestock due to biting insects, but encourages the villagers to closely monitor the herds.To protect animals from bites, it is recommended to treat them with repellents before grazing. What drug to buy – it is better to consult with your veterinarian, says Maya Irbe, head of the PVS veterinary department for herd supervision:

“Some of the repellents are those that cannot be applied to productive animals. Those that are for cats and dogs, many are forbidden to use for productive animals. You have to be very careful with this. ”

If there is a suspicion that an animal is feeling unwell due to insect bites, and it has edema, heavy breathing, it should be immediately placed in a barn and a veterinarian should be called.

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Mariupolskiy Medical Fakhovy College – ATTENTION !!! Insect bites: 12 types and what to do with each of them.

In the summer, when people go out of town with their families, to summer cottages or picnics near the lake, the risk of getting unwanted bites from various insects increases.
Some pass quickly, and with particularly severe bites, you should immediately seek medical attention. We suggest reading about the 12 most common bites that you may experience while outing in the city or abroad on an exotic vacation.

12 types of bites of various insects

1.Tick ​​
The forest tick is the most dangerous for humans, as it is a carrier of dangerous diseases. The oral apparatus of the parasite is designed in such a way that it makes it possible to deeply and firmly adhere to the skin. At the same time, a person will not experience pain and may find a tick on his body even after a few days. It may turn out that the tick bit you and fell off. Then, at the site of the bite, there will be a red spot with a circle of several centimeters, and in the center there will be a black or red dot. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.
What to do at home with a tick bite? When there is no way to get to the hospital, the tick can be removed at home. There are several ways:
With a thread. A loop is placed on the base of the tick’s body and gently pulled, loosening it from side to side.
The second method is tweezers. Here it is important to ensure that there is no rupture of the calf. There are special devices for removing ticks, they are a special clip, you can buy it at any pharmacy. Lubricate the bite site with an antiseptic, any.

2. Mosquito
Visually, mosquito bites look on the skin as pink papules with circular outlines, drops. If the bite is scratched, it will turn red because the mosquito’s saliva will enter the surrounding tissues, which will intensify the reaction. There are cases when an allergic reaction with edema appears at the site of the bite.
We treat mosquito bites
Black elderberry and plantain leaves. After meeting a mosquito, it is best to wipe the area with a mashed leaf of black elderberry or plantain.The leaves will help to quickly relieve swelling and disinfect the bite site.
Ammonium alcohol. To relieve redness from a mosquito bite and itching, treat the skin with a cotton swab dipped in diluted ammonia (a tablespoon of alcohol to 3 tablespoons of water) or in a solution of baking soda (a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water).
Attention!
Menovazine. In order to relieve itching, swelling and irritation, lubricate the sore spot with alcohol tincture of menovazin. This is a very effective remedy – no worse than the advertised expensive imported gels.
Garlic. It has been used for a long time from a mosquito bite. It has already become a traditional folk remedy. Crush a clove of fresh garlic in a garlic maker and dilute the resulting gruel with a little water. Soak a piece of cloth in the solution and apply to the bite site. Garlic will quickly relieve pain and itching, prevent the occurrence of edema.
Soda. Add a small amount of water to a teaspoon of baking soda to make a thick mass. Make a small cake out of it and attach it to the sore spot. Wrap a wet cloth over the top.Change the cake after three hours.
You can also dilute it harder with water and often lubricate mosquito bites with this soda solution.
Salt. Mosquito bite blisters will quickly disappear if you rub them with fine table salt. Just rub the skin gently to avoid damage.
Laundry soap. Helps reduce itching and redness by lubricating the bite site with a very thick solution of the darkest laundry soap.

3. Wasp
Wasp sting is very painful.A burning sensation is felt in its place, it swells and turns red. Occasionally, a wasp sting will cause headaches, fever, and a rash all over the body.
We treat stings of wasps, bees and hornets
Garlic juice. If you or your child has been bitten by a flying striped bandit, the first step is to remove the sting from the wound. Then lubricate the skin with fresh garlic juice or garlic gruel.
If it was not possible to get the sting, the wound began to fester and inflammation appeared, mix the garlic gruel with honey in equal parts, lubricate the wound, apply a bandage.The procedure must be repeated 2 times a day.
Cabbage and burdock leaves. An effective folk remedy for treating insect bites is a cabbage leaf. Cut off the thickened part of it and lower the leaf in boiling water for just one minute so that it warms up and becomes softer. Then attach it to the bite.
For greater effect, brush one side of the leaf with honey and place this side on the sore spot. Wrap the compress with a bandage, and wrap it with a warm bandage on top. You need to keep the compress all night. By morning, the pain will be gone.If swelling and lump persists, repeat the procedure.
As a rule, two procedures are enough for pus to come out of the bite and edema subsides. You can use burdock instead of a cabbage leaf. Its medicinal properties are no less effective.
Parsley and potato juice. To relieve itching, you can also brush the bite site with parsley juice or attach a slice of raw potatoes.
Basil. Sometimes the itching from multiple bites is so intense that it comes down to bloody scratching. A decoction of the medicinal herb basil will help to quickly solve this problem.
Tip! To do this, boil 2 tablespoons of basil for five minutes in half a liter of water. Leave to cool and drink half a glass 3 times a day. Lubricate the bites with the same infusion and add to the bath when bathing.
Mint. Rub fresh mint leaves to pulp and lubricate the skin. You can fill a piece of gauze with grass, tie it in a knot, boil in a liter of water for 5 minutes. Then squeeze the knot, and lubricate the bites with the broth or apply a gauze knot to them.
As you can see, the people have enough remedies to treat insect bites.And they, as practice shows, are much more effective than the advertised “miracle” balms. And much cheaper! So the choice is yours.
Well, in the end we will give you some tips on how to avoid the attack of small pests:
When going out into nature, give preference to light-colored clothing.
Try not to use perfume, aftershave or any other fragrances, so that the bee does not confuse you with a flower.
Consult a doctor and, if necessary, increase your zinc intake.Insects are attracted to people who are deficient in zinc.
Apply petroleum jelly to exposed areas of the body before going outside.

4. Bee
Having stung, the bee dies. This is because, along with the sting, she leaves her digestive tract. Therefore, it is quite easy to recognize a bee sting. It is necessary to urgently remove the sting so that the poison does not enter the bloodstream. Bee sting is the second most common cause of anaphylaxis. If you experience shortness of breath, decreased pressure, or breathing problems, call an ambulance.
First aid measures
Most often, adults are aware of how their body reacts to a bee sting. With a child, the situation has an unknown outcome. In any case, the initial action must be done quickly. The degree of spread of poisonous substances through the blood of the victim depends on this.
Get rid of the sting immediately. It is better to do this with sterile tweezers or with clean, disinfected hands. It is important that no residue remains under the skin. Otherwise, and if dirt gets into the wound, inflammation is inevitable.
Soak a clean cloth or gauze with ammonia or ethyl alcohol, vinegar, a solution of soda or potassium permanganate. Apply to the wound. Keep as long as possible, repetition is possible. This minimizes pain, disinfects and slows down the development of puffiness.
You can wash the damaged area of ​​the body with soap (72% is better) and apply ice.

5. Hornet
The insect pierces the skin like a bee, however, it does not leave a sting in the wound. The bite site swells, turns red, and sharp pain appears.Among the symptoms of a hornet bite: rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, cold limbs, bluish tinge to the lips, ears and neck. Loss of consciousness is not excluded. Young children and adults with weakened immune systems are very painful to tolerate a hornet bite. If the corresponding symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
First aid
In the event of a hornet bite, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures that will help get rid of the negative consequences. For example:
Take the victim away from the place where the hornet carried out the attack, sit in a comfortable position, unfasten the collar and loosen the belt.
The hornet does not leave a sting, so you should not look for it.
If a hornet is killed during a bite, sting fragments may remain in the wound. In this case, it must be carefully removed in the most accessible way, disinfecting both the instrument and the wound itself.
The affected area must be treated with an antibacterial agent, such as a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Wipe the bite site with any alcohol-based solution. This can be vodka, moonshine, cologne, eau de toilette, or rubbing alcohol.
After that, ice or something cold is applied to the bite site.
The victim should drink an antihistamine to avoid allergic reactions.
In case of a severe allergic reaction, immediately take the victim to a hospital or call an ambulance.
How to properly handle the bite site:
All movements should be clear, but light, without pressure on the bite site.
The treatment agent should be applied gently with light strokes.
In no case should the poison be squeezed out, since it is no longer at the bite point.
Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water before handling to avoid infecting the wound.
What is not allowed to do:
Press on the bite site.
Rub the affected area.
Cauterize the wound.
Warm up the swollen area.
Treat with iodine or brilliant green.
Traditional medicine
As a rule, traditional medicine uses natural, natural ingredients, mainly. When people go on vacation, to nature, they can take pills with them for diarrhea or for fast digestion of food, but not from the bites of various insects, although, if you are extremely careful, you can hardly feel the stings of bees, wasps or hornets, God forbid.But in nature, some plants that are always at hand will help to overcome the effects of bites. If the hornet is bitten at home, then you can also use traditional medicine.
The following plants will be able to stop the spread of swelling and redness:
Aloe juice or pulp.
Plantain juice or leaf.
Chopped parsley (greens).
Method of preparation:
The bite site is washed with clean water.
After that, a plantain leaf, plantain juice or aloe or chopped parsley gruel is applied to the bite site.
Before doing this, the greens must be thoroughly washed.
After applying the product, cover the bite site with a clean piece of cloth, gauze or bandage. Every 20 minutes it is necessary to change the compress or apply the plant sap again.
Notes! In any case, you need an allergy pill. If this happened in nature and no one had an allergy pill, and the victim is bad enough, then he will quickly have to be taken to a nearby hospital or try to call an “ambulance”. Therefore, when going out of town for a picnic, you must always take antihistamines with you, as well as disinfecting liquids.

6. Flea
The bites of these insects are most often observed on the legs. The flea may bite repeatedly. The bites appear as small red dots. If you comb them, they heal for a long time, and dark spots remain for a long time at the site of the bites.
Flea Bite Recognition
Two punctures will be visible in the center of the bite to help distinguish it from other insects. This also suggests that in this case, the person is not dealing with an allergic reaction. A person feels the defeat of fleas immediately, since they cause pain.This is due to the fact that the parasite does not inject an anesthetic into the wound, but injects an enzyme that prevents blood from clotting. This enzyme causes itching and swelling.
First aid
The first unpleasant symptom of a flea infestation is severe itching, which affects both children and adults. Therefore, flea bites on a person are treated primarily with means for disinfecting wounds, relieving pain, swelling and itching.
First, the affected area is washed with soapy water, rinsed and wiped dry, then an antiseptic is applied (brilliant green, iodine, alcohol, etc.).In this case, hot water is not recommended, as this will cause severe itching.
To remove edema, the wound is wiped with vinegar diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio or citric acid solution.

7. Ant
When bitten by an insect, it releases a toxin that causes an allergic reaction. The affected areas are visually similar to flea bites, but the sting of an ant causes instant sharp pain. It is necessary to prevent wound infection and soothe itchy skin.
What to do with an ant bite?
Wash area with soapy water.
Apply ice for 10-15 minutes.
Lubricate with antiseptic (preferably 70% alcohol or vodka).
In case of severe itching and redness, you can use pharmacy remedies for ant bites (balms or ointments):
“Golden Star”;
“Vitaon”;
“Fenistil gel”;
“Advantan”.
When traveling to a high-risk area, add an anti-anaphylactic bag to the first aid kit. Ant bites in children are no more dangerous than in adults. It is difficult to persuade the baby not to comb the damaged area, so use pharmacy ointments or folk remedies to relieve itching.If the child does scratch the area, cover it with a bandage or a breathable germicidal adhesive tape.
Treating ant bites with folk remedies
Mix baking soda with water to a mushy state and apply to the sore spot.
Wipe with ammonia diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio.
Brush with mint toothpaste.
Place a lotion of milk or milk ice for 10 minutes.
Crush an activated charcoal tablet, drip a little water, put the resulting paste on the bite site and cover with foil.
Apply a lotion with echinacea tincture, take a few drops orally to relieve an allergic reaction.
Wipe the area with a cut onion or brush with onion juice.
How to treat an ant bite with improvised means? Aloe juice, gruel from parsley or plantain leaves, a piece of raw potatoes will help. By applying them, you can relieve swelling and redness, reduce itching and pain.

8. Lice
Most often, insects live on the head, but there are species that are located on other hairy parts of the body.The bite causes severe itching and leaves a small red dot.
First aid for bites
The peculiarity of lice is that even after the removal of parasites, itching may persist for some time, which leads to nervous disorders, insomnia.
For the treatment of itching, folk methods and pharmaceutical preparations are used.
The bite site is treated with soap and washed off with warm water.
The affected areas are smeared with vodka or alcohol diluted with water 1: 1. Thus, the bites are disinfected and the infection does not penetrate into the deep layers of the dermis.
One of the ointments, Fenistil or Psilo-balm, is used specifically to relieve itching, including that caused by insect bites.
The agent is applied to itchy areas 2-4 times a day. According to the doctor’s prescription, local treatment can be combined with the intake of antihistamines by mouth.
If itching is not relieved by these methods, then the patient will need hospitalization. Antiallergic drugs in this case are administered by intravenous infusion.

9.Horsefly
The bite leaves a noticeable mark with swelling around it. There is a hot sensation at the site of the edema. The bite causes itching, dizziness, infection is possible.
How can I help someone who has been bitten by a horsefly?
First aid and further treatment are needed to relieve unpleasant symptoms and heal the bite faster. The first steps are as follows:
In order to prevent the gadfly saliva from expanding its effect, the bitten area must be pressed down with a finger.
Apply ice to relieve itching.
The bite is important to wash with soap and water. To do this, the water must be cool, because warm can intensify the itching and burning. It is better to take soap without cosmetic additives.
Lubricate the bitten area with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. After that, you can apply iodine or brilliant green. It is very important to disinfect the wound in order to prevent inflammation from developing and to avoid infection.
Horsefly bite can be treated at home. It rarely happens that the victim needs to be hospitalized.Medical intervention is necessary if many bites have been inflicted or a person has developed severe allergic manifestations.
Traditional and home therapies are suitable in order to speed up the healing process. To do this, you can always use those tools that are at hand. Treat insect bites in the following ways:
Dressing with baking soda or boric acid will help relieve itching.
Plantain gruel is also effective in relieving itching. In order to prepare the raw materials, you need to pluck the leaves of the plantain, rinse and grind until gruel is formed.
Then the resulting product is applied to the bite site, fixing with a bandage. If there is no fresh plantain nearby, you can use dried one. Before rubbing, it is soaked in water.
Plantain juice is an equally good way. They are impregnated with a sterile napkin and attached to the bitten area.
Dandelion helps with a gadfly bite with its juice, which needs to be lubricated by splitting the stem of the plant.
Onion juice is obtained by finely chopping an onion. It can also help alleviate the suffering of the patient.
Fresh wormwood juice helps to relieve pain and eliminate puffiness.
In addition to these available remedies, mint, aloe juice, millennial, black nightshade, parsley, lemon juice, sour cream, potato gruel, propolis or calendula tincture, garlic gruel can help relieve the symptoms of a bite.

10. Bug
Bites are massive, densely located next to each other and grouped. Bed bugs bite, as it were, in one line. The number of bites of one bug is from 3 to 5 punctures of the skin with redness at intervals of 2-4 centimeters.
How and with what to treat?
In order to get rid of itching and damage to the skin, you can use both folk remedies and specialized medical creams or ointments. How to treat bed bug bites? First you need to rinse the affected area with cool water and soap or soda solution. This will relieve the itching a little. After that, you can attach an ice cube, rub the skin with parsley or potato juice. Next, we will tell you what medicines can be used for bedbug bites?
Attention! Ammonia, ointment for bug bites “Fenistil” or cream “Rescuer” helps well.The last two remedies for bedbug bites will also act as anti-allergens.
How to get rid of itching?
It is best to anoint damaged areas with Afloderm ointment or Zvezdochka balm. In case of a severe allergic reaction, you can use antihistamines – “Diazolin”, “Diphenhydramine”, “Suprastin”, “Tavegil”. However, it is best to consult a specialist doctor before using them.
Bites of bedbugs on humans – treatment with folk remedies:
Treat with mint leaves;
Attaching a softened dandelion stem;
Lubrication of damaged areas with garlic juice, which relieves irritation and swelling;
Use of plantain or bird cherry leaves;
Attachment of the cut onion; Lubrication with aloe juice.

11. Fly
The bite leaves a red spot and is unusually painful. The insect can carry a disease called rabbit fever. Symptoms: skin ulcers, fever, headache.
To reduce unpleasant manifestations, as well as the risk of infection after an autumn flare fly or horsefly bite, several simple emergency measures should be taken:
Washing the wound with plenty of clean running water.
Treatment with antiseptic solutions – you can use hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, brilliant green.
Reducing the severity of the inflammatory reaction with the help of a special insect bite remedy (Gardeks balm) or anti-inflammatory medicines for local external use (Locoid ointment, Disinfection of a wound after a fly bite with Fenistil hydrogen peroxide).
Fight against possible allergic reactions with antihistamines, which include Loratadin, Diazolin, Suprastin.

12. Spider
Dwells only in certain areas. Its bite can only be felt after 6 hours, when pain occurs.
First aid for bites
When spiders bite adults or children, severe intoxication of the body develops, so you need to quickly provide first aid to the victim. If a person managed to see a jointed one and determine its belonging to a poisonous species, then medical intervention will be required. You should call the ambulance team, and only then try to alleviate the condition of the victim.
The following measures will help prevent the spread of poison in the body:
the area of ​​the bite must be thoroughly rinsed under running cool water using laundry soap;
if a limb is injured, it should be immobilized to prevent the penetration of poison into the subcutaneous tissue and healthy tissue;
the bite site must be treated with solutions with antiseptic and antimicrobial activity – hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine bigluconate, iodine, brilliant greens, ethyl alcohol, Miramistin, Furacilin;
You can localize the area of ​​distribution of toxins by pulling an arm or leg (without disturbing blood circulation!) With an elastic bandage slightly above the bite area;
on the reddened area of ​​the skin, apply a cold compress in the form of pieces of ice wrapped in a dense cloth.