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Can allergies look like bug bites: Insect Sting Allergies | Symptoms & Treatment

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Insect Sting Allergies | Symptoms & Treatment

Diagnosing

If you are concerned that you may have an </span>” rel=”tooltip”>allergy to insect venom, your best option is to see an allergist.

Your allergist should take a detailed medical history, including questions about previous stings (how many there have been and where you were stung), your reaction to those stings (what you experienced, how long the reaction lasted and what you did to get relief) and any additional symptoms.

Your allergist may perform one or more tests to diagnose allergy to insect venom, such as a skin-prick test, an intradermal skin test or a blood test.

In the skin-prick test, a small amount of a liquid containing insect venom is placed on the back or forearm, which is then pricked with a small, sterile probe to allow the liquid to seep into the skin. If a raised, reddish spot forms within 15 to 20 minutes, that can indicate an allergy. In the blood test, a blood sample is sent to a laboratory to test for the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to insect venom.

If the skin prick test is negative or inconclusive your allergist will likely recommend an intradermal skin test, in which a small amount of venom extract is injected just under the skin. The site is examined after about 15 minutes for signs of an allergic reaction. This test is considered more accurate than the skin-prick or blood tests in determining the presence of IgE antibodies. If both skin prick and intradermal skin tests are negative then your allergist may recommend a blood test.

The strength of a reaction to a skin or blood test does not indicate how severe your allergic reaction will be the next time you are stung.

Management and Treatment

Insect sting allergy is treated in a two-step approach:

  1. The first step is the emergency treatment of the symptoms of a serious reaction when they occur.
  2. The second step is preventive treatment of the underlying allergy with venom immunotherapy.

Life-threatening allergic reactions can progress very rapidly and require immediate medical attention. Emergency treatment usually includes administration of certain drugs, such as epinephrine, antihistamines, and in some cases, corticosteroids, intravenous fluids, oxygen and other treatments. Once stabilized, these patients sometimes require close observation in the hospital overnight.

Injectable epinephrine for self-administration is often prescribed as emergency rescue medication for treating an allergic reaction. People who have had previous allergic reactions and rely on epinephrine must remember to carry it with them at all times. Also, because one dose may not be enough to reverse the reaction, recent guidelines recommend keeping two doses of injectable epinephrine available and to activate emergency medical services if used. Even if symptoms improve after a single dose of epinephrine, immediate medical attention following an insect sting is recommended.

Venom Immunotherapy

The long-term treatment of insect sting allergy is called venom immunotherapy, a highly effective program administered by an allergist, which can prevent future allergic reactions to insect stings.

Venom immunotherapy involves administering gradually increasing doses of venom to decrease a patient’s sensitivity to the venom. This can reduce the risk of a future allergic reaction to that of the general population. In a matter of weeks to months, people who previously lived under the constant threat of severe reactions to insect stings can return to leading normal lives.

If you think you might be allergic to insect stings, talk to your allergist. Based on your past history and certain tests, the allergist will determine if you are a candidate for skin testing and immunotherapy.

Avoiding Insect Stings

Knowing how to avoid stings from fire ants, honeybees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets leads to a more enjoyable summer for everyone. Stinging insects are most active during the late spring, summer, summer and early fall. Insect repellents do not work against stinging insects.

Yellow jackets will nest in the ground and in walls. Hornets and wasps will nest in bushes, trees and on buildings. Use extreme caution when working or playing in these areas. Avoid open garbage cans and exposed food at picnics, which attract yellow jackets. Also, try to reduce the amount of exposed skin when outdoors.

Effective methods for insecticide treatment of fire ant mounds use attractant baits. These baits often contain soybean oil and corn grits combined with chemical agents. The bait is picked up by the worker ants and taken deeper into the mound to the queen. It can take weeks for these insecticides to work.

Allergists recommend the following additional precautions to avoid insect stings:

  • Avoid wearing sandals or walking barefoot in the grass. Honeybees and bumblebees forage on white clover, a weed that grows in lawns throughout the country.
  • Never swat at a flying insect. If need be, gently brush it aside or patiently wait for it to leave.
  • Do not drink from open beverage cans. Stinging insects will crawl inside a can attracted by the sweet beverage.
  • When eating outdoors, try to keep food covered at all times.
  • Garbage cans stored outside should be covered with tight-fitting lids.
  • Avoid sweet-smelling perfumes, hair sprays, colognes and deodorants.
  • Avoid wearing bright-colored clothing.
  • Yard work and gardening should be done with caution. Wearing shoes and socks and using work gloves will prevent stings on hands and feet and provide time to get away from an unexpected mound.
  • Keep window and door screens in good repair. Drive with car windows closed.
  • Keep prescribed medications handy at all times and follow the instructions if you are stung. These medications are for immediate emergency use while en route to a hospital emergency room for observation and further treatment.

If you have had an allergic reaction to an insect sting, it’s important that you see an allergist.

Fire Ant Sting

Fire ant sting allergy treatment

Fire ant sting allergy is treated in a two-step approach:

  • The first step is the emergency treatment of the symptoms of a serious reaction when they occur.
  • The second step is preventive treatment of the underlying allergy with whole body extract immunotherapy.

Life-threatening allergic reactions can progress very rapidly and require immediate medical attention. Emergency treatment usually includes administration of certain drugs, such as epinephrine, antihistamines, and in some cases, corticosteroids, intravenous fluids, oxygen and other treatments. Once stabilized, these patients sometimes require close observation in the hospital overnight.

Injectable epinephrine is often prescribed as emergency rescue medication for treating an allergic reaction. People who have had previous allergic reactions and rely on epinephrine must remember to carry it with them at all times.

Also, because one dose may not be enough to reverse the reaction, recent guidelines recommend keeping two doses of injectable epinephrine available and to activate emergency medical services if used. Even if symptoms improve after a single dose of epinephrine, immediate medical attention following an insect sting is recommended.

What is a normal reaction to a fire ant sting, and how is it treated?

The severity of a fire ant sting reaction varies from person to person. One of the main differences between fire ants and other insects is that a usual sting event consists of multiple fire ants stinging. This is because when a fire ant mound is disturbed hundreds to thousands of fire ants respond. In addition, each ant can sting repeatedly. Each ant will bite and hold on with its mandibles (jaw) and sting several times. If not removed, this results in a little semi-circular pattern of stings. Since fire ants hold on with their mandibles, they often have to be pulled off individually and are not easily brushed off when they are stinging.

Almost all people stung by fire ants develop an itchy, localized hive or lump at the sting site, which usually subsides within 30 to 60 minutes. This is followed by a small blister within four hours. This usually appears to become filled with pus-like material by eight to 24 hours. However, what is seen is really dead tissue, and the blister has little chance of being infected unless it is opened. When healed, these lesions may leave scars.

Fire ant sting treatment is aimed at preventing secondary bacterial infection, which may occur if the pustule is scratched or broken. Clean the blisters with soap and water to prevent secondary infection. Do not break the blister. If a blister is accidentally opened, careful attention to keeping the area clean with soap and water should still prevent infection. Topical corticosteroid ointments and oral antihistamines may relieve the itching associated with these reactions.

Pets, Dog and Cat Allergies | Symptoms & Treatment

Overview

A pet "}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":8963,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16777215],"11":4,"12":0,"16":10}">Allergies are inappropriate or exaggerated reactions of the immune system to substances that, in the majority of people, cause no symptoms. Symptoms of the allergic diseases may be caused by exposure of the skin to a chemical, of the respiratory system to particles of dust or pollen (or other substances), or of the stomach and intestines to a particular food.</span>” rel=”tooltip”>allergy can contribute to constant allergy symptoms, as exposure can occur at work, school, day care or in other indoor environments, even if a pet is not present.

Pet Allergy Symptoms

  • Sneezing
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Facial pain (from nasal congestion)
  • Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing
  • Watery, red or itchy eyes
  • Skin rash or hives

Pet Allergy Management and Treatment

  • Avoid being around dogs and cats; if you have a pet at home, take specific steps to limit exposure.
  • Nasal sprays, antihistamines and bronchodilators can help relieve symptoms.
  • Consider allergy shots ( Immunotherapy involves giving gradually increasing doses of the substance, or allergen, to which the person is allergic. The incremental increases of the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance, perhaps by causing production of a particular "blocking" antibody, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the substance is encountered in the future.</span>” rel=”tooltip”>immunotherapy).

Do you want to know if it’s Fluffy or Fido causing you to wheeze and sneeze?

It’s time for an allergist.

Cat Allergies

If your nose runs and your eyes water or you start sneezing and wheezing after petting or playing with a cat, you likely have a cat allergy. A cat allergy can contribute to constant allergy symptoms, as exposure can occur at work, school, day care or in other indoor environments, even if a cat is not present.

Cats produce multiple allergens (proteins that can cause allergy). These allergens are found on the fur and skin and in saliva. All cats produce allergens; studies have not shown that cats can be hypoallergenic (meaning that they don’t cause allergy). Homes with more than one cat have higher levels of cat allergens. Characteristics such as the length of a cat’s hair, its sex and the amount of time a cat spends indoors are not associated with cat allergen levels.

Dust and pollen in a cat’s coat can also cause allergy symptoms. In those cases, the allergy is to the dust or pollen, not to the cat.

Of all the pollen, and mold, and animal dander, dust mites that we have studied, the cat dander is absolutely the smallest dander. And what that means is that allergen remains airborne for at least 30 minutes after you disturb it in the room. That just allows the allergic patient to have a constant exposure to that allergen.

Allergist Dana Wallace, MD

Cat Allergy Symptoms

Cat allergy symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on an individual’s sensitivity and the level of exposure to allergens. Those variables may also influence how quickly symptoms develop after exposure. Highly sensitive people can develop symptoms, including breathing problems or a rash, within minutes of touching a cat or entering a house with a cat.

Cat allergy symptoms may include:

  • Sneezing or a runny or stuffy nose
  • Facial pain (from nasal congestion)
  • Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing
  • Watery, red or itchy eyes
  • Skin rash or hives

Some people may also develop a rash or hives after being scratched by a cat.

Diagnosing Cat Allergies

Do you suspect you’re suffering from cat allergies? An allergist can provide you with a diagnosis and treatment.

A skin-prick test is the most common way of diagnosing a cat allergy. For this test, a small amount of an extract of cat allergen is placed on your skin. Your skin is then pricked with a small, sterile probe, allowing the liquid to seep under the skin’s surface. You’ll then be monitored for swelling and redness or other signs of a reaction, signaling an allergy. Results typically become evident within 15 to 20 minutes.

Even if you’re sure your symptoms are caused by a cat, it’s a good idea to be tested, since the symptoms may actually be caused by other environmental exposures.

Cat Allergy Management and Treatment

Avoidance is the best way to manage a cat allergy. If you have a cat and are allergic to cats, consider removing the cat from the home.

If you have a cat but don’t want to find it a new home, or if your family wants a cat even though someone in the household is allergic, here are some strategies that may help keep symptoms at bay:

  • Keep the cat out of your bedroom and restrict it to only a few rooms. Be advised that keeping the cat in only one room will not limit the allergens to that room.
  • Don’t pet, hug or kiss the cat; if you do, wash your hands with soap and water.
  • High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners run continuously in a bedroom or living room can reduce allergen levels over time.
  • Regular use of a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner or a central vacuum can reduce allergen levels.
  • Giving your cat a bath at least once a week can reduce airborne cat allergen.

Treatments for cat allergy vary, depending on the symptoms.

Your allergist can help determine what treatment would be best to treat your cat allergy. Nasal symptoms often are treated with steroid nasal sprays, oral antihistamines or other oral medications. Eye symptoms are often treated with antihistamine eyedrops. Respiratory or "}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":8963,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16777215],"11":4,"12":0,"16":10}">Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems. People with asthma have acute episodes where the air passages in their lungs get narrower, and breathing becomes more difficult. Sometimes episodes of asthma are triggered by allergens, although infection, exercise, cold air and other factors are also important triggers.</span>” rel=”tooltip”>asthma symptoms can be treated with inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators to either prevent or relieve respiratory symptoms.

Allergy shots (immunotherapy) are an effective treatment of allergies by building tolerance over time through gradually injecting increasing doses of an allergen.

Is there an allergy-free cat?

Cats produce multiple allergens (proteins that can cause allergy). These allergens are found on the fur and skin and in saliva. All cats produce allergens; studies have not shown that cats can be hypoallergenic. Homes with more than one cat have higher levels of cat allergens. Characteristics such as the length of a cat’s hair, its sex and the amount of time a cat spends indoors are not associated with cat allergen levels.

Dog Allergy

If your nose runs or you start sneezing and wheezing after petting or playing with a dog, you may be allergic to dogs.

Dogs produce multiple allergens, or proteins that can cause allergy. These allergens are found in dog hair, dander, saliva and urine. All dogs produce allergens; studies have not shown that dogs can be hypoallergenic (not cause allergy). Dog allergen levels increase if the dog lives indoors and are higher in the rooms where a dog is allowed.

Dust and pollen in a dog’s coat can also cause allergy symptoms. In those cases, the allergy is to dust or pollen, not to the dog.

If you remove a cat from a home, you clean all the walls down, do the laundry, do the draperies, it still takes six months for the level of cat protein to get down to normal.

Allergist Warner Carr, MD

Dog Allergy Symptoms

Do you suspect you’re suffering from dog allergies? An allergist can provide proper diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms may include:

  • Sneezing or a runny or stuffy nose
  • Facial pain (from nasal congestion)
  • Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing
  • Watery, red or itchy eyes
  • Skin rash or hives

Some people may also develop a rash or hives after being scratched or licked by a dog.

Diagnosing Dog Allergies

Do you suspect you’re suffering from dog allergies? An allergist can evaluate whether can provide proper diagnosis and treatment.

A skin-prick test is the most common way of diagnosing a dog allergy. For this test, a small amount of an extract of dog allergen is placed on your skin. Your skin is then pricked with a small, sterile probe, allowing the liquid to seep under the skin’s surface. You’ll then be monitored for swelling and redness or other signs of a reaction, signaling an allergy. Results typically become evident within 15 to 20 minutes.

Even if you’re sure your symptoms are caused by a dog, it’s a good idea to be tested, since the symptoms may actually be caused by other environmental exposures.

Dog Allergy Management and Treatment

Avoidance is the best way to manage a dog allergy. If you have a dog and are allergic to dogs, consider removing the dog from the home.

If you have a dog but don’t want to find it a new home, or if your family wants a dog even though someone in the household is allergic, here are some strategies that may help keep symptoms at bay:

  • Keep the dog out of your bedroom and restrict it to only a few rooms. Be advised that keeping the dog in only one room will not limit the allergens to that room.
  • Don’t pet, hug or kiss the dog; if you do, wash your hands with soap and water.
  • High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners run continuously in a bedroom or living room can reduce allergen levels over time.
  • Regular use of a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner or a central vacuum can reduce allergen levels.
  • Giving your dog a bath at least once a week can reduce airborne dog allergen.

Treatments for dog allergy vary, depending on the symptoms.

Your allergist can help determine what treatment would be best to treat your dog allergy. Nasal symptoms are often treated with steroid nasal sprays, oral antihistamines or other oral medications. Eye symptoms are often treated with antihistamine eyedrops. Respiratory or asthma symptoms can be treated with inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators to either prevent or relieve respiratory symptoms.

Allergy shots (immunotherapy) are an effective treatment of allergies by building tolerance over time through gradually injecting increasing doses of an allergen.

Is there an allergy-free dog?

While poodles, Portuguese water dogs and a number of other breeds (including several types of terriers) have a reputation for being hypoallergenic, a truly allergy-free breed does not exist. A 2011 study compared dust samples from homes with dog breeds reported to be hypoallergenic and those of homes with other dogs. The levels of dog allergen in homes with “hypoallergenic” dogs did not differ from the levels in homes with other breeds.

This page was reviewed for accuracy 4/23/2018.

 

how they look on the human body with a photo and how to treat them

Bedbugs are quite tenacious and dangerous insects. Scientists have long proven that these blood-sucking parasites can be carriers of various infections, including brucellosis, tularemia, Chagas disease and even hepatitis 1 . Also, approximately 80% of people have allergic reactions to bug bites 1 .

During the bite, the bug secretes an enzyme that prevents blood clotting, but you may not even feel the bite itself. This is due to the physiology of the creature: otherwise the bug runs the risk of being “caught”.

There is a strong opinion that bed bugs, including bed bugs, can appear in conditions of uncleanliness, among numerous dirty and unwashed things, and this is partly true. One of the common reasons for the appearance of these harmful insects is migration from already infected apartments. Bedbugs (or their larvae) can come to your house on neighbors, on their clothes, books, household items and animal hair (for example, street). So, if you find a bed bug in your house, this does not necessarily mean that you do not care enough about the order in the house. 9Bed bugs we breed they are most often found on old clothes, in unsanitary conditions, furniture, mattresses, bed linen 2 What bites look like usually in the form of a “path” of small red dots on the body Why bedbug bites can be dangerous reactions to bedbug bites can be nausea, muscle spasms, severe itching, redness and peeling of the skin, fear of sleep

What bedbug bites look like on the human body?

Almost immediately after a bug bite, blisters, redness and swelling appear on the skin, which are accompanied by itching, irritation, swelling. Most often, bites can be found on the legs, shoulders, back, neck – they look like dense red dots up to 1 mm in diameter, which form a “track” 3 .

Photo: shutterstock.com

If scratched, bites can turn into large bright red and sometimes bleeding spots 3 . Also, traces of blood may remain on a person’s bed linen and clothing, coinciding with bite sites.

Bed bug bites. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org, Oliver Arend

How to treat bedbug bites

According to disinfectologist Nikolai Dubinin , bedbug bites are dangerous and painful, and also cause severe itching. To get rid of discomfort, you can apply something cold to the bite site, for example, ice. A compress with a solution of soda (about half a teaspoon per glass of water) is also suitable, or treat the bite site with an antihistamine cream or ointment, a special balm after bites 3 .

What are the consequences of bed bug bites?

Transmission of pathogens by bedbug bites is possible in theory in foci of infectious diseases, but in practice this has not yet been proven. Bed bug bites can be life-threatening and cause severe allergic reactions. After the bite, papules form, painful blisters that appear either immediately after the bite, or after 10-40 minutes. The severity of edema may increase, accompanied by severe itching and hyperemia.

Popular questions and answers

Sanitary doctor, epidemiologist, disinfectologist, pest control expert Nikolai Dubinin answers the most popular questions about bedbug bites.

Who is most often bitten by bed bugs?

– Period of parasite activity – night time. Most often, bed bugs bite people in bed, and turning on the light will not help to avoid bites. When given a choice, bed bugs choose tender skin that is easier to bite through, such as women and children 2 . However, this does not mean at all that bedbugs do not bite men. Bedbugs bite all people, regardless of gender and age.

Bed bugs also prefer drunk people. The fact is that under the influence of alcohol, the human body releases more sweat and hormones that attract attention and whet the appetite of insects.

How many times does a bug bite a night?

– Bed bug bites are often called “breakfast, lunch and dinner” because they bite exactly three times. But there is more. If there is only one bite, most likely it was not an adult that bit, but a larva, which needs a smaller amount of blood to saturate.

Who doesn’t get bitten by bed bugs?

– Bed bugs choose a host with thinner and smoother skin, however, they bite absolutely all warm-blooded.

How to treat bed bug bites?

– Treatment after bedbug bites is prescribed depending on the clinical condition of the patient. Local allergic reactions can be treated on an outpatient basis, with the appointment of local or general therapy. The bite site is cooled, topical glucocorticosteroid agents are used, including combined ones, which contain an antibiotic and an antifungal agent. Such drugs help reduce itching, increase swelling and prevent the spread of infection.

How to protect yourself from bedbug bites?

– If you are a victim of bed bugs in your home, the best option to get rid of them once and for all is to have the entire room professionally disinfected. You need to disinfect the house, even if you find only one insect, because they multiply quite quickly. In addition, essential oils will help scare away bedbugs (they can be applied to the body before going to bed), perfume lotions with a pronounced aroma.

To prevent your home from becoming attractive to small parasites, it is recommended to regularly check furniture, mattresses, things for the presence of insects, monitor the condition of pets (especially those who are most often on the street), carry out regular wet cleaning in the house, be sure to move furniture, because you may not know about the presence of bedbug nests.

In addition, bedbugs do not like high temperatures (over 60°C), so upholstered furniture can be steamed regularly.

Sources:

  1. Roslavtseva SA Modern distribution of bed bugs in the world (literature review) // Hygiene and sanitation. 2020. №3. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sovremennoe-rasprostranenie-postelnyh-klopov-v-mire-obzor-literatury
  2. Bed bugs. What to do if there are bed bugs in the apartment? Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Article dated 12/24/2020.
    https://sesufa.ru/novosti/postelnye-klopy-chto-delat-esli-poyavilis-klopy-v-kvartire/?sphrase_id=19055
  3. Bed bug bites. Zarechnaya S.N. Dobrolov, article dated 18.07. 2021.
    https://dobrolov.com/info/news/ukusy-postelnykh-klopov/

Bed bug bites and allergies: how to tell?

Contents

  • 1 Bed bug bites
    • 1.1 When and where do they bite?
    • 1.2 Who and how do bed bugs bite?
  • 2 Bug and other insect bites: differences
  • 3 Allergies and bedbug bites: what’s the difference?
    • 3.1 How Bedbug Allergy Develops
    • 3.2 Why Bedbug Allergy Occurs
    • 3.3 Difference Between Bedbug Bite and Allergy
  • 4 Treatment of Bedbug Allergy
    • 4.1 First aid
    • 4.2 Medical treatment
    • 4.3 Folk remedies
    • 4. 4 Prevention of allergy to bedbug bites
  • 5 If bedbugs bite on vacation…
  • 6 What is the danger?

Every year the number of people who face such an unpleasant problem as bedbug allergy is increasing. Doctors are sounding the alarm, because not everyone runs to the hospital when they see red spots on their bodies. However, bed bug bites can cause serious health problems. You need to know how parasites bite and distinguish the symptoms of an individual reaction to bedbug bites from manifestations of an allergy to other irritants.

Bedbug bites

You need to know how bloodsuckers bite. These parasites prefer human blood. They feed with the help of a proboscis, which is a bit like a mosquito. On the human body, the parasite finds a capillary and makes a puncture on the thinnest part of the epidermis. It is almost impossible to feel the puncture right away, since at this moment the bug injects a substance under the skin that acts as an anesthetic . .

When and where do they bite?

These parasites prefer to bite at night, from 3 to 6 hours. If there are too many individuals in the room, then their bites cannot be avoided even in the daytime. Often insects bite the legs, arms, back, stomach, neck and face, as the skin is quite thin in these places. You can also notice that traces of lesions appear mainly on open areas of the skin, since bloodsuckers cannot bite through tissue. Only in rare cases can the parasite get under clothing.

Who and how do bed bugs bite?

Mostly bed bugs bite several times. The lesion looks like a slight redness with a scarlet dot in the center. You can see that the spots form a path, and the distance between them can be up to two centimeters. Bites begin to itch and itch a lot.

There are many suggestions that bed bugs bite mainly women or people with the first and second blood groups. In fact, these are myths.

Parasites react equally to all people. But the fair sex notices bite marks faster and seek help from specialists. There is nothing unusual in the case of blood types. Since the first and second groups are the most common, therefore, there are more complaints about bites from people with just such blood.

Bug and other insect bites: differences

The table shows the main differences:

Insect Where it bites When it bites Biting What a bite looks like
Bed bugs Unprotected areas of the body with thin skin (neck, arms, face, legs, abdomen, back) Night > Due to the anesthetic in the saliva, almost nothing is felt Small redness with a scarlet dot in the center. There are several punctures (3-7). They form a “track”
Fleas Legs, feet, ankles At any time of the day During the bite, unpleasant sensations occur, this place begins to itch Slight redness with swelling
Lice More likely to bite on hairy areas of the body, may bite on any part of the body Anytime Itching, irritation Red swollen spots, in the center you can see a dried drop of blood. Around the places of greatest damage – cyanotic spots.
Mosquitoes Any exposed areas of the body At any time, usually in the summer, autumn months The puncture starts to itch after a few minutes Reddish blisters

Allergies and bedbug bites: what’s the difference?

Allergy caused by bed bugs is called chemipterosis. In order to determine the presence of an allergic reaction in time, you need to know how it manifests itself.

How bed bug allergy develops

A local reaction to an insect allergen means more itching, swelling, redness than in an unresponsive person. Sometimes such an allergy is accompanied by swelling of the entire limb. In some cases, a general allergic reaction may occur with the following symptoms:

  • itchy urticaria;
  • nasal congestion;
  • dry cough;
  • tearing;
  • redness of the eyes;
  • muscle spasms of the bronchi;
  • angioedema;
  • anaphylactic shock.

Bedbug allergy is most pronounced in young children, as their immune system is underdeveloped and weak. That is why there is a risk of severe reactions and consequences.

Quincke’s edema

Why there is an allergy to bedbugs

The main cause of allergy is insect saliva, which enters the body during a puncture. It disrupts blood clotting, and the anesthetic that it contains acts as an allergen. According to statistics, about 80% of the world’s population have an individual intolerance to this substance.

Excrement and chitin of parasites also act as an allergen. The slightest contact with them can lead to skin irritation.

Distinguishing a bug bite from an allergy

Distinguishing an allergic reaction from a bite is quite easy. Here are the main points by which this can be done:

  1. Static. If parasite bites retain their color and shape for a long time, then the signs of ordinary allergies change.
  2. Place of reaction. Traces of insect damage can only be seen on exposed areas of the skin, and they follow each other, forming a “path”. An allergic reaction spreads throughout the body and does not have clear edges and contours.
  3. Skin condition of other family members. If you notice traces on your skin, but your spouse does not, then most likely you are faced with a common allergy. If you suspect bedbug bites, you should urgently seek help from services involved in the extermination of parasites.

Treatment of bedbug allergy

Treatment usually consists of removing the symptoms of the allergy with antihistamines. In especially severe cases, you have to resort to the help of doctors.

First Aid

If a person develops a local allergic reaction after a bedbug attack, apply a cold compress to the affected area. Then the bite site should be lubricated with an ointment that relieves itching and inflammation.

The bite site must not be scratched as this may lead to infection of the wound.

If a person develops anaphylactic shock due to bedbug bites, first of all, you need to call an ambulance, provide first aid. Actions must be clear and quick, as delay can lead to death.

  1. Place the person on their back, turn their head to the side, and place their legs in such a way that they are higher than the head.
  2. Give victim any antihistamine.
  3. If cardiac arrest occurs or breathing stops, chest compressions, artificial respiration are required.

Drug treatment

Allergy symptoms are relieved by the following antiallergic drugs:

  • cetirizine;
  • tavegil;
  • claretin;
  • lorahexal;
  • zyrtec;
  • fenistil.

Medicines that can be taken by children should only be prescribed by a doctor.

If long-term treatment is needed, allergen-specific immunotherapy is used. For a certain time, a person is injected with an allergen in small doses, which leads to a dulling of allergy symptoms or to its complete disappearance.

Folk remedies

Proven home remedies are a great way to not only relieve itching, but also redness after a bite. There are several common recipes.

  1. To relieve itching, crushed plantain or mint leaves wrapped in a bandage or gauze should be applied to the affected area.
  2. One tablespoon of finely chopped garlic should be poured with a glass of water and infused for 4-5 hours. After moistening a cotton swab in the infusion and apply to the bite.
  3. Cut an onion head and apply to the bite. This will help relieve the itching quickly.

Treatment of bites with folk remedies is longer than the use of drugs.

Prevention of allergy to bug bites

First of all, you should protect your home from insects as much as possible. If at least one individual has been seen, immediately contact the service that deals with pest control of premises. Only experts will help to completely destroy bedbugs , and therefore reduce the possibility of allergies to their bites.

In addition, it is necessary to:

  • thoroughly and frequently wet cleaning;
  • regularly ventilate the room;
  • bedding must be washed at high temperatures and then ironed.

You have to be careful when buying furniture and appliances, especially used ones.

If bed bugs bite on vacation…

Bed bugs can often be found at recreation centers, sanatoriums, hostels. The easiest way to avoid parasites is to move to another hotel. If this cannot be done, it is worth trying to scare them away from the bed:

  1. All bedding should be shaken and then ironed.
  2. It is worth pouring boiling water into sofa cracks, and then vinegar. Do the same with skirting boards. The bed must be moved away from the walls.
  3. The smell of tansy and wormwood will scare away parasites. Bundles of herbs should be hung on the bed.

When you get home, fold all your clothes, wash them at a high temperature, and then they need to be ironed.