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Insect bite hand. Chigger Bites: Identification, Treatment, and Prevention Guide

How do you identify chigger bites. What are the most effective treatments for chigger bites. How can you prevent chigger bites while enjoying outdoor activities. What are the signs that a chigger bite requires medical attention.

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Understanding Chiggers: Tiny Mites with a Big Bite

Chiggers, often referred to as “berry bugs” or “red bugs,” are microscopic mites that can cause significant discomfort through their bites. These tiny arachnids are prevalent in various parts of the United States, particularly in the South, Great Plains, and Mid-Atlantic regions. Despite their bright red coloration, chiggers are incredibly small, measuring about the size of a grain of salt, making them nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye.

Dr. Lee Townsend, Professor Emeritus of Entomology at the University of Kentucky, explains, “Chiggers are a type of immature mite that spend time feeding on small mammals, and also on humans.” It’s important to note that not all mites are chiggers, but all chiggers are mites. These particular mites only bite during their larval stage, distinguishing them from other mite species.

How do chiggers feed?

Unlike mosquitoes and ticks, chiggers don’t feed on blood. Instead, they consume skin cells and tissue. The intense reaction to chigger bites is caused by their saliva, which they use to break down and digest the cells they feed on. This unique feeding mechanism contributes to the distinctive nature of chigger bites and the reactions they cause.

Identifying Chigger Bites: Key Characteristics and Differences

Distinguishing chigger bites from other insect bites can be challenging, as individual reactions may vary. However, there are several characteristics that can help you identify chigger bites:

  • Intense itching: Chigger bites are known for causing extreme itchiness, often more severe than other insect bites.
  • Clustered appearance: Chiggers tend to bite in groups, resulting in clusters of red welts rather than isolated bumps.
  • Location preferences: These mites often target areas where clothing fits snugly or where skin folds create a warm, moist environment.
  • Delayed reaction: The bites may not become noticeable immediately, often appearing several hours after exposure.

Dr. Michael Merchant, Professor of Entomology at Texas A&M University, notes, “I don’t know of many things as intensely itchy as a chigger bite.” This extreme itchiness, combined with the clustered pattern of bites, can be a strong indicator that you’re dealing with chiggers rather than other biting insects.

Where are chigger bites commonly found on the body?

Chiggers have a preference for specific areas of the body. They often congregate in places that are hot and sweaty, such as:

  • Inside socks
  • Along waistlines
  • In armpits
  • Behind knees

If you notice a pattern of bites confined to areas where clothing fits tightly or where skin folds create a warm environment, it’s likely you’re experiencing chigger bites.

Treating Chigger Bites: Effective Relief Strategies

While chigger bites can be incredibly uncomfortable, they typically resolve on their own within a week, often improving within just a few days. However, there are several strategies you can employ to alleviate symptoms and promote faster healing:

  1. Hot shower: Take a hot shower and thoroughly soap the affected areas. This can help remove any remaining chiggers before they cause further irritation.
  2. Topical treatments: Apply calamine lotion to reduce itching and soothe the skin.
  3. Cold compresses: Use cold compresses to numb the area and reduce inflammation.
  4. Oral antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec) can help manage itching and allergic reactions.
  5. Rubbing alcohol: Applying rubbing alcohol to the bites may provide temporary relief and help prevent infection.

When should you seek medical attention for chigger bites?

In most cases, chigger bites don’t require medical intervention. However, there are situations where you should consult a healthcare professional:

  • Signs of infection: If the swelling or redness around the bites worsens after several days, or if you notice pus or increased pain.
  • Systemic symptoms: Fever, flu-like symptoms, hives, vomiting, or nausea may indicate a more severe reaction or secondary infection.
  • Severe itching: If over-the-counter treatments don’t provide relief, a doctor can prescribe stronger topical steroids or even administer steroid injections for intense cases.

It’s crucial to avoid scratching the bites, as this can lead to skin breakage and increase the risk of secondary bacterial infections.

Preventing Chigger Bites: Strategies for Outdoor Enthusiasts

While chiggers can be a nuisance, there are several effective methods to reduce your risk of bites while enjoying outdoor activities:

  • Choose your environment wisely: Chiggers prefer shaded, overgrown areas with high humidity. Stick to well-maintained, mowed areas when possible.
  • Wear protective clothing: Long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks, and closed-toe shoes can create barriers against chiggers.
  • Use insect repellents: Apply EPA-approved repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin and clothing.
  • Time your outings: Chiggers are most active during late spring and early summer. Consider planning activities during cooler months if possible.
  • Shower promptly: After spending time outdoors, take a hot shower and wash your clothes in hot water to remove any chiggers that may have attached to you or your clothing.

What types of environments do chiggers prefer?

Dr. Townsend explains, “They need shelter from the sun and they like high humidity, so they tend to like tall grasses and places where there are mice and small mammals around.” Chiggers are less likely to be found in well-maintained landscaped areas or open, sunny locations.

The Science Behind Chigger Bites: Understanding the Feeding Process

To fully comprehend the nature of chigger bites, it’s essential to understand the unique way these mites feed. Unlike many biting insects, chiggers don’t actually burrow into the skin or feed on blood. Instead, they use their saliva to create a small hole in the skin, forming a feeding tube called a stylostome.

This feeding process involves:

  1. Attachment: The chigger attaches to the skin, often targeting areas where the skin is thin or wrinkled.
  2. Enzyme injection: The mite injects enzymes that break down skin cells.
  3. Stylostome formation: A hardened feeding tube forms in the skin.
  4. Feeding: The chigger feeds on the liquefied skin cells through this tube.
  5. Detachment: Once fully fed, the chigger drops off, leaving behind the irritated area.

This process explains why chigger bites can be so intensely itchy and why they often appear in clusters. The body’s immune response to the stylostome and enzymes results in the characteristic red, swollen welts.

How long do chiggers typically feed?

Chiggers usually feed for 3 to 4 days before detaching. However, if disturbed, they may move to a new location and start the process again, which is why multiple bites in different areas are common.

Debunking Chigger Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction

There are several misconceptions about chiggers that persist in popular culture. Let’s address some of these myths to provide a clearer understanding of these tiny mites:

  • Myth: Chiggers burrow under the skin.
  • Fact: Chiggers remain on the surface, creating a feeding tube in the skin.
  • Myth: You can suffocate chiggers with nail polish or petroleum jelly.
  • Fact: Since chiggers don’t burrow, these methods are ineffective and may even worsen skin irritation.
  • Myth: Chiggers are invisible to the naked eye.
  • Fact: While extremely small, chiggers can be seen with magnification or sometimes even without it, appearing as tiny red dots.
  • Myth: Chiggers transmit diseases.
  • Fact: In North America, chiggers do not transmit diseases to humans, unlike some of their counterparts in other parts of the world.

Understanding these facts can help you approach chigger prevention and treatment more effectively, avoiding unnecessary or potentially harmful practices.

The Ecological Role of Chiggers: More Than Just a Nuisance

While chiggers are often viewed solely as a pest, they play an important role in their ecosystems. As part of the mite family, chiggers contribute to the biodiversity of soil environments and serve as a food source for various predators.

Key ecological aspects of chiggers include:

  • Soil health: Mites, including chiggers in their adult form, help break down organic matter in the soil.
  • Food chain: Chiggers are prey for larger insects and small vertebrates, contributing to the food web.
  • Population control: By feeding on small mammals, chiggers may play a role in controlling rodent populations.
  • Indicator species: The presence or absence of chiggers can indicate changes in environmental conditions, such as humidity levels or habitat disruption.

Understanding the ecological role of chiggers provides a more balanced perspective on these creatures, highlighting the complexity of managing human-wildlife interactions in shared environments.

Do all stages of chiggers bite humans?

No, only the larval stage of chiggers bites humans and other animals. Adult chiggers are free-living in the soil and feed on plant material and small arthropods, not on mammalian hosts.

Global Perspectives on Chiggers: Variations Across Continents

While this article focuses primarily on chiggers found in North America, it’s important to note that chigger species exist worldwide, with varying characteristics and potential health impacts:

  • Asia: Some chigger species in parts of Asia can transmit scrub typhus, a potentially serious bacterial infection.
  • Australia: The Australian “scrub itch mite” causes similar reactions to North American chiggers but tends to prefer different habitats.
  • Europe: Chiggers are less common but do exist, particularly in grassy and wooded areas.
  • South America: Various chigger species are found, with some capable of causing more severe skin reactions than their North American counterparts.

This global variation underscores the importance of understanding local chigger species when traveling or relocating to different regions. While North American chiggers are primarily a source of discomfort, in other parts of the world, they may pose more significant health risks.

How do chigger populations respond to climate change?

Climate change may be affecting chigger populations and distribution. Warmer temperatures and changes in humidity levels could potentially expand or shift the range of chigger-friendly habitats. This could lead to chiggers appearing in new areas or becoming active for longer periods during the year. Ongoing research is crucial to understand these potential shifts and their implications for both human health and ecosystem dynamics.

As we continue to navigate our relationship with the natural world, understanding creatures like chiggers – their biology, impact, and place in the ecosystem – becomes increasingly important. By respecting their role while taking appropriate precautions, we can coexist more harmoniously with these tiny yet significant members of our environment.

How to Know When It’s a Chigger Bite

Sometimes called “berry bugs” or “red bugs,” chiggers populate large sections of the United States — including all of the South, the Great Plains, and the Mid-Atlantic. Though they’re often bright red in color, chiggers are only about the size of a grain of salt — making them almost impossible to spot either in the wild or on a person’s skin.

“Chiggers are a type of immature mite that spend time feeding on small mammals, and also on humans,” says Lee Townsend, PhD, a professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Dr. Townsend says that there are many different species of mites, but only a few types that bite during their larval stage. It’s these that are referred to as chiggers. “Not all mites are chiggers, but all chiggers are mites,” he adds.

Unlike mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting bugs, chiggers don’t attach themselves to mammals in order to suck blood. Instead, chiggers feast on skin cells and tissue, Townsend explains. But much like mosquitoes and ticks, chiggers can induce a nasty skin reaction. That reaction, he says, comes from the chigger’s saliva, which they use to break down and digest the cells and tissues they devour.

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

Chigger Bites Look a Lot Like Other Bug Bites, So Here’s How to Correctly ID Them

As with all bug bites, there’s some person-to-person variation when it comes to chigger bites.

“Different people react differently to bites, so it can be really difficult to tell the difference between bites of things like mosquitoes from chiggers,” Townsend says. Especially if you’re bitten by a lone chigger, the red welt that forms may look more or less identical to a mosquito bite.

But there are bite characteristics that can show up that can help differentiate chiggers from other bugs. For one thing, chigger bites tend to take itchiness to a whole new level. “I don’t know of many things as intensely itchy as a chigger bite,” says Michael Merchant, PhD, a professor of entomology at Texas A&M University in Dallas.

Also, chiggers tend to latch onto a person’s skin in groups. You won’t be able to see them without the aid of a magnifying glass. But you may feel some irritation when they first start feeding. And the resulting bites often appear as clusters of red welts — as opposed to a single itchy lump or a red rash. (1) If you have a swath of itchy skin lumps that looks like many mosquito bites or welts, it’s a good bet you’re dealing with chiggers. (2)

Another characteristic of these bites: chiggers like to gather in areas that are hot and sweaty — like the insides of socks, at waistlines, inside armpits, or behind the knees, Dr. Merchant says. “If you see a pattern of bites only where your sock was, that’s probably chiggers,” he adds.

What Can I Do to Treat Chigger Bites and Relieve the Itching?

While itchy and uncomfortable — not to mention unsightly — chigger bites tend to resolve on their own within a week — and often within a few days. (3) “Once they’re done feeding, [chiggers] drop off on their own,” Townsend says. He recommends taking a hot shower and soaping the area thoroughly. (This can remove chiggers before they’ve had the chance to cause welts and irritation, he says.) Applying topical calamine cream can also help reduce the itch, he adds. So can cold compresses, oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), and rubbing alcohol. (4)

RELATED: What Is an Antihistamine?

Do you need to see a doctor? In most cases, no. “Chiggers can transmit diseases in some other parts of the world, but not here,” Townsend says of domestic chiggers.

That said, chigger bites can put a person at risk for a secondary infection. That could happen if you scratch the bite (or bites) and break open the skin, allowing in bacteria, Merchant says.

If the swelling or redness around a bite is getting worse several days after it first appeared, or if you notice a fever or other flu-like symptoms, those may be signs of an infection. The same is true if the bite is leaking fluid, has developed a yellow, golden crust, or has become painful, or if you’re experiencing hives, vomiting, or nausea — see a doctor. (5)

Doctors can prescribe prescription topical steroids or even inject dilute steroids into intensely itchy bites if you don’t experience relief from over-the-counter options.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Bug Bites and Disease

Yes, You Can Avoid Getting Chigger Bites and Still Enjoy the Outdoors

Chiggers usually live in shaded or overgrown areas like forests and wild fields, Townsend says. “They need shelter from the sun and they like high humidity, so they tend to like tall grasses and places where there are mice and small mammals around,” he says. “You’re not going to run into many of them out in mowed or landscaped areas.”

For that reason, keeping yards or outdoor areas well-tended and free of overgrowth and brush are effective ways to keep chigger populations to a minimum. Staying on walking paths — as opposed to making your way through tall grass or wilder areas — is another way to avoid picking up chiggers. (6)

If you’re going to be tramping through woods or picking fruit in a field, those are times when you’ll want to take extra precautions to guard yourself against chiggers. Townsend recommends wearing long pants and tucking them into your socks. “Repellents also help,” he says, mentioning common types like DEET, which is also used to repel mosquitoes and ticks. Be sure to use those repellents on your shoes and lower legs — places chiggers tend to latch on.

And again, taking a hot, soapy shower after you’ve been in chigger-infested areas can help remove them before they cause skin irritation, Townsend says.

Chiggers are a nuisance — and their bites can be incredibly itchy. But if you can resist scratching those bites, they don’t cause any long-term issues or health complications.

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Medically Reviewed

There are more than 50,000 types of spiders in the world. All spiders have eight legs, no wings, and only two body parts: a thorax and an abdomen. They also all have fangs and enough venom to kill the insects that make up their diet. But only a handful of spiders have fangs and venom that can penetrate human skin — including the brown recluse spider, hobo spider, camel spider, wolf spider, black widow spider, and banana spider. Most spiders are harmless and will bite only if they feel threatened. But depending on the spider and its victim, spider bites can cause anything from mild itching and redness to a reaction that becomes a medical emergency. Here’s detailed info on some common spiders and their bites.

The Brown Recluse Spider

The brown recluse spider gets its name from its habit of living in dark corners inside or outside homes, such as in woodpiles, closets, attics, and basements. This spider is more common in areas that have warm and dry climates, like the south and central areas of the United States. The brown recluse is about a half-inch to an inch long, is light brown in color, and has a violin-shaped mark on its back. The distinctive mark gives the spider these other nicknames: the violin spider or fiddleback spider.

The Brown Recluse Spider Bite

The brown recluse spider’s venom may cause burning pain and itching within several hours after a bite. The actual bite may cause a stinging sensation or not be felt at all. The bite has the appearance of a bull’s-eye, with a central blister that scabs and falls off, leaving a small ulcer. Possible symptoms include body aches and fever. Children may be at risk for an allergic reaction to the venom. To treat a brown recluse spider bite, immediately wash it and apply an ice pack. You can also use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. In most cases, symptoms resolve within 48 hours, but the central ulcer may take weeks to heal.

The Black Widow Spider

The black widow spider is about the same size as the brown recluse spider (a half-inch to an inch long) and also likes dark places. This spider is usually found outside in sheds, barns, or woodpiles. The black widow can be identified by her shiny black color and a red or orange hourglass marking on the underside of her abdomen. Only the bite of the female spider is dangerous. Black widows can be found throughout the United States but are most common in warmer and drier areas.

The Black Widow Spider Bite

The victim of a black widow spider’s bite usually feels it right away, and there may be fang marks and swelling. If you are bitten, you should clean and ice the bite. If the spider has injected venom, you may experience muscle aches and cramps that spread from the bite area to the rest of the body. Possible symptoms include nausea, difficulty breathing, and weakness. If someone bitten by a black widow spider experiences muscle cramps, emergency medical care may include blood pressure medication, muscle relaxants, and, in rare cases, antivenin — a biologic product created to counteract the effects of a spider’s venom. Serious reactions are rare, but are most common in children or very elderly people.

The Hobo Spider

The hobo spider is not native to the United States. It arrived in the northwest from Europe and is now common in California, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The spider is about one-half inch long and has long legs that allow it to move quickly on the ground. Its upper body is brown and its abdomen is grayish with yellow markings. The hobo likes to live in cracks or holes both inside and outside.

The Hobo Spider Bite

The hobo bite resembles the brown recluse bite, with a central blister that scabs and ulcerates, surrounded by a ring of swollen discoloration. Within an hour after the bite, the hobo spider’s venom can cause a numbing sensation and muscle or joint aches. After about three days, a black scab falls off, leaving an open, slow-healing type of wound.

The Wolf Spider

The wolf spider is common all over the United States. It doesn’t weave webs, and it gets its name from its habit of stalking prey like a wolf. The wolf spider is brown or gray in color and can be 3 to 4 inches across. Because some wolf spiders are large and hairy, they are sometimes mistaken for tarantulas. The female may be identified by a white egg sac that she carries with her. This spider prefers to live outdoors on the ground in loose sand or gravel, but it may wander indoors and be spotted running across the floor.

The Wolf Spider Bite

The wolf spider’s bite can cause pain, redness, and swelling. Its large fangs may tear the skin, which can become infected and cause lymph nodes to swell. Treatment of a wolf spider bite includes cleansing and icing. Swelling and pain can last up to 10 days, but medical attention is usually not necessary unless the victim is a small child or someone who is sick or elderly.

The Camel Spider

Camel spiders are sometimes called wind scorpions or sun spiders, but in reality, they are neither scorpions nor spiders. They belong to a group of desert creatures called solpugids, and they have elongated bodies that make them look more like scorpions than spiders. The name, derived from Latin, means “escape from the sun.” In the United States, camel spiders can be found in the deserts of the southwest. They are light brown in color, can be up to 5 inches long, and can run at about 10 miles per hour — often making a screaming sound while doing so.

The Camel Spider Bite

During the Iraq war, soldiers described huge camel spiders that seemed to run at them in a screaming attack mode. In reality these creatures, though scary in appearance, are not dangerous to humans, and if they run at someone, they are probably just seeking shade in the person’s shadow. They do not have any venom and do not bite except in self-defense. A bite is very unlikely and would not be dangerous to a person if it did happen.

The Banana Spider

The banana spider is found in warm regions of the United States from North Carolina through the Gulf states. It lives in woodlands and forests and produces large, intricate orb webs that glow golden in the sun. The female has a long shape that resembles a banana. She can be about three inches long and has yellow spots on her tan cylindrical body and brown and orange tufts on her legs. The male banana spider is an inconspicuous dark brown and less than an inch long.

The Banana Spider Bite

The banana spider is often confused with the Brazilian wandering spider, which is found among bananas shipped to the United States from South America; neither spider is native to North America. Although the Brazilian spider bite can be dangerous, the banana spider bite is not. Banana spiders will bite only if held or pinched. The bite produces mild stinging and redness (similar to a bee sting) that quickly goes away.

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articles from the specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”

Vergazova Asya Nikolaevna

Rheumatologist, Endocrinologist

Clinical Hospital “AVICENNA” GC “Mother and Child”

Mosquitoes, midges

Mosquitoes and midges are not poisonous, but when they bite, an anticoagulant gets under the human skin (a substance that prevents blood from clotting). Therefore, the bite site is very itchy.

At the site of a mosquito bite, redness and a small itchy blister appear, the bite itself is not painful. But the bite of the midge is generally not immediately felt. Itching, burning appear the next day, and they are much stronger than with a mosquito bite, plus the midge bite site is very red and swollen.

What to do: To relieve itching, apply something cold (ice). You can also make a compress with a solution of soda (half a teaspoon per glass of water). The bite can be smeared with an antihistamine cream (gel, ointment) or special Balm after bites .

Important: care must be taken that the child does not comb the bites, otherwise the wound may become infected. The bite of the midge heals for a long time.

Horsefly

Horsefly is a large fly that loves damp places and sunshine. The bite of this insect is very painful.

A large blister immediately appears at the site of the bite of , which is very itchy.

What to do: Wash the bite with soap and water or treat with an antiseptic. To relieve itching and swelling, you need to apply cold, the same soda compress, antihistamine cream (gel, ointment) will help.

Important: horseflies are completely harmless in the shade and attack only on sunny lawns, closer to water bodies. If the bite is combed, then it will heal for a long time.

Bees, wasps, bumblebees

Bees, wasps, bumblebees, hornets (huge wasps) – these insects do not just bite, they sting and with the help of a sting inject a strong protein poison into the human body. When bitten, bees leave a stinger in the wound, so they bite once, but the rest of the stingers can attack again.

Burning pain, redness, swelling and itching of the skin appear at the site of the bite , the area around the wound becomes hot, if a bee has bitten, then the sting is visible. Sometimes, due to poison, intoxication or severe allergies can occur: the child has a headache, he is weak and lethargic, he is sick or even vomits, he has impaired coordination, his body temperature rises, rarely, but there is also loss of consciousness. The same reaction happens if several insects have stung at once.

What to do: Remove the sting if there is one (better to do this with tweezers). Wash the wound with soap or treat with hydrogen peroxide. Apply cold. You can lubricate the sore spot with antihistamine cream (ointment, gel) . If the skin develops swelling and severe redness, give the child an antihistamine by mouth. After a bite, you need to watch the baby for about half an hour. In case of complications, a doctor should be called.

Important: if there are several bites, if they are in the mouth, on the face, neck, then it is better to go to the hospital or call a doctor: swelling is very widespread in these places.

Tick

The tick digs into the skin and secretes a large amount of saliva into the wound, along with it pathogens of various infections can enter the human body, the most common: encephalitis and borreliosis (Lyme disease). By itself, the tick bite is not felt in any way

A black dot of different sizes is visible at the bite site – this is the tick itself. There is no swelling or itching.

What to do : remove the tick. It is better to do this in an emergency room or hospital, because if there is no skill, then it is easy to tear off the body of the tick, and its head and proboscis will remain in the skin. But if the doctors are far away, then you can try to unscrew the insect with tweezers, like a screw (you can’t pull, just twist it). It is useless to drip oil on a tick and wait for it to fall off on its own. It is advisable to take the removed tick for analysis to find out if it is a carrier of the infection.

Repellents

  • These substances protect against bites, but it must be understood that poisons that are dangerous for insects are also dangerous for humans. It is necessary to use repellent only if there are really a lot of insects or their bite causes a strong reaction in the child.
  • It is necessary to apply only a baby product with a low concentration of the active substance (up to 10%). The repellent must not contain diethyltoluamide ( DEET ). It is toxic, so in children under 6 years old it is not even used for clothing.
  • Do not aerosolize the face – only cream, ointment or gel. Do not treat areas with scratches, wounds, inflammation, lips and eyelids with repellent. It makes no sense to treat skin areas hidden by clothing.
  • After the walk, change clothes, take a shower and wash off the remains of the substance from the child.
  • If there is an allergy, then it is better not to use the repellent at all.

How to prevent a bite

Preventing an insect bite is easier than treating it later:

  • Cover sweet fruits and desserts, otherwise they will attract a lot of insects. Before you give your child juice from a cup or a piece of watermelon, you need to see if a wasp or a bee is hiding there. And after eating, it is worth wiping the baby’s lips with a wet napkin.
  • Bright and colorful dresses strongly attract insects. They also love floral scents. So in nature it is better to dress discreetly and not eat sweet food.
  • It is better for a child not to walk barefoot on grass or sand – there may be a bee or a wasp sitting there.
  • When walking in a forest or a meadow (a place that is very fond of ticks), you need to wear clothes with closed sleeves, trousers with cuffs at the bottom (or tuck them into shoes). Put on a cap or panama on your head. Every hour it is worth carefully examining the clothes and body of the child.

Insects like to bite especially children, because their skin is thin, and blood circulation is very active.

A child can get a wasp or bee sting by inadvertently stepping on an insect with a bare foot, or if the child eats some sweet fruit that the insect suddenly landed on.

All bloodsuckers look for prey, primarily by body temperature. To “hot” people they fly up faster.