Large Itchy Bug Bites: Identification, Treatment, and Prevention of Insect Stings
What are the most common types of bug bites and stings. How can you identify different insect bites. What are effective treatments for large itchy bug bites. How to prevent insect bites and stings. When should you seek medical attention for a bug bite.
Common Types of Insect Bites and Stings
Insect bites and stings are a common occurrence, especially during warm weather months. While most are harmless, some can cause significant discomfort or even pose serious health risks. Understanding the different types of bites and their characteristics is crucial for proper identification and treatment.
Mosquito Bites
Mosquitoes are perhaps the most ubiquitous biting insects. Their bites typically result in:
- Itchy, round, and puffy bumps
- A small dot at the center of the bite
- Redness and hardness around the bite area
- Some swelling
Mosquito bites usually resolve within a few days. However, these insects can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Zika virus in certain regions.
Bedbug Bites
Bedbugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects often found in bedding, particularly in hotels, shelters, and apartment complexes. Their bites are characterized by:
- Itchy, red bites with a dark red center
- Bites arranged in a line or grouped together
- Typically located on arms or shoulders
- Resemblance to mosquito or flea bites in early stages
Scratching bedbug bites can lead to infection, swelling, and bleeding.
Flea Bites
Fleas are tiny parasites that feed on blood. Their bites are characterized by:
- Very small bite marks
- Typically located on legs or ankles
- Intense itching, especially in sensitive individuals
Flea bites can be particularly troublesome for pets and can lead to secondary skin infections if scratched excessively.
Identifying Stinging Insect Attacks
Stinging insects can cause more immediate and intense pain compared to biting insects. Here are some common stinging insects and their characteristics:
Bees, Wasps, Hornets, and Yellow Jackets
These insects are known for their painful stings. Key differences include:
- Bees lose their stinger and die after stinging once
- Wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can sting multiple times
- Stings cause immediate, sharp pain and swelling
- Allergic reactions can be severe and life-threatening in some cases
Prompt removal of the stinger (in case of bee stings) is crucial to minimize venom injection.
Fire Ants
Fire ants are aggressive when disturbed and their attacks are characterized by:
- Swarming behavior
- Multiple stings in a localized area
- Painful and itchy pimply sores and blisters
- Burning sensation that can last up to a week
A large number of fire ant stings can trigger severe allergic reactions in some individuals.
Spider Bites: When to Be Concerned
While most spiders are harmless, some species can deliver venomous bites that require medical attention. Here are some dangerous spider species and their bite characteristics:
Black Widow Spider
Black widow spiders are identifiable by their glossy black color and distinctive red hourglass shape on their underside. Their bites can cause:
- Muscle cramps
- Seizures
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased blood pressure
- Two red fang marks at the bite site
- Redness and tenderness
- A nodule at the bite location
Immediate medical attention is necessary for black widow spider bites.
Brown Recluse Spider
Brown recluse spiders, also known as “violin” spiders, are found in the Midwestern and Southern United States. Their bites can lead to:
- Initially painless bites that become painful over time
- Reddening of the skin, followed by a white blister
- Potential ulcer formation
- Fever, chills, and headache in severe cases
- Tissue death in the surrounding area if left untreated
Brown recluse spider bites require immediate medical evaluation and treatment.
Hobo Spider
Hobo spiders are found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Their bites can cause:
- Initially painless bites that become painful over time
- Red or purple blister formation
- Potential rash development
- Muscle pain and difficulty breathing
- Headache, fever, and high blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
As with other dangerous spider bites, seek immediate medical care if you suspect a hobo spider bite.
Tick Bites and Associated Risks
Ticks are parasitic arachnids that can transmit various diseases, including Lyme disease. Tick bites have the following characteristics:
- Often found in warm, moist areas of the body like armpits and groin
- Usually singular bites
- May cause a circular skin rash (in case of Lyme disease)
- Can lead to fever, headache, and fatigue
- May cause neck stiffness in some cases
Prompt removal of ticks is crucial to prevent disease transmission. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady pressure.
Treatment Options for Large Itchy Bug Bites
When dealing with large, itchy bug bites, several treatment options can provide relief and promote healing:
Topical Treatments
- Calamine lotion: Helps soothe itching and irritation
- Hydrocortisone cream: Reduces inflammation and itching
- Antihistamine creams: Alleviate itching and swelling
- Aloe vera gel: Provides cooling relief and promotes healing
Oral Medications
- Oral antihistamines: Help reduce itching and allergic reactions
- Pain relievers: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help with pain and inflammation
Home Remedies
- Ice packs: Apply to reduce swelling and numb the area
- Baking soda paste: Mix with water and apply to soothe itching
- Oatmeal bath: Helps relieve itching and inflammation
- Tea tree oil: Has antiseptic properties that can help prevent infection
For severe reactions or bites from dangerous insects, seek medical attention immediately.
Preventing Insect Bites and Stings
Taking preventive measures can significantly reduce your risk of insect bites and stings. Here are some effective strategies:
Personal Protection
- Use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors
- Avoid wearing bright colors or floral patterns that may attract insects
- Use bed nets when sleeping outdoors or in areas with high insect activity
Environmental Control
- Eliminate standing water around your property to reduce mosquito breeding sites
- Keep food covered when outdoors to avoid attracting stinging insects
- Regularly inspect and seal entry points in your home to prevent insect infestations
- Use window screens and keep doors closed to prevent insects from entering your home
Landscaping Techniques
- Plant insect-repelling plants like citronella, marigolds, and lavender around your property
- Keep your lawn mowed and remove leaf litter to reduce tick habitats
- Avoid overwatering your garden, as excess moisture can attract insects
When to Seek Medical Attention for Bug Bites
While most insect bites and stings can be treated at home, certain situations require immediate medical attention:
Signs of Severe Allergic Reaction
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Swelling of the face, throat, or tongue
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness or fainting
- Nausea or vomiting
Symptoms of Infection
- Increased redness, swelling, or warmth around the bite area
- Pus or drainage from the bite site
- Fever or chills
- Red streaks extending from the bite
Other Concerning Symptoms
- Severe pain or burning sensation
- Muscle spasms or seizures
- Headache accompanied by neck stiffness
- Persistent itching or swelling that doesn’t improve with home treatment
If you experience any of these symptoms following an insect bite or sting, seek medical care promptly. Additionally, if you’re unsure about the type of insect that bit you, especially if you suspect it may be a dangerous spider or tick, consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.
Understanding Insect Venom and Allergic Reactions
Insect venom contains various proteins and compounds that can trigger different reactions in humans. Here’s what you need to know about insect venom and allergic reactions:
Components of Insect Venom
- Enzymes: Break down cell membranes and tissues
- Peptides: Cause pain and inflammation
- Biogenic amines: Increase vascular permeability and cause itching
- Allergens: Proteins that can trigger allergic responses
Types of Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to insect stings can range from mild to severe:
- Local reactions: Swelling, redness, and itching at the sting site
- Large local reactions: Extensive swelling that may last several days
- Systemic reactions: Affect areas beyond the sting site, potentially life-threatening
- Anaphylaxis: A severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention
Risk Factors for Severe Allergic Reactions
- Previous history of severe allergic reactions to insect stings
- Cardiovascular disease
- Asthma
- Elderly age
- Use of certain medications (e.g., beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors)
Individuals with known severe allergies to insect stings should carry an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) at all times and wear medical alert jewelry indicating their allergy.
Long-Term Management of Insect Bite Sensitivity
For individuals who experience frequent or severe reactions to insect bites, long-term management strategies can be beneficial:
Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy
- Skin tests or blood tests to identify specific insect allergies
- Venom immunotherapy (allergy shots) to reduce sensitivity to insect venom
- Regular follow-ups with an allergist to monitor progress
Lifestyle Modifications
- Avoiding areas with high insect activity
- Implementing strict preventive measures during outdoor activities
- Educating family members and colleagues about your allergy and emergency procedures
Emergency Preparedness
- Always carrying an epinephrine auto-injector if prescribed
- Wearing a medical alert bracelet or necklace
- Creating an emergency action plan and sharing it with close contacts
By implementing these long-term management strategies, individuals with insect bite sensitivity can significantly reduce their risk of severe reactions and improve their quality of life.
Understanding the various types of insect bites and stings, their characteristics, and appropriate treatment methods is crucial for effectively managing these common occurrences. By recognizing the signs of potentially dangerous bites and knowing when to seek medical attention, you can ensure prompt and appropriate care. Additionally, implementing preventive measures and long-term management strategies can significantly reduce your risk of insect-related health issues and improve your overall outdoor experience.
Insect Bite – Online Dermatology
Insect bites and stings can cause an immediate skin reaction. Most insect bites are minor and may cause the skin to swell and become red and itchy.
The bite from fire ants and the sting from bees, wasps, and hornets are usually painful. Bites caused by mosquitoes, fleas, and mites are more likely to cause itching than pain. Severe allergic reactions may appear as coughing, trouble breathing, lightheadedness, nausea, or hives. The venom from the insect’s sting or bite contains proteins and other compounds that trigger these reactions. The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) reported 30,738 cases of single exposures to insects in 2014. Just more than 1,500 of these were listed as resulting in moderate and less than 40 described as major reactions.
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Symptoms
Mosquitoes Mosquitoes choose their human victims based on the scent of carbon dioxide and other chemicals in your perspiration. Their bites turn into itchy, round and puffy bumps with a small dot at the center. The bump soon becomes red and hard, with some swelling. They usually go away within a few days. Mosquitoes can spread viral diseases if they carry the pathogen. They can carry West Nile virus, dengue fever virus, Zika virus and other diseases. Otherwise, mosquito bites do not usually cause severe reactions.
Bedbugs Bedbugs, as their name suggests, tend to hide in bedding. These bugs are small, flat and oval-shaped. They are often found in hotels, shelters, and apartment complexes. They feed on blood from humans or animals, and they’re most active at night, feeding on their victims while they sleep. Bedbugs leave itchy, red bites with a dark red center. The bites are in a line or grouped together in a small area on the skin, usually on the arms or shoulders. They resemble mosquito or flea bites in their earliest stages. You can get infection from scratching the bites, which can lead to swelling and bleeding.
Fleas Fleas live of blood. Some people are sensitive to flea bites, which are very small and typically located on your legs or ankles.
Bees, Wasps, Hornets, Yellow Jackets A bee loses its stinger and dies soon after stinging, while a wasp, hornet or yellow jacket can sting multiple times.
Fire Ants Fire ants look like ordinary ants and are aggressive when disturbed. They swarm on and bite the perceived intruder, injecting their venom repeatedly. This creates pimply sores and blisters that are painful and itchy. It lasts up to a week and may create a burning sensation as well. A large number of stings may trigger a toxic or severe life-threatening allergic reaction. Get medical care if needed.
Spiders Black widow spider bites cause muscle cramp, seizure, nausea, vomiting and rise in blood pressure. These spiders are roughly 1/3 inch wide and 1.5 inches long, counting their long legs. It is glossy black, with a distinctive orange, red, or yellow “hourglass” shape on her underside. Black widow spider bites may cause stabbing pain in the bite area, but they can also be painless. You will see two red fang marks, redness, tenderness, and a nodule at the bite site. Brown recluse (“violin”) spiders range in color from yellowish-tan to dark brown, with darker legs. They are active in Midwestern and Southern states in the U.S., but are usually non-aggressive. Their venom is toxic, and their bite can sometimes cause serious wounds and infection. You skin may redden, turn white, blister, and becomes painful after the initial painless bite. Sometimes an ulcer forms. The blister can grow progressively worse without treatment. At its most severe, it may kill surrounding tissue and cause fever, chills, and headache. Hobo Spider is a large brown spider that is active in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. They are aggressive and tend to hide behind furniture, under baseboards, and in closets. The initial bite is not painful but will eventually cause pain. Other symptoms may include a red/purple blister, rash, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, headache, fever, high blood pressure, nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes an ulcer forms. Spider bites often take longer to heal than other insect bites. They may damage your skin tissues as well. Get medical care immediately.
Ticks Once a tick latches onto skin, it often moves to the warm, moist armpits and groin. It feeds on blood and passing on any disease it carries. In the U.S. black-legged tick and the deer tick can carry Lyme disease. Tick bites are typically singular. Early symptoms include, a circular skin rash, fever, headache, and fatigue. You may see red spot or rash near the bite site and experience neck stiffness as well.
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What can I do?
Remove stinger If you don’t have an allergic reaction to bee stings, simply remove the stinger, clean the sting site, apply ice, take oral antihistamine for itching, and take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief. Use the back of a credit card or other straight-edged object across the stinger. Do not use tweezers. They may squeeze the venom sac and increase the amount of venom released. Self-treatment
- Wash the site with soap and water.
- Place ice (wrapped in a washcloth) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process.
- If necessary, take an antihistamine, or apply creams with corticosteroids that reduce itching.
- Over the next several days, watch for signs of infection (such as increasing redness, swelling, or pain).
Prevention
- Avoid being outside during dawn and dusk to reduce exposure to mosquitos.
- Use protective clothing and insect repellents to keep away ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects.
- Avoid perfumes and floral-patterned or dark clothing.
- Do not attempt to remove nests or hives unless you are a professional.
- Avoid dense vegetation or animals suspected of carrying fleas, chiggers, or ticks.
- Be aware of the potential for bees or other foraging insects to enter opened soft drink containers that are left idle.
- Use window screens, and get rid of standing water in your yard.
Managing severe reactions Check the person’s airways and breathing. If necessary, call 911 and begin rescue breathing and CPR. Reassure and keep the person calm. Remove nearby rings and constricting items because the affected area may swell. Use the person’s EpiPen or other emergency kit, if they have one. (Some people who have serious insect reactions carry it with them.) If appropriate, treat the person for signs of shock. Remain with the person until medical help arrives.
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Should I seek medical care?
Some people have severe, life-threatening reactions to bee stings or insect bites. This is called anaphylactic shock. This condition can occur very quickly and lead to rapid death if not treated quickly. A doctor should be consulted immediately if any of allergic reactions or other unusual conditions occur. This includes:
- Trouble breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath
- Swelling anywhere on the face or in the mouth
- Throat tightness or difficulty swallowing
- Feeling weak
- Turning blue
Treatment
Minor insect bites can be treated with soap and water, and itchiness can be alleviated with topical antihistamines. If have severe allergies to insect bites or stings, you should have an emergency kit and EpiPen. Make sure your friends and family know how to use it if you have a reaction. Anti-venom medicine is available for black widow spider bites.
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Insect bites and stings. Available at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000033.htm
Boyd (Bo) D Burns, DO, FACEP, FAAEM. Medscape. Insect bites. Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/769067-overview#a6
Treatment for No-See-Um Bites – MosquitoNix®
January 16, 2023
53 Comments
No-see-ums are tiny flying insects that are incredibly difficult to spot. Also known as biting midges, punkies, sand flies or biting gnats, these flying insects are small enough to fit through the mesh screens of windows and doors. They are also easy to overlook when they swarm around you or land on your skin. But after they bite, you’ll definitely know they were there.
No-see-um bites are painful and itchy, but their havoc can be more than skin deep. Like mosquitoes, these tiny biting insects can also transmit diseases to humans. Luckily, you can minimize your risk of infection and illness by taking care of your no-see-um bites with a combination of over-the-counter medicines and home remedies. These are our top tips for treating no-see-um bites.
How to Treat No-Seem-Um Bites
If you’re suffering from painful, itchy no-see-um bites, use these steps to treat them:
- Pay attention to your bites. They usually look like a small red dot or raised welt that hurts, burns or itches. No-see-ums go after any exposed skin, but they seem to enjoy the back of your neck or legs especially.
Look for a cluster of red dots, as it is unusual to have just one bite.
- Wash the bite thoroughly with warm water and mild soap. Try to wash the area as soon as you notice it to reduce any irritation from the bug’s saliva and reduce the risk of infection.
- It may be hard to resist the urge, but try to avoid scratching your no-see-um bites. Scratching can break the skin’s surface and make it easier for infections to develop.
- Use ice or a cold compress for pain and itch relief. Apply the ice to the itchy welts or spots for 10 minutes or so to numb the discomfort and reduce any swelling.
- Calm the itch and redness with over-the-counter products. Try an anti-itch steroid or antihistamine cream to soothe any pain, swelling or irritation. You can also take an oral analgesic or allergy medication to stop pain and reduce any reaction.
- If you don’t have any topical treatments at home, make your own by combining baking soda with vinegar or witch hazel. Apply this paste to the bites to lessen any discomfort.
- If your reaction to no-see-um bites is more severe, including trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing or rashes, you should seek medical attention immediately. Plan to see a doctor if you observe any signs of infection where the no-see-um bit you.
How to Tell No-See-Um Bites From Other Insect Bites
Treating no-see-um bites is similar to what you do for mosquito bites; after all, these biting insects feed on blood to encourage the production and development of their eggs. But how do you know which bug bit you?
First, let’s start with gnat and mosquito bites, which often look very similar, causing inflamed, itchy, red bumps on your skin. On the other hand, no-see-um bites may be more clustered and smaller than the other types.
Bug anatomy also plays into the appearance and feel of each bite. Mosquitoes inject their straw-like mouths into our skin to extract blood, often leaving a welt with a puncture wound in the middle. Gnats and no-see-ums “surgically” slice and cut into the skin of their prey with their mouth-based cutters to allow the blood to pool, making it easier for them to feed. This tiny wound can last longer because it is more than a single puncture.
Finally, consider how long each type of bug bite lasts and how they change over time. Mosquito bites are more random, and they can fade quickly. No-see-um bites can morph from small red dot clusters to raised welts lasting almost two weeks.
Who to Call for Mosquito, No-See-Um and Other Pest Control
Don’t spend one more day serving up your friends and family as a buffet for biting insects. MosquitoNix® has effective pest control solutions, including misting systems and fogging treatments, to protect your residential and commercial property from unwanted insect visitors. Call us at (855) 808-2847 or contact us online to learn more about our services and schedule your free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions About No-See-Ums
Do no-see-ums suck blood?
For the most part, these tiny insects primarily feast on flower nectar as their primary food source. However, female no-see-ums need blood to reproduce and develop eggs.
What happens during the blood-sucking process?
When a female no-see-um bites, she injects her saliva under the host animal’s skin, causing the blood to pool and making it easier for the insect to take what she needs.
When are no-see-ums most active?
No-see-ums are most active during dusk and dawn. If you happen to be outside during these times, you are at an increased risk of being bitten.
Do no-see-ums lay eggs in your skin?
If a no-see-um has bitten you, there’s little to worry about besides itchiness and irritation. After a blood meal, the female no-see-um often seeks out a body of water to lay her eggs, such as a riverbank, a marsh, a still pond or even a hollowed-out tree stump.
What is the best way to get rid of no-see-ums?
To protect your family from no-see-um bites, call MosquitoNix. We have several effective options for eliminating no-see-ums and other pests that can cause discomfort when they bite.
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Severe reaction to an insect bite.
First aid and allergy prevention
Insect species
Insect bites are familiar to each of us. This problem is especially relevant for the summer season, when most representatives of the arthropod order can be found literally anywhere where there is land and sunlight. How to prevent insect bites and what to do if this trouble does happen?
Let’s start with the fact that such reactions can be divided into several groups:
- arising in response to the bite of insects sucking blood;
- developing when stinging and introducing poison into the human body by insects;
- appearing upon contact with scales or other particles of living or dead insects (that have entered the respiratory tract or on the skin).
Blood-sucking insects
Most often, of course, these are mosquitoes, and only females bite. When they puncture the skin, they inject a special poison that prevents blood clotting so that they can “eat from the heart. ” This substance causes severe itching. A person itches and can even bring an infection into these scratches. As a result, the wounds become inflamed, can fester and hurt. Itching prevents a person from sleeping, he tosses and turns, often wakes up and gets up in the morning unrested. There is also a category of people who are allergic to mosquito bites . In this case, the wound swells and turns red, and the itching becomes simply unbearable.
After a mosquito bite, you can anoint itchy “bubbles” with an antiallergic gel. If they are already combed, it is recommended to treat the wounds with antiseptics.
How to prevent a mosquito bite?
- install mosquito nets on windows or cover them with gauze;
- use repellents – special means that repel insects. They can be applied to open areas of the skin or clothing, most importantly, avoid contact with the eyes;
- spread lavender or St. John’s wort around the cottage, mosquitoes do not like these herbs;
- use fumigators or insect coils.
Stinging insects
The stings of bees, wasps and bumblebees are extremely painful. The skin around the wound quickly turns red, becomes swollen and edematous. Intense, throbbing pain may begin, body temperature rises, nausea and headache are sometimes observed. But the most dangerous reaction is allergy, which affects from 0.4 to 0.8% of the inhabitants of the Earth. The venom of these insects contains toxic substances that cause a decrease in blood pressure, swelling of the mucous membranes and respiratory failure and convulsions.
According to the severity of an allergic reaction, the following options can be distinguished:
- mild – itchy skin rash
; - moderate – urticaria , nausea and vomiting, respiratory disorders;
- severe – dizziness and confusion join the symptoms described above;
- anaphylactic shock – a sharp decrease in blood pressure, weak pulse, suffocation and loss of consciousness.
This is the most difficult condition in which the count goes literally for seconds. In the absence of medical care, death quickly occurs.
What to do if a bee stings?
To begin with, carefully and quickly remove the sting, it is most convenient to do this with tweezers. Then treat the wound with an antiseptic. A cold compress can be applied to reduce pain and swelling. Next, should take a desensitizing drug inside and smear the bite area with antiallergic gel .
Try not to be among the flowers – they are a bright bait for bees and wasps. Be sure to tell the children not to wave their hands at striped insects or try to touch them with their hands.
First aid for insect bites
If itchy spots or vesicles appear on the skin, or the bite site is very swollen and itchy, it is most likely an allergy. In this case, Octagel can be used. Thanks to the components included in the composition, Octagel relieves symptoms immediately after application to the skin, dries quickly and does not stain clothes. Octagel is a multicomponent agent, the main active ingredient of which is ammonium glycyrrhizinate. Ammonium glycyrrhizinate has a pronounced anti-allergic and antipruritic effect, due to which it can significantly reduce itching, redness, irritation, swelling and inflammation in the area of the bite.
Octagel should be applied to the entire surface of the skin with manifestations of an allergy to an insect bite using a convenient dispenser.
Prevention of allergy to insect stings
There are several methods for preventing allergic reactions to insect stings. It is recommended to take antihistamines during the period of insect activity. You should try to avoid any contact with insects (wear loose clothing with long sleeves, use special repellents in places where they accumulate).
To combat insects in the room, a large number of various fumigators, liquid and in the form of plates, have been developed. An ultrasonic device is also produced to repel flying and crawling “allergens”. Allergen-specific immunotherapy with a cause-significant allergen is considered the most effective. Such therapy is carried out only if there is a high level of immunoglobulin E in the blood.
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9000 0 Remedies for mosquito bites. How to relieve itching and redness in children and adults
With the advent of summer heat, a real problem arises – the bites of blood-sucking insects. It doesn’t matter where you are: outside the city, in the forest, by the river or in the house – small insects live everywhere. Mosquitoes cause a lot of trouble to humans. A small bite causes a severe allergic reaction in adults and children, which can be extremely dangerous for some people.
The human immune system reacts differently to bites. Someone will not notice the trouble, at the same time, sensitive people will have swelling and itching. Even if you’ve never had an allergic reaction to mosquitoes before, it could be from a bite from a completely different kind of mosquito. This is due to the different composition of saliva that the insect injects during a bite. Mosquito saliva contains substances, among which there are proteins. They neutralize blood clotting, so the female mosquito calmly sucks blood from a person. It is proteins that cause unpleasant itching, swelling, tingling at the site of the wound. What to do if a mosquito bites you or your child?
How to relieve itching after a mosquito bite
It often happens that even despite the presence of a fumigator in the house, the use of various sprays and balms that repel insects, mosquitoes still bitten. Over time, the bite site will turn red and swell slightly, itching and burning will appear. What to do and how to help an adult or a child avoid consequences if there are no special tools at hand? It should be understood that it is worth treating or treating only those bites that have a pronounced appearance and cause discomfort to a person. If the bite does not bother you, after 2-3 days the stain from the skin will disappear by itself.
If the bites are painful, then it is recommended:
Try not to scratch the wound so as not to cause infection;
Apply something cold so that the bite does not bother you for a short time;
Use traditional methods: treat the wound with a weak solution of soda or vinegar, apply a tea bag, psyllium juice, lavender or tea tree oil.
Mosquito repellent
Are you planning an outdoor recreation? Before the trip, you should stock up on special pharmacy “anti-mosquito” drugs. They easily cope with itching, prevent infection, and promote rapid healing. Your first aid kit should have several remedies that promote the speedy healing of bites:
1) Antihistamines – will quickly and effectively prevent pronounced allergic reactions.
2) Fenistil is a Swiss drug available in the form of a gel, emulsions and drops. It is used in the pathological process of moderate severity. Easily copes with unpleasant symptoms. The agent does not penetrate into the bloodstream, which means that the appearance of side effects is excluded. With a strong immune reaction, it is recommended to take Fenistil drops orally. The drug is safe and can be used to treat children aged 1 month.
3) Psilo-balm is an indispensable remedy for severe itching irritations. The gel contains an antihistamine substance that is effective in acute allergic reactions on the surface of the skin. After applying the balm, the itching stops within a few minutes. Psilo-balm is used for children older than two years.
4) Forte Rescuer is a versatile and inexpensive tool. The balm is used not only for insect bites, but also for cuts, burns, bruises, and irritations. It has bactericidal properties, helps rapid recovery and healing of wounds.