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Ask the Doctor
| What are "bug bites"? |
| Posted - 07/07/2008 |
Arthropods make up about 3/4 of the animal life on Earth. The most concerning or troublesome arthropods are the Hymenoptera (e.g., ants, bees, wasps, hornets, fire ants) and the Diptera (e.g., flies). A sting or a bite is when an insect injects venom composed of proteins and other substances that may trigger an allergic reaction in the victim. Mosquitoes do not usually cause significant illness unless they convey a vector (disease) living within the mosquito. Some examples of this are Malaria and West Nile Virus.
What are the symptoms of a "bug bite"? Bites may be local or spread throughout the body (systemic). Examples of local reaction would be some redness, swelling, pain or itching at the site of the bite only. Severe symptoms requiring medical attention would be wheezing, shortness of breath, hives, loss of consciousness, or sensation of throat tightening/closing.
Who should seek immediate medical attention? Anyone who is concerned about a bite should see a doctor. Immediate medical attention is needed for anyone with a history of severe allergic reactions in the past, or with the severe symptoms mentioned above (wheezing, shortness of breath, hives, loss of consciousness, sensation of throat tightening/closing.) Also, any open wound that may be infected needs attention - look for pus, drainage, fever, warmth or red streaking)
What are the treatments for bug bites? If the reaction is limited to the local area with just itching, pain and a small amount of redness, treatment is limited to topical creams like Calamine or Benadryl. You may also take an antihistamine orally for this. The area should be washed with soap and water to remove any residual contaminants or particles. DO NOT SCRATCH!!! If the reaction is more serious, the doctor may give you oral or IV antihistamines, oral or IV steroids or even Epinephrine if the reaction is life threatening or extremely severe (anaphylaxis). If the wound appears infected, antibiotics may be used. If life threatening reaction occurs, oxygen/heart monitors and more advanced intervention be utilized. 3-5 days of oral prescriptions may be given if needed to complete treatment. For those with serious reactions, prescriptions may be given for Epinephrine injections to be kept with patient to be used if serious reaction occurs.
The best defense is prevention. Wear skin protection like long sleeved/long leg pants and shirts. Light colors are better to attract less insects. Insect repellants can be used as well. Also, avoiding twilight hours helps to reduce exposure to the most concentrated populations of insects.
If you have any serious signs of allergic reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately. For less severe episodes, do not scratch and seek medical attention if needed. |
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