Insect Bites and Stings - First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide
Overview
- Insect bites are, mostly, not severe
- Sometimes they cause a severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis
- Anaphylaxis is life-threatening if not treated on time
- The sting of bees, wasps, hornets/bite of fire ants, painful
- Bites of insects, like mosquitoes, cause itching
- The bite of a black widow spider can be fatal if left untreated
Causes
Examples of biting insects
Symptoms
Treatment
Steps to Avoid
Examples of biting insects
- Mosquitoes
- Fleas
- Mites
- Spiders
- Bees
- Wasps
- Hornets
- Localized Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Itching
- Numbness
- Burning
- Tingling sensation
- Breathlessness
- Weakness
- Remove the stinger using a straight-edged object
- Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water
- Place ice wrapped in a cloth on the affected area
- Repeat after every 10 minutes
- Apply a gentle cream to prevent itching
- Take antihistamines if necessary
- Observe for signs of infection like pain, redness or swelling
- Try to keep the person calm
- Check the person's breathing
- Remove constricting items, like rings, from finger/nose/ears
- Do Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), if necessary
- If the person is carrying an emergency kit, use it
- If required, treat the person for signs of shock
- Seek medical help as soon as possible
- Wheezing
- Swelling on the face
- Difficulty in breathing
- Tight feeling in the throat
- Body turning blue
- Do not remove the stinger using a tweezer
- Do not apply a tourniquet
- Aspirin, pain medications, should not be given unless advised by a doctor
- Avoid placing a hand near the mouth of a seizure-affected person
- Take caution to prevent your child from developing a biting habit
Source: https://www.medindia.net/patients/firstaid_insectbites.htm
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