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Bug bites and stings from common insects are often harmless and heal quickly. However, some insect bites will leave you with intense pain and allergic reaction, for instance, fire ants, wasps, or hornets. While some have poisonous effects like spider bites and require immediate emergency medical care.
Most bug bites are transmitted directly from the insect and occur outdoors. Two exceptions are bedbugs (tiny mites that live in and near beds) and lice, which spread through contact with an infected person, a comb, or clothing.
Family Urgent Care Clinics consist of trained professionals who take intense care and detailed examination of the bug bites to find the cause and type of insect behind the sting. We provide just the medication and attention you need.
What causes a reaction to Bug bites?
Insects typically bite in self-defense or when looking to feed. The bite may cause small lacerations, swelling, and discoloration. Insects typically inject formic acid through their bite. This can lead to blisters, inflammation, pain, itching, and irritation. The reaction depends on the type of insect and the individual’s sensitivity. Often, your body’s immediate response will include redness and swelling at the site of the bite or sting.
Minor delayed reactions include itching and soreness.
What are the types of Bugs that cause the reaction?
Here are some of the bugs that can be more dangerous than others:
Biting insects, arachnids, and other bugs but not all of them do it intentionally. Their bites are relatively harmless and just leave an itchy patch of skin But some bites can carry disease. Deer ticks, for example, typically carry Lyme disease.
Spiders have venomous fangs, these include
brown recluse spiders
black widow spiders
mouse spiders
black house spiders
Stinging insects only bite to defend themselves against a perceived threat. Typically, a sting from a bee or stinging ant will be accompanied by a small amount of venom which will cause itching and pain causing an allergic reaction.
Common stinging insects include:
bees
paper wasps (hornets)
yellow jackets
wasps
fire ants
Scorpions are the epitome of sting insects. Many species have barbed tails equipped with venom, some strong enough to kill a human.
How to treat Bug bites?
Bug bites can result in fever and pain, itching, and/or swelling, for such cases you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain. In case of itching ask your pharmacist about suitable treatments, including crotamiton cream or lotion, hydrocortisone cream or ointment, and antihistamine tablets. Lastly, to find relief from swelling try applying a cold compress or ice pack to the affected area.
How to prevent bug bites?
To help prevent bug bites, dermatologists recommend the following tips:
Use Insects repellents to protect yourself against mosquitoes, ticks, and other tiny insects.
Wear appropriate clothing if you're out at night or are going on a hike in a densely wooded area.
Use bed nets in the great outdoors, use bed nets to protect against mosquitoes and other similar insects.
Pay special attention to outbreaks, and check the CDC Travel Health Notices website before traveling anywhere to get warnings and recommendations beforehand.
If you have the following symptoms, immediately rush to emergency care
wheezing or difficulty breathing
a swollen face, mouth, or throat
feeling sick or being sick
a fast heart rate
dizziness or feeling faint
difficulty swallowing
loss of consciousness
In such cases, Family urgent care clinics provides ER services and has professionals who can provide immediate care for Bug bites . We entertain walk-in consultations, checkups and ER services. Contact us today for your family, and yourself. We have three locations, namely, Schererville Urgent Care Clinic, Lincoln Park Urgent care Clinic and Morse Urgent Care Clinic. Visit us today!
