If local swelling is severe, your GP may prescribe a short course of oral corticosteroids , such as prednisolone, to take for 3 to 5 days. If you have an allergic reaction after being bitten or stung, even if it's just a skin rash hives , your GP may prescribe an adrenaline pen an auto-injector and show you how to use it.
You'll also be referred to an allergy clinic for further tests and treatment. If you develop blisters after being bitten by an insect, don't burst them because they may become infected. Blisters don't usually cause pain unless they rupture burst and expose the new skin underneath. If possible, use an adhesive bandage plaster to protect the blistered area.
See your pharmacist if the bite or sting fills with pus and feels tender to touch, your glands swell up and you feel unwell with flu-like symptoms. Your pharmacist may prescribe oral antibiotics medicines to treat infections caused by bacteria. You'll need to take these as instructed, usually 2 to 4 times a day for 7 days.
If you have the symptoms of a systemic reaction SR , it could lead to anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis may need to be treated with an adrenaline injection, antihistamines, oxygen or an intravenous drip directly into a vein. If previous insect bites or stings have caused a large skin reaction, such as redness and swelling more than 10cm 4 inches in diameter, your GP may refer you to an allergy clinic. The criteria for referring someone to an allergy clinic may vary depending on what's available in your local area.
Immunotherapy desensitisation or hyposensitisation is a possible treatment option if you're allergic to wasp or bee stings. It involves being injected with small doses of venom every week to alter your body's immune response to venom.
You need to be observed after each injection to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction to the treatment. Over time, your body becomes used to the venom desensitised and you're no longer at risk of anaphylaxis. When a high enough dose has been reached, the injections are given at four to six-week intervals for a further two to three years.
Your allergist allergy specialist will decide how much venom is injected and how long the injections need to continue for. This will depend on your initial allergic reaction and your response to the treatment. For more information about immunotherapy, see treating allergies. If you've been bitten by a tick, remove it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of getting a tick-borne infection, such as Lyme disease a bacterial infection that causes a pink or red circular rash to develop around the area of the bite.
If you suspect that you have a tick bite, complete our self-help guide to assess your symptoms and find out what to do next. Return to Symptoms. Next Review Date:. Avoid scratching the bite because it will cause further swelling and increase the risk of infection. Most tick bites will heal within three weeks. Read more about how Lyme disease is treated. Secondary bacterial infections are a common complication of insect bites and stings. They include:.
An infection can occur if you scratch an insect bite or sting, or it may be introduced at the time you're bitten. Infections are usually treated with antibiotics. Lyme disease is an infection caused by a species of tick known as Ixodes ricinus. Ticks aren't insects — they're small arachnids. Your risk of developing Lyme disease is increased if you spend a lot of time in woodland or heath areas as these areas are where tick-carrying animals, such as deer and mice, live.
The initial infection is characterised by a red rash that gradually expands outwards from the site of the bite. Antibiotics are usually used to treat the infection. If untreated, the long-term effects of Lyme disease include problems with the nervous system, such as:.
The condition can also damage the joints, which can lead to arthritis and, occasionally, heart problems, such as inflammation of the heart muscle myocarditis and inflammation of the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the heart pericarditis. West Nile virus is an infection with flu-like symptoms that is spread by mosquitoes. There have been no reported cases of West Nile virus in the UK, but there have been cases elsewhere in the world.
Malaria is a tropical disease caused by an infection of the red blood cells. It can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Each year, there are around 1, cases of malaria in travellers returning to the UK. A certain type of malaria caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum is potentially fatal. It accounts for more than half of all cases of malaria in the UK each year.
It's particularly important to follow this advice if you've had a bad reaction to an insect bite or sting in the past. Ticks are small arachnids that are mainly found in woodland areas. They attach to your skin, suck your blood and can cause Lyme disease. If you're bitten by fleas, mites or bedbugs, you may have an infestation in your home.
Try to find the source of the infestation before taking steps to eliminate it. For flea infestations, treat the animal, its bedding, household carpets and soft furnishings with an insecticide. Thoroughly vacuum your carpets and soft furnishings. For bedbug infestations, your home will need to be thoroughly treated with an insecticide by a reputable pest control company.
See the GOV. UK website for details of pest control services and more information about how your local council can help with an infestation. Seek medical advice before travelling to a tropical area where there's a risk of catching malaria. You may need to take antimalarial tablets to avoid becoming infected. When you reach your destination, make sure your accommodation has insect-proof screen doors and windows that close properly.
Sleeping under a mosquito net and spraying rooms with insecticide will also help prevent you being bitten. Home Illnesses and conditions Injuries Skin injuries Insect bites and stings.
Insect bites and stings See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About insect bites and stings 2. Symptoms of insect bites and stings 3. Treating insect bites and stings 4. Complications of insect bites and stings 5.
Preventing insect bites and stings. About insect bites and stings Insect bites and stings are common and usually only cause minor irritation.
Symptoms of an insect bite or sting When an insect bites, it releases saliva that can cause the skin around the bite to become red, swollen and itchy. Non-urgent advice: Speak to a pharmacist if:. Adults and children over 2 years with insect bites or stings can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy Find your local pharmacy on Scotland's Service directory.
Immediate action required: Phone if you have been bitten or stung and you have:. Treating insect bites and stings Most bites and stings are treated by: washing the affected area with soap and water placing a cold compress a flannel or cloth soaked in cold water over the area to reduce swelling Try not to scratch the affected area to avoid infection.
Preventing insect bites and stings You're more likely to be bitten or stung if you work outdoors or regularly take part in outdoor activities, such as camping or hiking.
Travelling abroad There's a risk of catching diseases such as malaria from insect bites in certain parts of the world, such as: Africa Asia South America It's therefore important to be aware of any risks before travelling to these areas, and to get any necessary medication or vaccinations. Symptoms of insect bites and stings An insect bite or sting often causes a small lump to develop, which is usually very itchy. Insect bites and stings usually clear up within several hours and can be safely treated at home.
Insect bites Different insect bites can cause different symptoms. Most mosquito bites lead to a puffy, itchy bump. However, in some cases, they can turn into blisters. While most bug bites cause only mild symptoms, some bug bites can transmit disease. Read on to learn more about symptoms and how to prevent bug bites.
Most commercial bug repellents can cause health and environmental problems. Learn about natural repellents that actually work. Bitten by a mosquito? Here are 13 things you can do from home to alleviate….
When mosquitos feed on your blood, your skin reacts with round, itchy red bumps. Learn how to stop the bites from itching. Raised bumps on the skin are common and can have a variety of causes, ranging from acne to skin cancer.
Raised skin bumps are most often harmless, but…. If you have swelling in just one eye or have found a spider in the area where you were bit, it's safe to assume a spider or similar bug is to blame. Most spider bites are harmless, and symptoms will go away after a few days. Seek immediate medical care if you suspect the following. Learn how to safely and quickly remove a leech, as well as how to recognize a leech and when to seek immediate medical treatment.
Termites feed off wood and live in dark environments. A noticeable bug bite is more likely to be from a different insect, but here's what you can look…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Owen Kramer, M.
Mites will bite any uncovered skin. Spider bites from spiders native to Northern Ireland are rare. Bites can be from a venomous or non-venomous spider. A bite from a non-venomous spider will often cause minor swelling, redness, pain, and itching. These mild reactions are common and may last from a few hours to a few days. A wasp or hornet sting causes a sharp pain in the area that's been stung, which usually lasts just a few seconds.
Wasps and hornets don't usually leave the sting behind, so they could sting you again. If you've been stung and the wasp or hornet is still in the area, walk away calmly to avoid being stung again. A bee sting feels similar to a wasp sting, but the sting and a venomous sac will be left in the wound.
You should remove this immediately by scraping it out using something with a hard edge that is clean to avoid introducing infection. Most people won't have severe symptoms after being bitten or stung by an insect.
However, some people can react badly to them because they've developed antibodies to the venom. You're more likely to have an allergic reaction if you're stung by an insect.
The reaction can be classed as:. Although insect bites and stings are a common cause of anaphylaxis, it's rare to experience anaphylaxis after an insect sting, and insect bites or stings are rarely fatal.
Some bites will be red and swollen, but for other types of bites these symptoms may not be normal and could suggest an infection. Contact your GP or call GP out of hours service if you think your bite may have become infected, or if you're concerned about your symptoms. Try not to scratch the affected area to avoid infection. If you're in pain or the area is swollen, take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen children under 16 years of age shouldn't be given aspirin.
The pain, swelling and itchiness can sometimes last a few days. Ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter treatments that can help, such as creams for itching and antihistamines. If you have a more serious reaction, your GP may prescribe other medication or refer you to an allergy clinic for specialist assessment and treatment. You should see your GP if you've been bitten or stung and there's a lot of swelling and blistering or if there's pus, which indicates an infection.
You're more likely to be bitten or stung if you work outdoors or regularly take part in outdoor activities, such as camping or hiking.
Using insect repellent and keeping your skin covered when outdoors will help you avoid being bitten or stung. Try not to panic if you come across wasps, hornets or bees, and back away slowly.
Don't wave your arms around or swat at them. There's a risk of catching diseases such as malaria from insect bites in certain parts of the world, such as:. It's therefore important to be aware of any risks before travelling to these areas, and to get any necessary medication or vaccinations. We will not reply to your feedback.
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