Healthcare in the Summer Season
Infections and Rashes Caused by Bites and Stings?
Pesky Summer Bug Bites that Cause Itchy Bumps and Rashes
Summer is just around the corner and many of us will be spending more time outside. But that could mean a bite from an insect that could cause an infection or rash.?
Some bites are just annoying and pesky, but others can cause severe allergic reactions or could be deadly.?
We’re taking a look at some of the infections, rashes, and more that are caused by bites and stings, including a few infestation bites as well.?
Mosquito Bites
Mosquito bites are probably the most common bug bite during the warmer months. A round, puffy bump will appear soon after you have been bitten. The bump will become red, swollen, and very itchy and you may have multiple bites in the same area. If you have an impaired immune system, you may experience a more severe reaction, such as hives or swollen lymph nodes. Children will also have a stronger reaction compared to adults.?
To treat a mosquito bite, wash the bites with soap and warm water. You can also use over-the-counter pain relievers, antihistamines, and topical anti-itch medications. An ice pack can also provide relief from itching.?
It is rare for anyone to have a severe allergic reaction to a mosquito bite. If you develop body aches, a headache, or a fever, speak with your doctor as this could be a sign of a more severe reaction or a mosquito-borne disease.?
Bee, Wasp, and Yellowjacket Stings
For most, stings from bees, wasps, and yellowjackets are annoying. However, for those that are allergic, you should use an epipen or seek medical treatment immediately. Stings from these winged insects often cause tenderness, swelling, and itchiness. Wasp stings can create a bright red patch that burns. Bee stings can also cause a white spot where the stinger punctured the skin. Wasps and yellowjackets can sting multiple times, however, honeybees can only sting once due to their barbed stinger that can remain in the skin.?
To treat bee stings, first remove the stinger if one is still embedded in the skin by using tweezers or a credit card. Avoid squeezing the attached venom sac. Clean the area with soap and water, then apply ice to ease pain and swelling. Creams such as hydrocortisone can reduce redness and itching. You can also take an antihistamine for itching and swelling.?
To treat wasp stings, wash the area with soap and water, then apply a cold pack to reduce pain and swelling. Keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection and cover with a bandage if desired. Hydrocortisone or calamine lotion can help with itching. Antihistamines can be taken for itching as well. After a wasp sting, you should consider getting a tetanus shot within several days if you haven’t had a booster in the last 10 years.?
For yellowjacket stings, use an ice pack for the pain. Take an antihistamine to reduce swelling and itching. A paste made of water and baking soda can help to neutralize the venom, or you can use vinegar as an astringent.?
Flea Bites
Fleas don’t just bite your pets or wild animals. These tiny bugs are the size of the tip of a pen but can cause very itchy skin around their bites. The bites cause red bumps surrounded by a red halo. It may become sore or painful or you may develop hives or a rash near the site of the bite. Scratching can further damage the skin and could cause a bacterial infection.?
Avoid scratching flea bites. Over-the-counter anti-itch creams and antihistamines can relieve the itchiness. The bites will go away without treatment, however, in order to stop being bitten, you’ll need to get rid of the fleas themselves. You’ll need to treat your pets and your home. Wash your dog with an anti-flea shampoo. Then wash all your bedding, vacuum your carpets, and throw out the contents of the vacuum in your outside garbage immediately.?
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Scabies
Scabies is caused by bites from tiny mites that are not visible to the human eye. The bites cause extremely itchy rashes that may be pimply and made up of tiny blisters or scales. They could also cause raised white or flesh-toned lines. Scabies can take up to four to six weeks to appear. Sores can also become infected with bacteria. In rare cases, these bacterial infections can cause serious complications (usually in those who are immunocompromised) leading to serious complications including chronic kidney disease, septicemia, and heart disease.?
Scabies is contagious and can be passed through direct skin contact or by contact with infected clothing, furniture, or bedding. While scabies can be bothersome, the mites can be eliminated. Treatment often includes medications that kill the mites and their eggs. You will also want to clean your home by vacuuming, throwing the contents of the vacuum out immediately. Then clean your vacuum with bleach and hot water. Be sure to also wash clothes, bedding, and towels.
Tick Bites
Tick bites are often harmless but they do have the potential to transfer diseases, including Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. The bites can cause pain or swelling in the bite area and can also lead to a rash, burning sensation, blisters, or difficulty breathing. These bites rarely appear in groups and the tick often remains attached to the skin for a long time as it draws blood from your body for up to 10 days, then detaches itself and falls off. The most common areas ticks bite include:
If you experience any of the following severe symptoms, speak with a doctor:
You can remove a tick yourself with a tick removal tool or a set of fine tipped tweezers. Make sure your hands and the tool are clean. Grasp the tick as close as you can to the skin’s surface then pull straight up and away from the skin, applying steady pressure. Try not to bend or twist the tick. If any parts of the tick’s head or mouth parts are left in the bite site, remove those carefully. Clean the bite with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, or iodine. Once you have removed the tick, submerge it in rubbing alcohol to kill it. Place the tick in a sealed container, labeled with the date and location of the bite, and take it to your doctor.?
Fire Ant Stings
Fire ants are small and aggressive venomous ants that can deliver a painful sting. The sting develops as a swollen red spot with a white blister on top. The sting will burn and itch, lasting up to a week.?
Mild stings can be treated by washing the affected area with soap and water then covering with a bandage. An ice pack or topical treatments can help reduce pain. Make sure not to scratch as the bite can become infected, which can make the sting and bite marks last longer.?
Spider Bites
Most spiders don’t pose a threat to humans, and often, bites are harmless or mildly irritating like a bee sting. However, there are some dangerous spiders (like the black widow and brown recluse) that can cause more severe or even life-threatening bites.?
Spider bites will appear near two marks where the fangs broke the skin. You may experience itching or a rash, a red welt, or swelling. Other symptoms can include skin damage, pain around the bite, muscle pain or cramping, sweating, difficulty breathing, vomiting and nausea, fever, chills, anxiety or restlessness, swollen lymph glands, and high blood pressure.?
To treat a spider bite, apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on and off the bite for 10 minutes at a time. Elevate the area to reduce swelling. Clean the area with soap and water to prevent infection and take an antihistamine. Apply an antibiotic ointment to the area if blisters develop.?
Seek medical attention if you notice skin damage or other severe reactions, or if symptoms don’t go away over time.