Bites and Stings

Mosquito bites

 A mosquito bite is a small, round, puffy bump that appears soon after you’ve
been bitten.
 The bump will become red, hard, swollen, and itchy.
 You may have multiple bites in the same area.

Fire ant bites

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

 Fire ants are small, aggressive, red or black venomous ants with a painful,
stinging bite.
 Bites appear as swollen red spots that develop a blister on top.
 Stings burn, itch, and last up to a week.
 They may cause a dangerous, severe allergic reaction in some people,
resulting in swelling, generalized itching, and difficulty breathing

Flea bites

 Flea bites are usually located in clusters on the lower legs and feet.
  The itchy, red bumps are surrounded by a red halo.
 Symptoms begin immediately after you’re bitten.

Bedbug bites

 The itchy rash is caused by an allergic reaction to the bite of a bedbug.

 The small rashes have red, swollen areas and dark-red centers.
 Bites may appear in a line or grouped together, usually on areas of the body
not covered by clothing, such as the hands, neck, or feet.
 There may be very itchy blisters or hives at the bite site.

Bedbug bites

 The itchy rash is caused by an allergic reaction to the bite of a bedbug.

 The small rashes have red, swollen areas and dark-red centers.
 Bites may appear in a line or grouped together, usually on areas of the body
not covered by clothing, such as the hands, neck, or feet.
 There may be very itchy blisters or hives at the bite site.

Fly bites
  Painful, itchy rashes are caused by an inflammatory reaction at the site of
the fly bite.
 Though usually harmless, they may lead to severe allergic reactions or
spread insect-borne diseases.
 Take precautions when traveling to endemic countries by wearing long-
sleeved shirts and pants and using bug spray.

Lice

 Head lice, pubic lice (“crabs”), and body lice are different species of parasitic
lice that affect humans.
 They feed on blood and cause an itchy immune reaction at the site of their
bites.
 Adult lice are gray/tan six-legged insects about the size of a tiny sesame
seed.
 Nits (eggs) and nymphs (baby lice) can only be seen as very tiny specks that
may look like dandruff.

Chiggers

Image by: Kambrose123 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  Painful, itchy rashes may be caused by an immune response to the bites of
tiny mite larva.
 Bites appear as welts, blisters, pimples, or hives.
 Bites will generally appear in groups and be extremely itchy.
 Chiggers bites may be grouped in skin folds or near areas where clothing fits
tightly.

Tick bite

Image by: James Gathany Content Providers(s): CDC/ James Gathany [Public
domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 Bites can cause pain or swelling at the bite area.

 They may also lead to a rash, burning sensation, blisters, or difficulty
breathing.
 The tick often remains attached to the skin for a long time.
 Bites rarely appear in groups.

Scabies
  Symptoms may take four to six weeks to appear.
 The extremely itchy rash may be pimply, made up of tiny blisters, or scaly.
 The may cause raised, white, or flesh-toned lines.

Spider bites

Image by: White_tailed_spider.jpg: Ezytyper WhiteTailedSpiderBite.jpg:Ezytyper at

en.wikipedia derivative work: B kimmel (White_tailed_spider.jpg
WhiteTailedSpiderBite.jpg) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-
BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], from Wikimedia
Commons

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

 Most spiders don’t pose a threat to humans, and their bites are harmless or
mildly irritating, like a bee sting.
 Dangerous spiders include brown recluse, black widow, hobo spider, funnel
web spider (Australia), wandering spider (South America), tarantula, wolf
spider.
 A single raised papule, pustule, or wheal may appear at the site of the bite
followed by redness and tenderness.
 The bite will appear as two small puncture marks.
 Severe allergic reactions to a spider bite may require medical attention.
Brown recluse spider

Image by: Tannbreww4828 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 This is a shy, brown- or tan-colored spider with a violin-shaped patch and six
paired eyes: two in the front and two sets of two on either side of the head.
 It likes to hide in quiet, dark places like closets and bookshelves and is native
to the South and South Central regions of the United States.
 Nonaggressive, it will only bite humans if it's being crushed between skin
and a hard surface.
 Redness appears with a central, white blister at the site of the bite.
 Moderate to severe pain and itching at the site of the bite occurs 2 to 8
hours after the spider has injected its venom.
 Rare complications include fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, hemolytic
anemia, rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure.

Black widow spider

Image by: Maximuss20722/Wikia.com

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

  This spider is plump, black, and shiny, with an hourglass-shaped red mark on
its abdomen.
 It’s nonaggressive and will only bite if it’s being crushed.
 Bites cause muscle pain and spasms in the arms, legs, abdomen, and back.
 Tremor, sweating, weakness, chills, nausea, vomiting, headache are other
symptoms.
 The bite area is red with a white center.

Hobo spider

 The venom of this common household spider isn’t considered toxic to

humans.
 Bites are generally harmless and cause only minor pain and swelling.
 A single, red area appears with a tender central nodule.
 Itching, burning, or stinging may occur at the site of the bite.

Wolf spider

 This large (up to 2 inches long) fuzzy, gray/brown spider is native to many
parts of the United States.
 Nonaggressive, it will bite if it feels threatened.
 A tender, itchy red bump appears that heals in 7 to 10 days.
Horseflies

 These large (1-inch long) blood-sucking flies are most active in the daylight
hours.
 An instant, sharp burning sensation occurs when a horsefly bites.
 Itchiness, redness, swelling, and bruising may also occur at the bite location.

Bees

 Pain, redness, swelling, or itching occurs at the site of the sting.

 A white spot appears where the stinger punctured the skin.
 A bee can only sting one time.
Yellowjackets

 These thin wasps have black-and-yellow stripes and long dark wings.
 Aggressive, a yellowjacket may sting multiple times.
 Swelling, tenderness, itchiness, or redness may occur near the area that’s
been stung.

Wasps

 Sharp pain, redness, swelling, and itching or burning occurs at the sting site.
 A raised welt appears around the sting site.
 Wasps can be aggressive and are capable of stinging multiple times.

Scorpions
  These are eight-legged arachnids with large pincers and long, segmented,
stinger-tipped tails carried in a forward curve over their backs.
 Many species with variable levels of toxicity can be found all over the world.
 Intense pain, tingling, numbness, and swelling occurs around the sting.
 Rare symptoms include breathing difficulties, muscle twitching, drooling,
sweating, nausea, vomiting, increased heartrate, restlessness, excitability,
and inconsolable crying.
 Severe symptoms are more likely in infants and children than adults.

Types of biting and stinging insects

Here are some bugs that can be dangerous.

Biting insects, arachnids, and other bugs

Many bugs bite, but only a few do so intentionally. Most bites are relatively
harmless, leaving just an itchy patch of skin behind. But some bites can carry
disease: Deer ticks, for example, typically carry Lyme disease.

Intentional biters include:

 ticks
 chigger mites
 scabies mites
 bedbugs
 fleas
 head lice
 pubic lice
  horse flies
 black flies
 mosquitoes

Many larger insects and other bugs won’t seek you out but will bite if handled.

Spiders

Some spiders have poisonous fangs. Poisonous spiders found in the United States
include:

 brown recluse spider

 black widow spider
 hobo spider
 grass spider
 mouse spider
 black house spider
 wolf spider

Stinging insects

Insects will sting humans only to defend against a perceived threat. Typically, a bee
or stinging ant’s stinger will be accompanied by a small amount of venom.

When injected into your skin, the venom causes most of the itching and pain
associated with the sting. It can also cause an allergic reaction.

Common stinging insects in the United States include:

 bees
 paper wasps (hornets)
 yellow jackets
 wasps
 fire ants

Scorpions

Scorpions have a reputation for stinging. Many species have barbed tails equipped
with poison — 25 species worldwide have poison capable of killing a human being.
The most venomous species of scorpion native to the United States is the Arizona
bark scorpion.

What causes reactions to bites and stings?

The venom injected into your body from the bite or sting of an insect will cause
your immune system to respond. 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.

If you’re very sensitive to an insect’s venom, bites and stings can cause a
potentially fatal condition called anaphylactic shock. This can cause the throat to
tighten and make breathing difficult.

Some bites and stings may cause illnesses when venom contains infectious agents.

Who is at risk for bites and stings?

Anyone can be bitten or stung by an insect, and bites and stings are very common.
You’re at greater risk if you spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural or
wooded locations. Children and older adults may have more severe reactions to
bites and stings.

What are the symptoms of a bad reaction to bites and stings?

If you’re bitten or stung, you may see or feel the insect on your skin during the
attack. Some people don’t notice the insect and may not be aware of a bite or
sting until one or more of the following symptoms emerge:

 swelling
 redness or rash
 pain in the affected area or in the muscles
 itching
 heat on and around the site of the bite or sting
 numbness or tingling in the affected area

Symptoms of a severe reaction requiring immediate medical treatment include:

 fever
  difficulty breathing
 nausea or vomiting
 muscle spasms
 rapid heartbeat
 swelling of the lips and throat
 confusion
 loss of consciousness

If you feel ill or experience flu-like symptoms in the days following an insect bite,
see your doctor for tests to rule out infections or diseases you may have
contracted from the insect.

Diagnosing bites and stings

Many people are aware they’ve been bitten or stung because they see the insect
shortly after the attack.

Although you shouldn’t further provoke an attacking insect, try to preserve the
insect if it dies following the bite or sting. Its identity may help your doctor to
properly diagnose your symptoms. This is especially important for a spider bite, as
some species have dangerously potent venom.

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Treating bites and stings

The majority of bites and stings can be treated at home, especially if your reaction
is mild. Remove the stinger if it’s lodged in your skin, wash the affected area, and
apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling.

Topical anti-itch creams, oral pain relievers, and antihistamines may be used to
combat uncomfortable symptoms. You may also want to consider applying a thin
paste of baking soda and water to the sting to calm the itching.
Contact emergency services immediately if symptoms of a severe reaction are
present. First aid instructions while waiting for paramedics to arrive include
loosening the victim’s clothing, laying them on their side, and performing CPR if
breathing stops.

If you believe a spider of the black widow or brown recluse variety has bitten you,
seek emergency medical treatment even if symptoms seem minor or haven’t
emerged. Scorpion bites also should be treated in the emergency room, regardless
of symptoms.

What’s the long-term outlook?

Most bites and stings heal by themselves after several days of mild discomfort.
Monitor the affected site for signs of infection. Contact your doctor if the wound
appears to be getting worse or hasn’t healed after several weeks.

Bites and stings that cause severe reactions can be fatal if they aren’t treated
immediately.

Once you’ve experienced a severe reaction, your doctor will likely prescribe an
auto-injector of epinephrine, a hormone that can prevent anaphylactic shock.
Carry it with you at all times to relieve the reaction immediately following a bite or
sting.

Tips to avoid bites and stings

Use caution when near nests or hives containing aggressive insects. Hire
professionals who have the proper safety equipment to remove a nest or hive.

When spending time outside, you can take preventive measures, such as:

 wearing hats and clothing that provide full coverage

 wearing neutral colors and avoiding floral patterns
 avoiding perfume and scented lotion
 keeping food and drinks covered
 using citronella candles or insect repellent