Insect and spider bites and bee,
yellow jacket, and wasp stings usually cause a localized reaction with pain,
swelling, redness, and itching. In some people, especially children, the redness
and swelling may be worse, and the local reaction may last up to a few days.
In most cases, bites and stings do not cause reactions all over the body.
(In a few areas, mosquitoes may spread illnesses, including encephalitis and
malaria.)
Some people have severe skin reactions
to insect or spider bites or stings, and a few have allergic (anaphylactic)
reactions that affect the whole body. Symptoms may include hives all over
the body; shortness of breath and tightness in the chest; dizziness; wheezing;
or swelling of the tongue and face. If these symptoms develop, immediate medical
attention is needed.
Spider bites are rarely serious,
although any bite may be serious
if it causes a person to have an allergic reaction.
Black widow
spiders can be up to
5 cm (2 inches) across (although they are generally much smaller) and are
shiny black with a red hourglass mark on their undersides. Their bites may
cause chills, fever, nausea, and abdominal muscle pain. A person having a
severe reaction may have difficulty breathing. People with high blood pressure,
elderly people, and children have the greatest risk of having a severe reaction.
Brown recluse
(fiddler) spiders are smaller than black widows and have long legs. They are
brown with a violin-shaped mark on their heads. Their bites result in intense
pain (although the bite itself may be painless) and a blister may develop
that turns into a large, open sore. Their bites also may cause nausea, vomiting,
headaches, and chills.
Also see Tick Bites on See
Tick Bites.
To avoid bee stings, wear white or light-coloured, solid
fabrics. Bees are attracted to dark colours and flowered prints.
Avoid wearing perfumes and colognes when you are outside.
Apply an insect repellent containing DEET every few hours
when in insect- and spider-infested areas. Use a lower-concentration
DEET product for small children and pregnant women. Wash DEET off when
you come inside. Alpha Keri and Skin-So-Soft bath oils also seem to
repel insects.
Wear gloves and tuck pants into socks when working in
woodpiles, sheds, and basements where spiders are found.
Remove a bee stinger by scraping or flicking it out (if
the stinger isn't visible, assume there isn't one). Don't squeeze the
stinger; you may release more venom into the skin.
If the bite is from a black widow or brown recluse spider,
apply ice to the bite and call your doctor.
Apply a cold pack or ice cube to the bite or sting. Some
people also find that applying a paste of baking soda, meat tenderizer,
or activated charcoal mixed with a little water helps relieve pain and
decrease the reaction.
Take an oral antihistamine (such
as Benadryl or Chlor-Tripolon) to relieve pain, swelling, and itching
if there are many bites. Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream may
also help.
Carry an emergency kit containing a syringe and adrenaline
(epinephrine) if you have had a severe allergic reaction to insect venom
in the past. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to use the kit.
Trim your fingernails to prevent scratching, because
scratching can lead to infection.
Call 911 or seek emergency services
if signs of a severe allergic reaction develop soon after you have been
bitten or stung by an insect or spider:
Wheezing or difficulty breathing.
Swelling around the lips, tongue, or face, or significant
swelling around the site of the bite or sting (e.g., entire arm or leg
is swollen).
Spreading skin rash, itching, feeling of warmth, or hives.
Call your doctor:
If you have been bitten by the same type of spider or
insect that previously caused a serious reaction.
If a blister appears at the site of a spider bite, or
if the surrounding skin becomes discoloured.
If symptoms are not improving in
2 to 3 days or if signs of infection develop:
Increased pain, swelling, redness, or tenderness.
Heat or red streaks extending from the area.
-
Fever of 37.8°C (100°F) or higher with
no other cause.
To talk about adrenaline kits or allergy shots (immunotherapy)
for insect venom if you have had a serious allergic reaction.