{"id":233,"date":"2015-08-31T10:30:29","date_gmt":"2015-08-31T14:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=233"},"modified":"2024-03-11T16:07:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T20:07:14","slug":"bee-wasp-mosquito-sting-treatment-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/bee-wasp-mosquito-sting-treatment-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"How to treat the bites and stings of summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer sun typically means lots of leisure time spent outdoors\u2014but summer isn\u2019t always sunshine and rainbows, it also comes with insect stings and bites. Unfortunately, pleasant picnics are crashed all too often by bees, fire ants, or mosquitoes.<\/span> While most of the time bites and stings are simply a nuisance, they can be dangerous.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn some, bug bites may trigger a severe allergic reaction, marked by dizziness, throat closing, swelling, and\/or diffuse body itching,\u201d says <\/span>Lili Barksy<\/span><\/a>, MD, an urgent care physician at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should visit the emergency room.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may be able to treat all other bites at home\u2014but it\u2019s important to know what you\u2019re working with.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common bug bites and how to treat them<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s likely you know the usual suspects in your area, like mosquitoes or red ants, but if you\u2019re somewhere new, it\u2019s good to know what to watch out for. Here, learn about common summer critters, how to prevent them from biting you, and how to treat a sting if you get nipped.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bug bite identification<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Type of bite<\/b><\/td>\nSymptoms<\/b><\/td>\nDoes it require medical attention?<\/b><\/td>\nTreatment<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bees and wasps<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nImmediate pain, redness and\/or swelling, itching\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nNo, unless you have an allergic reaction.<\/span><\/td>\nAntihistamine creams or for an allergic reaction Benadryl or an injection of <\/span>epinephrine<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mosquitoes<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nSmall red bump, itching at the site, swelling\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\nAnti-itch creams<\/span><\/a> or soothing ointments like <\/span>aloe vera<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fire ants<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nBurning sensation, white blisters, immediate pain, itching lasting several days<\/span><\/td>\nNo, unless you show signs of an allergic reaction<\/span><\/td>\nHydrocortisone cream<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ticks<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nMild irritation or for tick-borne illnesses: fever, chills, headache or neck stiffness, muscle or joint pain, distinctive rash<\/span><\/td>\nNo, unless you suspect a tick-borne illness<\/span><\/td>\nWashing the area with soap and water<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fleas<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nSmall red bites found in clusters, itchiness or soreness, bites around armpits, ankles, knees, and skin folds<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\nAnti-itch creams like <\/span>Benadryl itch stopping<\/span><\/a> cream<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spiders<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nPain, itching, or rash at the site, purple or red color blister, fever or chills, muscle pain and cramping, headaches, nausea or vomiting, sweating, and\/or difficulty breathing<\/span><\/td>\nSeek medical advice if you suspect it is a venomous spider bite<\/span><\/td>\nClean the bite with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment; an ice pack or cool damp cloth to reduce pain and swelling<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chiggers<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nBites in clusters, intense itching, red, bumpy skin, hive-like rash<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\nImmediately wash with soap and water; <\/span>anti-<\/span>itch<\/span> cream<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Bees and wasps<\/span><\/h3>\n

To put identification simply, bees are furry and wasps are not. Some of the more common wasp species include the yellowjacket and the hornet. Yellowjackets nest underground while hornets can be found in paper-like nests that are attached to trees.<\/span><\/p>\n

The biggest difference between these fliers is bees only sting once (and will leave their stinger embedded where they stung) and wasps can sting many times. After getting a wasp or bee sting, you\u2019re likely to encounter a local or allergic reaction.<\/span><\/p>\n