Insect bites

Preventing and treating insect bites

In the summer, the chances of getting insect bites are higher than usual. We have concrete tips to prevent and treat these bites.

Prevent

Protect yourself from mosquito bites by using insect repellent with DEET and wearing clothing that covers your skin, especially at dawn and dusk. It is generally recommended to use DEET products with a concentration of 20-30% for a good balance between effectiveness and safety. Provide screens for windows and doors and avoid standing water where mosquitoes breed.

Tick bites can be prevented by staying on the trails, wearing long clothing and using insect repellents that specifically repel ticks. DEET is one of the most effective agents against ticks. Other insects, such as bees and wasps, can cause stings. Avoid sweet smells and wear bright clothing to avoid attracting them.

Can an insect bite hurt?

You may be allergic to a bee or wasp sting. In that case, it can make you sick.

Mild reactions
Symptoms: Redness, swelling, itching at the sting site.
Treatment: wash the site with soap and water, apply a cold compress, use antihistamines or an itch-relieving cream.

Mild reactions
Symptoms: greater swelling, warmth around the sting site.
Treatment: As for mild reactions, but possibly an oral antihistamine. Consult a physician if swelling persists or gets worse.

Ergent allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
Symptoms: Respiratory difficulty, swelling of face or mouth, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, nausea or vomiting.
Treatment:Epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen): Administer immediately if prescribed. Call emergency services immediately.
EHBO: Lay the person down with legs up, make sure the airway is clear, stay with the person until help arrives.

In tropical countries, some mosquitoes can transmit "mosquito-borne diseases," such as malaria, dengue fever, zika fever and chikungunya.

Treat

A bee
If you have been stung by a bee, you should remove the sting from your skin. Try scraping the sting out with your nail, the edge of a bank card, the blunt side of a knife or tweezers. Sometimes there is still a small venom sac attached to the sting. Be careful not to squeeze the sac, as more venom may enter your skin. Once the sting is out, you may want to suck the venom out of your skin with a venom sucker (a kind of syringe that sucks when you squeeze it). After that, you can put povidone iodine or alcohol on the wound.

Wasp
If you have been stung by a wasp, also take out the sting if necessary. You can possibly suck out the venom with a venom sucker. For itching, pain and a bump after being stung by a bee, wasp, hornet, stinging fly or hare, a cold, wet cloth can help. Cooling with ice or a cold pack can also help the bump become less swollen. If you suffer a lot, you can take 2 tablets of paracetamol.

Tick
If you are bitten by a tick, you should remove the tick from your skin as soon as possible. A tick bite may require medication against bacteria if the tick has probably been in your skin for more than 24 hours. Consult with your doctor about this. The antibiotics help prevent you from getting Lyme disease.

Medications for insect bites

Insect bites usually do not require medication. If you are itchy, you may want to use an anti-itch remedy, such as menthol sprinkle powder or a cream. If a sting is very painful and cooling does not help enough, paracetamol may help. Sometimes a sting can cause your whole hand to swell, for example. Then allergy medications can help, such as antihistamines like cetirizine, desloratadine, loratadine and cinnarizine. Ask us for advice.

Allergy
If you know you are very allergic to a bee or wasp sting, make sure you always carry two adrenaline pens. These are available by prescription only. With such a pen, you give yourself a shot as soon as you are stung. If the first prick does not help enough, you can give a second prick with the second pen after five or ten minutes. The effect of the first prick may diminish after half an hour, so then you can give a second prick. After that, you should always go to the hospital to get checked how you are doing and for further treatment. If you are allergic, you can take an antihistamine tablet in the morning as a precaution.

When to seek medical attention?

Consult a doctor if:

• The bite site is very red, warm and swollen.
• You develop a fever, severe headache or dizziness after a bite.
• There are signs of a severe allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing.
• By seeking medical help early, you can prevent complications and recover quickly from insect bites.