Itch, ouch, scratch… it’s bug season!
Melani Caron
Whether you’re attacked while working in the garden, enjoying a picnic in the park or lounging by the pool, bug bites and stings are an inevitable summer annoyance. At best bites and stings can be uncomfortable for a few days; at worst they can be a serious, life-threatening hazard. Here are some tips on how to relieve the itch or sting and when to know if you should seek medical attention:
If the bite or sting is mildly painful or itchy, apply over-the-counter medication that contains Benadryl or cortisone for topical relief. Other home remedies like applying a paste made from baking soda and water, dabbing on ammonia with a cotton ball, soaking in oatmeal baths or even applying toothpaste to the site may also provide relief.
Whatever you do, don’t scratch. This can cause an infection and leave a scar. And it won’t relieve the itch or sting.
If you feel faint, nauseous, dizzy or disoriented, or if you experience rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing or your lips, tongue or throat swell, call 911 immediately. These symptoms indicate a severe allergy to the insect’s venom. Administer an Epi-pen (injectable epinephrine) if one is available and administer CPR if symptoms worsen before emergency personnel arrive. After the episode follow up with a physician who can determine an allergy prevention treatment.
Stay alert for delayed symptoms around the bite or sting like redness or swelling, which could indicate an infection or other condition. And see a doctor right away if you have a headache, fever or joint pain within a few days of being bitten. Some insects, like ticks and mosquitoes, can infect their victims with serious, flu-like illnesses, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and West Nile virus, which only a physician can diagnose and treat.
Most important, use insect repellent when outdoors and wear light-weight, light-colored clothing over arms, legs and feet to keep insects off your skin. And avoid wearing perfume and fragrances, which can attract bugs. Last but not least: snake sightings should be reported directly to 9-1-1.
Stay cool out there!