Insect Stings and Bites

What is a normal reaction to a bite or sting, and how should it be treated?

The type of reaction and the treatment depends on the insect. If your child reacts more severely than described below, he may be having an allergic reaction.

Type of Insect	Typical Symptoms	Treatment
Bee, Wasp, Hornet, Yellow Jacket	Area will become red and swollen and will remain sore for a few hours.	If stinger is present, use a straight edge (like a credit card) to scrape the surface and remove it. Don’t squeeze the stinger as you will release more venom. Clean the area and apply ice.
Spider	Redness, swelling and some blistering. A brown-recluse spider causes stinging and large blisters. A black-widow creates red bite marks, swelling and severe pain.	Clean area and apply ice. Seek emergency treatment if you suspect a brown-recluse or black-widow bite. Both are poisonous.
Flea	A group of small red bumps that itch.	Ice pack, hydrocortisone cream, Benadryl syrup to ease the itch.
Mosquito	Raised reddish bumps that itch.	Ice pack, hydrocortisone cream, or Benadryl syrup to ease the itch.
Tick	Tick attaches itself to the skin. Your child may not feel it or know it’s there. Once removed a red bump remains.	Don’t use petroleum jelly or rubbing alcohol to coax out the tick. Use tweezers to grab tick close to the head. Pull it straight out. Once removed, wash and apply alcohol or antibiotic ointment.
Fire ant	Sting will cause sharp pain and burning. Itchy blisters appear within a day.	Clean the area and apply ice.

What are signs of an allergic reaction to an insect bite?

Allergic reactions are rare, but serious, and require immediate medical attention. Allergic reactions are most common with bee, wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket stings.

Seek medical attention immediately if your child has any of the following after and insect bite/sting:

• Hives, itching and swelling in areas other than the site of the sting
• Tightness in the chest or difficulty breathing
• Hoarseness or a swollen tongue

An untreated allergic reaction can result in dizziness, a sharp drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, or cardiac arrest.

Should my child carry injectable epinephrine (Epipen) to treat future reactions?

Talk to you doctor. Any child who has had a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting should carry an Epipen with him at all times.

How can allergy shots help?

Allergy shots (also known as venom immunotherapy) can prevent future reactions. These shots contain gradually increasing doses of venom. The immune system slowly becomes tolerant to the venom, so that your child will no longer have allergic reactions. Ask your child’s doctor if he is a candidate.

How can I prevent insect bites and stings?

Please click HERE to see infromation on Insect Repellant.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is passed to people from the bite of an infected deer tick. Deer ticks tend to live in wooded areas and are no bigger than the head of a pin. Deer ticks are most abundant in spring, summer, and fall.

What are the symptoms of Lyme Disease?

There can be several different symptoms of Lyme Disease. Some people have only one, and others have many.

• Small red bumps at the site of the tick bite.
• Bull’s-eye rash – circular rash that continues to grow and can appear anywhere from one day to one month after the tick bite.
• Fatigue and body-aches
• Sharp pains in the the joints
• In the late stages, difficulty sleeping, concentrating, and remembering things

How can I prevent Lyme Disease?

• Wear long pants and shirts when walking in wooded areas to cover most of the skin.
• Use insect repellants which contain 10-30% DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics have stated that this is safe for children down to 2 months old.
• Check your child’s skin and hair for ticks after they have been out in wooded areas.
• If you child has a tick bite, remove the tick as soon as possible with tweezers. A tick that is removed after less than 24 to 48 hours is less likely to transmit Lyme Disease

How do I find out if my child has Lyme Disease?

A blood test can tell whether your child was exposed to Lyme disease. Your doctor may decide to check the blood test or may simply treat with antibiotics to prevent infection.