Insect Stings and Bites Treatment Doctor Q&A

The most common signs and symptoms of an insect sting:

– Local skin reactions at the site or surrounding the sting, including:

– Pain
– Swelling
– Redness
– Itching
– Warmth
– Small amounts of bleeding or drainage
– Hives

– More generalized symptoms that will indicate a more serious and possibly life-threatening allergic reaction include:

– Coughing
– Tickling of the throat
– Tightness in the throat
– Breathing issues or wheezing
– Nausea
– Vomiting
– Dizziness
– Fainting
– Sweating
– Anxiety
– Itching and rash

Treatment for an insect sting will be best determined by your physician. Call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room department immediately if you or your child were stung in the mouth, nose, or throat areas or if you notice any signs of a systemic or generalized reaction.

Many insect bites are harmless, but depending on which insect bit you and your past medical history, an insect bite can lead to complications. To know whether to be concerned about an insect bite or not will depend on what bit you, how you react to the insect bite, and whether or not the area becomes infected.

Let’s review some bug bites you need to be worried about:

Tick Bites

While some ticks do not carry pathogens, others can transmit infections like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Most will develop a bulls-eye rash when infected; however, the other signs of a tick-borne illness may include:

– Chills
– Joint and muscle aches
– Swollen lymph nodes
– Nausea and vomiting
– Stomach pain
– Fever
– Red or purple-spotted rash
– Fatigue
– Headaches

Mosquitos

Certain mosquitos carry infections with them like the well-known West Nile Virus, Zika virus, dengue fever, and malaria. It is important to watch for any warning signs of a mosquito-borne disease including:

– Fever
– Joint pain
– Red-itchy eyes
– Aches and pains
– Nausea
– Rash

Warning signs of infections from other insect bites will include:

– Fever
– Chills
– Swelling, redness, or red streaking found around the bitten area
– Cold sweats
– Nausea
– Trouble concentrating
– Blisters, pus, or drainage
– Swollen lymph nodes
– The area that is warm or even painful to the touch

While you may not become infected from an insect bite, many may develop an allergic reaction to an insect bite as specific bugs can cause allergens to be set off; these insect bite allergic reactions can cause:

– Hives
– Itching or swelling in the area beyond where the bite or sting occurred
– Abdominal cramping
– Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea
– Tightness in the chest or having trouble breathing
– Swelling of the tongue or throat
– Difficulty swallowing

Most insect bites or stings cause nothing more than minor discomfort to the individual they have targeted. Still, some encounters can become deadly, especially if the individual has a severe allergic reaction to the insect’s venom from the bite or sting.

The body’s immediate response to the bite or sting can cause your immune system to kick into high gear with a response that will include redness and swelling at the site of the bite or sting.

The main difference between an insect bite and a sting will ultimately depend on which insect did the harm. If the insect has a stinger, most likely you would have been stung, if the insect does not, you were probably bitten. However, the reaction to either is usually the same as showing signs and symptoms in relation to the venom targeting your body.

A mosquito bite is well known for leaving small, round, puffy bumps that will appear almost immediately after you’ve been bitten. The bump then will become red, hard, swollen, and itchy, especially if you have multiple bites in the same general area. For more information about the symptoms and treatment of insect bites, contact us. We serve patients from Woodbridge VA, Bethel VA, Dale City VA, Old Town Alexandria VA, Huntington VA, Fort Hunt VA, Arlington VA, Mclean VA, Idylwood VA, Kingstowne Center Alexandria VA, Franconia VA, Newington VA, Falls Church VA, Annandale VA, Tysons VA, Richmond Hwy Alexandria VA, Pentagon City Arlington VA, Seven Corners VA, Lake Barcroft, VA and surrounding areas.