Ouch! When you're bitten or stung by an insect, it can really be painful. How do you treat bites and stings to get rid of the pain? How do you make the other symptoms go away? Here are some tips based on the kind of insect involved:
Ticks
When removing a tick, be very careful to grip the tick at the head so other parts of the tick (like the tick's jaws) aren't left behind to become infected. It is recommended to use a pair of tweezrers and to pinch the tick as close as possible to the skin to ensure the whole tick gets removed. Then, watch the area for a few days after to see if a bulls-eye pattern forms. If this happens, call a doctor immediately. This is a sign of Lyme disease.
Spiders
For spider bites, the best plan of action is to apply an ice pack to the bite and keep an eye out for any weird reactions. If possible, capture the spider and take it with you to an urgent care or emergency room if the bite victim starts getting sick. For spider bites from the brown recluse or the black widow
All Other Bites or Stings
Here are the steps for most instances of a bite or sting:
- Move away from the insect very slowly and calmly.
- Keep the stung person calm and quiet. This will help slow the spread of any venom and minimize the body's reaction to the bite as well as keep the person from panicking.
- If the stinger is left behind, remove it by scraping a credit card from where the stinger enters the skin towards the part that is above the skin. This will help prevent more venom from being pumped into the bite or sting.
- Apply ice to reduce swelling for 15 minutes every hour for up to six hours and follow up with a good cleaning and a dab of triple antibiotic ointment after any specific treatment is completed.
- Antihistamines and hydrocortisone cream can help reduce the symptoms from the bite or sting.
- Also, taking a bath in baking soda can help reduce itching.
Bite Allergies
Anaphylaxis is a bad reaction to an allergen. There may only be mere minutes to react before the victim enters a deadly shock state, (especially if the victim has a bite allergy). Symptoms include swelling of the lips, tongue and throat, problems breathing, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and similar signs. An EpiPen should be immediately administered if possible and the bite victim should be taken to the emergency room immediately. The best way to deal with bites or stings is to not get one. If you have a problem with bugs around your house or yard, getting professional help may be the best way to avoid problems down the road. At Breda Pest, only the sun outshines our service, making us the best professional for your bug problems. Contact us today for more details on getting the bugs out of your life.
