The majority of bites and stings will mend on their own without an appointment with a health professional. There are numerous things you'll be able to do in order to control pain and itching and avoid infection from an insect bite or sting.
After an Insect Bite or Sting
Once you are stung, attempt to move away from the biting bug. Bees can notify other bees, making them more likely to bite or sting. Stay as calm and tranquil as possible. Motion will advance the venom within the blood even more.
It is crucial to take out the stinger as fast as possible following a sting. Even a lapse of a second or two in withdrawing the stinger is likely to enhance the level of venom you take in. In less than twenty seconds following a sting, ninety percent of the poison is already injected into the body.
Getting Rid of the Stinger Immediately
Take the stinger out with your fingers. Scrape it out with something that is readily obtainable, like a stiff sheet of paper, butter knife, or credit card. Don't waste time attempting to get something special to remove the stinger. Also, remember that venom can't be "squirted" out of the stinger.
If you have been bitten on the limb or arm, lower the leg immediately after the sting to delay the advancement of poison. Hours later, if there is swelling, you can raise the leg to help decrease swelling.
Relieving Insect Bite and Sting Symptoms
Apply an ice pack to the bite or sting for fifteen to twenty minutes once per hour for the initial six hours. Always put a fabric between the skin and the ice bag, and hold firmly on all the edges of the affected region. Don't use ice for more than fifteen to twenty minutes at once, and do not “doze off” while having ice on your skin.
If not using ice, place a cool, damp fabric on the bite or sting for approximately six hours. Following the first six hours, if puffiness is not there, try applying heat on the area for comfort, and use a over-the-counter drug for easement of severe itching, inflammation, and swelling.
An antihistamine taken orally, like Benadryl® or Chlor-Trimeton®, can help control itching, inflammation, and swelling. Don't administer antihistamines to patients younger than one year old unless the health professional advises you to.
A spray of topical anesthetic that has benzocaine, like Solarcaine®, can help keep down pain. If the skin responds to the spray in a negative way, discontinue using it.
Hydrocortisone ointment or calamine cream put on the skin can help control itching and redness. Do not put the lotion on patients younger than two years, unless the physician advises you to do so. Don't use in the rectal or vaginal region in individuals younger than twelve years, unless the doctor recommends it.
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Getting Blisters from Infections
References:
Jerrard, DA. (1996). "Emergency department management of insect stings." The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 14; (4): 429-33. July.
Raquel G. Hernande, and Bernard A. Cohen. (2006). "Insect Bite–Induced Hypersensitivity and the SCRATCH Principles: A New Approach to Papular Urticaria." Pediatrics. (118); 1: e189-e196. July.
Naheed Ali - Naheed Ali, M.D., is a nationally recognized author, speaker and health advocate who began writing professionally in 2005. Additional info ...
