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Insect bites

 

With summer just around the corner, it is time to talk about insect bites as they are more frequent during this time than the rest of the year.

The symptoms of such a bite are redness in the area, swelling, a burning sensation, and pain . In case of an allergic reaction, the signs are much more serious and require urgent medical attention: difficulty breathing, feeling weak, swelling of the face and tightness in the throat.

The most frequent insect bites

Below we review the insect bites that occur most frequently among both adults and children, with special emphasis on symptoms and treatment.

Mosquito bite

This type of bite is the most common of all. It occurs especially during the summer season and affects people of all ages and both genders equally.

Symptoms

Identifying a mosquito bite is relatively easy as the signs are very clear. Generally, the area where the bite has occurred takes on a reddened color and becomes slightly inflamed; In addition, it generates a great itching sensation, and even burning due to the saliva that mosquitoes give off when they suck the blood as food.

Treatment

Although a mosquito bite is itchy and very annoying, the first essential advice is not to scratch . In addition, to speed up the healing process it is essential that the area is always clean and dry; it is best to wash the area frequently with warm water and mild soap to remove the mosquito’s saliva .

A good idea to alleviate the symptoms of this type of bite is to place ice in the area where it has occurred; It should be placed wrapped in a cloth or in a plastic bag so that the skin is not burned.

Bee sting

The bee sting is one of the most painful that exists ; In addition, it can sometimes lead to an allergic reaction that can trigger serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing.

When the bee stings the skin, it injects an irritating poison , which generates a very intense sensation of pain, as well as redness and inflammation. This poison is not harmful to the vast majority of people; however, if the individual is allergic to the venom of this insect, it can be fatal if medical assistance is not requested immediately.

Symptoms

The bee sting usually causes inflammation around the area where it has occurred, as well as a reddish spot and very sharp pain . It is very important to avoid scratching the area as the symptoms can worsen considerably, leading to an infection.

It is important to see a doctor when the following signs appear: difficulty in both breathing and swallowing saliva, dizziness, swelling of the face or throat, and even fainting . These symptoms are typical of an allergic reaction.

Treatment

Before a bee sting, the first step is to extract the stinger with the help of a forceps. Then the affected area should be washed with plenty of warm water and mild soap. To reduce inflammation and soothe pain, ice wrapped in a cloth can be applied to avoid burning the skin.

Spider bite

Contrary to what the vast majority of people believe, spiders do not bite, they do bite. Its “bite” generates a mound that can be from small to large. The truth is that it is very similar in appearance to the bite of other insects. Some types of spider, such as the black widow, show two punctures together; also the brown recluse spider, whose bite is shaped like a bullseye.

Symptoms

Although there are many people who have real steam to spiders, the truth is that these, unlike other insects, do not bite people if they do not feel threatened. The bites of the vast majority of spiders are completely harmless. However, those of some species such as the black widow or the brown recluse can be very dangerous, even life threatening .

The symptoms of this type of sting are very similar to those generated by other insects such as bees: redness and intense pain in the area , as well as inflammation that gradually decreases over the days.

Treatment

Spider bite treatment is relatively straightforward. You just have to wash the affected area with plenty of warm water and mild soap ; in this way, the area is clean and the risks of infection are minimized. If the pain is very bad, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Tick ​​bite

The tick is an external parasite whose main source of food is the blood of other animals. There are no more and no less than 850 different species of ticks , the vast majority of which are completely harmless. The vast majority of bites by these insects occur from higher to October, generally in wooded or tall grass areas.

Tick ​​bites in the vast majority of cases occur in areas of folds, such as the armpits, the navel, the buttocks … They can also occur on the scalp.

Symptoms

When the bite in question occurs, the tick inoculates through its saliva a series of anesthetic substances, so that it is painless . Thus, the only signs that occur are a slight itching or redness in the area.

It is essential to thoroughly check all areas of the body after having been in wooded areas during the summer season. And it is that, the longer the tick remains on the individual, the risk of transmitting a certain disease increases.

Treatment

Treatment of a tick bite is to remove it as quickly as possible. To do this, you have to grasp the insect as close to the skin as possible using fine-tipped tweezers and pulling upwards without squashing its body. The use of home remedies such as petroleum jelly or oil are not a good idea because they can make the tick contract, making it difficult to remove and injecting a greater number of infectious substances into the individual’s body.

Once the tick is removed, the next step is to clean the area with mild soap and water. And finally, apply an antiseptic to avoid any possible infection.

Flea bite

Fleas are small insects that, although in the vast majority of cases affect animals, they can also occur in humans. Their bites are very easy to identify because they show a small red circle with a darker spot right in the center.

Although in the vast majority of cases the flea bite does not pose any danger to health and is only somewhat annoying, in certain cases it can transmit different diseases.

Symptoms

Differentiating flea bites from other insects is easy. While others such as mosquitoes usually bite in areas that are exposed to the open air, the flea can bite anywhere on the body . In addition, the bite surrounds itself with other bites; And if the flea is characterized by something, it is by biting several times.

Another of the symptoms of a bite of this type is that the lump is somewhat harder than the one that appears due to a mosquito bite.

Treatment

The most important thing during the healing process is that the area is completely clean. For this you have to wash it very well with plenty of cold water and soap . Then it is thoroughly dried to avoid any remaining moisture.

Tips to prevent insect bites

Here are a series of tips that are worth taking into account to avoid insect bites to a great extent.

  1. In the first place, it is essential to avoid those places where insects generally have their nests, as well as those to which they frequently go: flowering gardens, rafts with water …
  2. The time when the vast majority of insect bites occur is at night. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid nights out as much as possible.
  3. Maintaining proper body hygiene is key since certain strong odors, such as sweating, attract insects.
  4. It is advisable not to use colonies that give off a great smell of perfume since it can attract certain insects.
  5. Regarding the garments, it is best to use those that completely cover the skin. They must be of light and matte colors.
  6. Inside the home, if the windows are open, it is advisable to turn off the lights since some types of insects, such as mosquitoes, are attracted to light.

Anaphylaxis

In the vast majority of cases, insect bites do not pose a health hazard. However, there are people who suffer an allergic reaction of a serious nature ; This is what is known as anaphylaxis. It leads to complications that require urgent medical assistance as they are life threatening.

Reactions that arise from an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite occur very quickly and can affect the entire body.

The bite of certain spiders such as the black widow or the brown recluse, can be fatal for people of all ages and with any type of physical condition and state of health.

Therefore, when faced with a certain insect bite, it is best to identify it and establish the appropriate treatment.

 

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Hello Readers, I am Nikki Bella a Psychology student. I have always been concerned about human behavior and the mental processes that lead us to act and think the way we do. My collaboration as an editor in the psychology area of ​​Well Being Pole has allowed me to investigate further and expand my knowledge in the field of mental health; I have also acquired great knowledge about physical health and well-being, two fundamental bases that are directly related and are part of all mental health.

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