Can you pop bites

Your doctor may want you to save the tick so that its type can be identified. After a bee or wasp sting, if you can see the stinger, remove it as quickly as possible to lessen your exposure to the venom.

Wash the sting or bite with soap and water and keep it clean. Apply some calamine lotion or a paste of water and baking soda unless the sting is near your eyes. Put an ice pack on the affected area for 15 minutes every few hours or so, or cover the sting with a cold compress. Apply an antibiotic cream to prevent further infection.

If you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, see your doctor for a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector. In case of a severe allergic reaction, use the epinephrine auto-injector and call An epinephrine auto-injector is easy to use — your doctor or pharmacist will explain how.

If you're severely allergic to stings, talk to an allergist about getting venom immunotherapy shots. How do you know when a sting or bite is too much for you to handle alone? If you have any symptoms of a systemic allergic reaction, call right away. If an epinephrine auto-injector is available, it should be used immediately.

Symptoms to watch for include:. In the case of a black widow or brown recluse spider bite, or if you have any doubt about what kind of spider bit you and you're feeling sick, develop a blister, or have cramps, get to the emergency department immediately.

Take the spider with you if you were able to kill it safely. If bites or stings get infected or if an open sore or blister refuses to heal, make an appointment with your family doctor. Human beings don't have to sit around and wait to be a sample on the insect buffet. Here are some steps we can take to protect ourselves:.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Bee and Wasp Stings For most people, being stung by a bee is a minor nuisance. Flea and Tick Bites Fleas can be lumped into the irritating-but-not-serious category as well. Page Mosquito Bites Mosquitoes hang out anywhere people, food, or pools of still water are found. Spider Bites Most spider bites are minor, although they can cause mild swelling or allergic reactions. Page What to Do For most varieties of bug bites and stings, antihistamines will help to stop itching and lessen swelling, and acetaminophen can help relieve any pain.

Serious Stuff — Get Medical Help How do you know when a sting or bite is too much for you to handle alone? Symptoms to watch for include: shortness of breath wheezing redness or hives swelling of the face, lips, or tongue feeling like your throat is closing up nausea vomiting weakness In the case of a black widow or brown recluse spider bite, or if you have any doubt about what kind of spider bit you and you're feeling sick, develop a blister, or have cramps, get to the emergency department immediately.

Page Preventing Bites and Stings Human beings don't have to sit around and wait to be a sample on the insect buffet. Here are some steps we can take to protect ourselves: Prevent flea infestations by treating your house including all carpets, furniture, and pets regularly during the warmer months. Frequent vacuuming can also help. Avoid mosquitoes by staying away from areas where mosquitoes breed, such as still pools or ponds, during hot weather.

Remove standing water from birdbaths, buckets, etc. When in tick country, try to stay in the center of trails, and avoid woody areas with high grass. Check yourself for ticks every few hours, and as soon as you come inside. Remove any you find immediately. The most important places to check are behind your ears, on your scalp, on the back of your neck, in your armpits, in your groin area, and behind your knees. Ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter treatments that can help, such as creams for itching and antihistamines.

If you have a more serious reaction, your GP may prescribe other medication or refer you to an allergy clinic for specialist assessment and treatment. You should see your GP if you've been bitten or stung and there's a lot of swelling and blistering or if there's pus, which indicates an infection.

You're more likely to be bitten or stung if you work outdoors or regularly take part in outdoor activities, such as camping or hiking. Using insect repellent and keeping your skin covered when outdoors will help you avoid being bitten or stung. Try not to panic if you come across wasps, hornets or bees, and back away slowly. Don't wave your arms around or swat at them. There's a risk of catching diseases such as malaria from insect bites in certain parts of the world, such as:.

It's therefore important to be aware of any risks before travelling to these areas, and to get any necessary medication or vaccinations. We will not reply to your feedback.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers. The nidirect privacy notice applies to any information you send on this feedback form.

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence daera-ni. If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below. Call Email dcs. Call Email customerservice. Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges infrastructure-ni.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit. For queries about your identity check, email nida nidirect. For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani accessni. For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency. For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre. If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section. If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads. The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website. For further information see terms and conditions. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Enter a valid email address.

Lymphangitis can be severe and may spread quickly. Anyone experiencing these symptoms must go to a doctor. A doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics to treat the issue. Learn more about the lymphatic system here. Lyme disease is the most common insect-borne disease in the U. Infected blacklegged ticks transfer this disease to humans through their bite.

If left untreated, the infection can spread to the heart, joints, and nervous system. Learn more about tick bites here. The most common treatment for an infected insect bite is a course of antibiotics. Depending on the severity of the infection, a doctor may prescribe oral or IV antibiotics. A person must take all of the prescribed antibiotics.

It is essential not to skip any doses or stop before finishing the course, even if the symptoms have already improved. Placing a cold compress on the insect bite, taking oral pain relief medication, or using an anesthetic cream can help ease any discomfort. Learn about how to deal with insect and spider bites here.

There are several things a person can do to prevent insect bites. These include :. If an insect does bite occur, there are several things a person can do to prevent infection. Learn how to identify an infected wound here. Some people can have an allergic reaction to an insect bite.

If this happens, a person should seek medical help. The main sign of an allergic reaction is swelling of the skin around the bite that lasts longer than 24 hours. Here are some other signs of an allergic reaction to an insect bite:. It is worth noting that insect bites rarely cause allergic reactions. An allergic reaction to an insect bite can be severe. When this occurs, a doctor may prescribe oral antihistamines or pain relievers.

A person should see a doctor if they believe they have an infected insect bite. Early treatment of the infection can prevent further complications. A person should seek emergency medical help if they are showing signs of an infection and also have one of the following symptoms:. Learn about five poisonous insects here. Insect bites are common and are often not a cause for concern. They will usually go away after a few days without the need for treatment.