Insect Bites and Stings

Insect bites and stings are painful and there are many insects native to the US that carry potentially fatal venom. Dangerous biting  insects include spiders such as the black widow, brown recluse, and some tarantulas; stinging insects include scorpions, wasps, and bees. Children and the elderly are most at risk but even so, stings and insect bites rarely kill unless there is an allergic reaction. Stings in the mouth or throat are also dangerous because the swelling they cause can block the airway. In all cases, avoidance is the best defense.

STINGS AND BITES. A sting is felt as a sudden sharp pain and appears as a raised white patch on a reddened area of skin. A bite is less painful and usually causes mind discomfort and skin inflammation.

POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING RESPONSE TO STINGS AND BITES
Anaphylaxis
This is an  allergic reaction to a substance with which the body is in contact (see Anaphylactic shock). Bee stings are among the most common cause. Anaphylaxis can develop within seconds and can be fatal.

Multiple stings
While one sting is unlikely to cause problems on a major scale for an otherwise healthy adult, several stings may provoke a dangerous response.

Effects of Venom
Some venoms kill the cells around the bite or sting mark, are slow to heal, and leave deep scars. In rare cases, they can be fatal. Other venoms affect the nervous system and require an anti-venom medicine or they may be fatal.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A LIFE-THREATENING REACTION

• Difficulty breathing
• Swollen lips, tongue, and throat
• Blotchy skin
• Victim has felt a bite  or sting (sometimes this may be described as a scratch)
• Pain, swelling, and reddening  over the site of the bite or sting

Treatment

1. Monitor and maintain airway and breathing. Be prepared to resuscitate if necessary.
2. If the victim is a known sufferer of anaphlaxis, he may have an auto-injector that contains life-saving medicine. Help him to find this as quickly as possible and, if necessary, help to administer it.
3. If the victim is conscious, help into the most comfortable position (this will usually be sitting up).
4. If the sting was in the mouth, give the victim an ice cube to suck or frequent sips of cold water.
5. Call 911 and explain what has happened, identifying the insect if possible.
6. Make an attempt to identify what the victim has been bitten or stung by but do not put yourself at risk.

ORDINARY BITES AND STINGS

Treatment

1. If you can see the sting, remove it by flicking with the edge of a piece of plastic such as a credit card, or with tweezers. Take care not to squeeze the poison sac at  the end of the sting.
2. Wash the affected area to reduce the risk of infection entering the wound.
3. Apply a cold compress to the site to reduce pain and swelling.
4. Remove rings, watches, or anything likely to cause a constriction if the area swells.
5. Advise the victim to see a doctor  if pain persists or there are any signs of infection.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Reddening, pain, and swelling over the site of the sting
• Person has felt a bite or sting
• Sting left in the skin (if from a bee)

MORE ON BITES AND STINGS

The general guidance for dealing with bites and stings is: to monitor airway and breathing; be prepared to resuscitate if necessary; to support and reassure the injured person; to offer relief with a cold compress; and to avoid infection by cleaning and covering the wound. In addition, there are some specific treatments that may be useful for certain types of bites and stings.

TICKS

Ticks are tiny bloodsucking creatures found in long grass that attach themselves to animals and humans firmly be embedding their mouthparts into the skin. Ticks cause discomfort and can transmit disease. Although simple to remove, great care should be taken because the mouthparts could remain in the skin if removed incorrectly. Use a flat-ended pair of tweezers or gloved fingers and grasp the tick at its head end, as close to the skin as possible. Using even pressure, pull the tick straight up, avoiding twisting and squeezing the tick's body. Once it has been removed, clean and cover the bitten area.

MOSQUITOES

Mosquitoes are small airborne insects. They feed on animals, including humans, by injecting a minute amount of anesthetic and a chemical that stops blood from clotting and then sucking blood from their host until they are full. Unfortunately this can leave a small inflamed area that is uncomfortable but not life-threatening. This can be easily treated by a cold compress.

In many countries mosquitoes carry malaria, which can be fatal. Should you visit countries that have malaria areas, you must seek advice from your doctor on how to protect yourself and which antimalarial drugs are best suited to you.

JELLYFISH

There are a few species of jellyfish that are poisonous. Generally those that are poisonous have long tentacles that sway freely beneath their bodies and contain stingers that inject chemicals into anyone that should come too close. Although not normally fatal, they can cause extreme pain that leads to panic, especially in children, which can lead to further danger in the water. A sting may also cause anaphylactic shock in some people.

These stings can be treated by calming the victim and then applying alcohol or vinegar to the affected area for a minimum of 3 minutes or until the pain subsides.

Should the victim suffer a severe allergic reaction, emergency medical aid should be sought.

TOADFISH

There are many marine creatures that can cause pain and infection if you step on them. Toadfish are found off the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts. They are small fish that bury themselves in the sand, usually in shallows where they hunt. They have sharp spines on their dorsal fin that can inject poison into anyone who steps on them.

Although the pain is extreme, it can be quickly relieved by placing the affected area in a bowl of water as hot as the sufferer can stand for 20 minutes or until the pain subsides. Make sure you test the hot water with your elbow first because otherwise you may scald the skin.

If the victim suffers a severe reaction, emergency medical aid should be sought.

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Frederick Luneta is a 24-year old guy and he is a Computer Engineering student and a young part time blogger. Currently lives in the Philippines. He knows a lot about computer.