Contents
- Bites and bites – are they dangerous to health and life?
- Bites and bites and anaphylactic shock
- Bites and bites – the most common symptoms
- Mosquito bite – is it dangerous?
- Fluff bite – how to deal with it?
- Tick bite – first aid
- Wasp sting – what does the trail look like?
- Bee sting – characteristic symptoms
- Snake bite – should we be afraid of anything?
- Spider bite – is it dangerous to life and health?
- Bedbug bite – how to get rid of bedbugs in your home?
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
We are not only exposed to a bite when we go outside. At home, we can also get stung by insects. Typically, there will be a characteristic red mark on the body that itches. However, these are not the only symptoms that can occur after a bite by a fluff, tick or mosquito. So we decided to check which bites are the most dangerous. We look at insects and snakes as well.
Bites and bites – are they dangerous to health and life?
Insect bites and bites are usually associated with pain caused by partial damage to the skin tissue, as well as the introduction of foreign proteins into the blood. Most often, apart from a few characteristic symptoms (red and itchy skin), nothing happens, and after a few days the spot disappears. However, this is not always the case. Especially since there are people allergic to insect venoms (e.g. bees).
- Find out about the most common causes of insect venom allergy
It should also be remembered that some insects can transmit dangerous diseases that threaten human health and life (e.g. ticks). For this reason, whenever we are bitten by a fluff, mosquito or spider, we should keep an eye on the wound.
Bites and bites and anaphylactic shock
Anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis) can be directly life threatening. It is a strong reaction of the body to contact with an allergen also recognized as an allergenic factor. As a result of anaphylactic shock, mast cells are activated by the production of IgE antibodies.
Most often, a strong allergic reaction is caused by drugs (mainly antibiotics), as well as food products. The third group of factors leading directly to anaphylactic shock is insect venom. For this reason, bites and bites, especially by bees, wasps and mosquitoes, can be very dangerous. People with coronary heart disease, asthma or those with high blood pressure are most at risk.
Bites and bites – the most common symptoms
The most common symptoms after a bite or bite are skin inflammation, including:
- Redness;
- Swelling;
- Itch;
- Local inflammation.
For such milder symptoms, you can use, for example, Herbapol Insect Bite Gel. You can buy it at an attractive price on Medonet Market. Also try BIO Propolis Soothing Oil for stings and burns Propolia BeeYes with antiseptic properties.
If bitten by a large number of flies or mosquitoes, fever, general body weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain may occur. If these symptoms appear or persist for at least a day, you should visit your GP as well as an allergist who will need to do an allergy test and choose the right antihistamines for immediate relief.
Mosquito bite – is it dangerous?
Mosquitoes (or actually mosquitoes) are especially active in late spring and summer. They most often attack in the evening and in places where it is humid (e.g. at a lake). After a mosquito bite, a slight swelling appears, which may be accompanied by redness and itching of the skin.
It is not uncommon for several bubbles to appear side by side.
Usually a mosquito bite is not dangerous, but itching and the accompanying swelling may indicate an allergy to mosquito saliva. In this case, it is worth using an ointment with panthenol or aloe to overcome the symptoms.
- Check how you can protect yourself against mosquitoes?
Fluff bite – how to deal with it?
The fluff saliva is toxic. After a bite, swelling often appears, and in extreme cases, fever may occur. Babies and people in alcoholic coma after a nap bite can contract the dangerous harrara disease, which leads to pulmonary edema. To deal with fluff, it’s best to use repellants that also work against mosquitoes and ticks.
In order to relieve itching and reduce the urge to scratch, it is worth using the Mini-Click soothing the symptoms of insect bites, which you can buy at a favorable price on Medonet Market.
- Also read: Fluff bite – bothersome, but not dangerous
Tick bite – first aid
A tick bite can be very dangerous, so after returning from a forest, meadow or city park, it is worth checking if an arachnid has stuck to the skin. The tick can infect us with Lyme disease, so if we spot it, we have to remove it immediately. People who cannot or are afraid to do so should go to the emergency room. After removing the tick from the skin, observe the place where it has stuck. If we notice a characteristic erythema migrans, we must make an appointment with a doctor, who will (probably) give us a referral for Lyme disease tests.
- Find out what to do after a tick bite
Have a question about ticks or tick-borne diseases? Send them to the following address: [email protected]. You will find a daily updated list of answers HERE: Ticks and Lyme disease – frequently asked questions and answers.
Wasp sting – what does the trail look like?
A wasp sting is accompanied by tremendous pain and swelling. People who are allergic to wasp venom may also develop itching, rash, abdominal pain, breathing problems, and uncontrolled muscle contractions. The wasp bite can be recognized by the fact that we did not find the sting at the site of the sting.
Apply a cooling compress to the reddened area.
It is also very important to deal with an insect attack.
You can also make a vinegar wrap. Specialist help will be needed in the case of multiple stings, allergies, as well as stings around the face and throat.
- What should first aid after a wasp sting look like?
Bee sting – characteristic symptoms
At the beginning, it is worth noting that only worker bee can sting us (female, because males do not have a sting). Being allergic to bee venom is life-threatening. In the absence of allergies, red swelling will appear.
After a bee stings, wash the wound with a disinfectant. People who are allergic may experience hives, swelling and stomach pain. In the worst stage, wheezing and cyanosis will appear, eventually leading to anaphylactic shock.
- Check what symptoms occur with a bee sting
Snake bite – should we be afraid of anything?
The only poisonous snake that occurs in Poland is the viper. Its venom contains neurotoxins that cause paralysis of the nervous system, hyaluronidase, thanks to which the venom penetrates the tissues faster, and haemolysin – damages blood vessels. It also directly affects the heart muscle. After a snake bite, symptoms resembling anaphylactic shock may appear.
The viper bite is very characteristic – two red dots will appear on the body, 5-10 mm apart. If we notice them, and also see petechiae with serum, and our lymph nodes begin to grow in size, we should call an ambulance as soon as possible.
- Learn about the factors that influence the severity of a snake bite
Spider bite – is it dangerous to life and health?
The bite of a spider can be recognized very easily – two spots appear on the body 1-2 mm apart. The injection site can be very sore and it can also be itchy. It poses the greatest threat to children and people allergic to spider venom. A bite in the area of the face will also be dangerous.
In order to reduce the discomfort associated with a spider bite, it is worth trying the Calendula liniment with betulin for skin problems, which supports the healing of wounds and irritations.
However, most spiders found in Poland are not venomous. They only bite in the face of danger (especially when we try to catch them).
- Check if the bite of the home elbow is a threat to life and health
Bedbug bite – how to get rid of bedbugs in your home?
Bed bugs are human parasites – they feed on blood. They most often attack at night while sleeping, so if we have bedbugs at home, we can wake up in the morning with red itchy patches on our body.
Parasites are difficult to find during the day because they hide in shaded places (they can be found, for example, behind a painting or in furniture upholstery). Bedbugs are very difficult to get rid of from home. The best way is to carry out professional disinfection.
- Find out how to protect yourself from bedbugs