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Summer is in full swing, and with it the problem of biting insects has returned. Although usually such bites are not dangerous, and their effects – swelling and itching – disappear after a few days, sometimes they are associated with pain, discomfort and other unpleasant ailments, and even life-threatening. Find out what you need to be careful about.
- Holidays are the time when we are more interested in insect bites or arachnids
- The best way to minimize the effects of bites is prevention
- However, this is not always the case. So what should we do when we are bitten by a mosquito, bee, wasp or tick?
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
Bees, wasps, spiders, mosquitoes, flies, ticks, runners, hornets. It is worth being prepared for their possible bites, especially in the youngest ones, especially since in their case we cannot be sure if they will not develop a severe allergic reaction.
If we know that the child is allergic to insect venom, be sure to have an injection of adrenaline (the so-called EpiPen), which should be administered immediately after the bite.
“It is also worth getting antihistamines, which are not a substitute for adrenaline, but in emergency situations they will alleviate the symptoms of shock until the arrival of the ambulance. The moment the bite occurs for the first time and we do not know if a child may have a serious allergic reaction, observation is key. The most common symptoms of anaphylactic shock are rapid heart rate, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea, and sometimes difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness. In such a situation, we should immediately call an ambulance – advises Grażyna Jędrzejczyk, a pediatrician from the CMP Medical Center.
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These are, of course, extreme situations, but it is also worth being prepared for seemingly trivial ones. Thanks to this, we will not only bring relief to the child, but also prevent the spread of diseases transmitted by some insects.
Mosquito bite: how to mitigate the effects
Although they are usually not dangerous, they can be bothersome. Who doesn’t know itchy blisters from mosquito bites? Persistent itching often does not allow you to stop scratching, even into the blood. Sometimes there is also swelling, which may indicate an allergy to the insect’s saliva.
When a mosquito bites:
- use a gel that blocks the release of histamine (remember that not all preparations are suitable for children, so read the leaflet before using them)
- smear the skin at the site of the bite with panthenol or aloe ointment
- relief can be brought, among others, by cool compresses.
You can also use bite preparations that will alleviate unwanted symptoms, such as Herbapol Insect Bite Gel. Antiseptic effect has Maruna Pyrethrum herb, which can be found on Medonet Market.
Wasp sting: what to do
It is painful. It is worth knowing that wasps can be aggressive, and because they do not leave a sting in the victim’s body, they can bite several times.
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When a wasp stings:
- wash the bite site with soap and water
- place a compress with vinegar solution in place of the sting – wasp venom is alkaline, so vinegar will neutralize its effect.
A bee sting: how to react
A bee sting is often confused with a wasp sting due to the similar appearance of insects. The method of stinging, however, is quite different – while a wasp can bite multiple times, a bee can bite only once, leaving its sting behind in its victim’s body, which exudes toxins.
«In the event of a bee sting a child, we should remove the sting as soon as possible by levering it with a flat object (eg a disinfected credit card or ID card) and gently pulling it upwards. We absolutely must not pinch the skin around the sting and use tweezers! In the bee’s sting there is an additional venom reservoir, the violation of which causes the release of more toxins »- warns Grażyna Jędrzejczyk from the CMP Medical Center.
When a bee stings:
- remove the sting
- wash the bite site with soap and water
- apply a cold compress to the swelling
- watch your baby carefully for possible signs of an allergic reaction.
Tick bite: what to do
Their bite is painless because they inject an anesthetic substance under the skin by biting. Therefore, after returning from a walk or playing outside, we should carefully examine the child’s skin.
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When you find a tick clung to the skin:
- remove it as soon as possible – time matters: the sooner you do it, the lower the risk of infection with tick-borne Lyme disease
- absolutely do not lubricate the tick with butter or any other fatty substance that is supposed to make it easier to pull it out: the tick may then vomit and introduce infectious pathogens into the child’s body
- in order to remove the tick, it is worth using specialized tools, which are worth getting at the pharmacy: thanks to this, you can avoid complications, i.e. a situation where part of the arachnid remains in the body
- disinfect the bite site.
Insect and arachnid bites – how to prevent?
It is impossible to completely avoid bites in summer, but you can try to minimize the risk. Here’s what you can do as part of prevention:
- when playing outdoors, where there are a lot of insects, it is better that the child does not wear bright, colorful clothes that attract insects
- although this may be pleasant and healthy for the feet, it is better for your child not to walk barefoot on the grass
- for trips to the forest or to the meadow, take outerwear that will protect the exposed skin, preferably in light colors so that you can see the insects well
- use insect repellants: remember that not all of them are suitable for the youngest – ask a pharmacist
- if you suspect that your child may be allergic to insect venom, take him to an allergist who will conduct allergy tests and desensitization if necessary
- vaccinate the child against tick-borne encephalitis
- when going out into nature, have a set of medicines and equipment useful in case of a bite.
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