Ouchy, Itchy!

Preventing, Recognizing and Treating Insect Bites and Stings

By Aneema Van Groenou, M.D.

Springtime is prime time for insect bites and stings. Though most bites itch briefly and resolve themselves quickly, some bites can cause illness or allergic reactions, which can be dangerous. You should know what to look for and, more important, how to protect your little ones from getting bitten in the first place.

Most insect bites are simply annoying. But some bites, like that of a Lyme-disease-infected tick or a malaria-carrying mosquito, can cause disease. If you are spending time outdoors around your neighborhood, chances are you won't even have to think about insects. Insects that carry disease are rare in urban areas in the United States, even when there are a lot of bugs. You can check with your doctor or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site to learn what insects and illnesses exist in a specific area.

A mosquito, chigger, flea or ant bite feels irritated. At the bite site you will notice a raised red area, typically less than half an inch across, called a wheal. The wheal itches because it causes inflammation in the skin. Within a day or two, this will go away and the itch will also go away.

Sometimes, if these bites are scratched vigorously and the skin gets damaged, the area can become infected. Look for areas of worsening redness, pus discharge, red streaks and increasing pain or warmth. If it looks like the bite is becoming infected, see a doctor.

Most spider bites look and heal just like mosquito bites. A few rare spiders can cause more serious reactions. Brown recluse spiders (and their relatives) are rare and hide out in basements and woodpiles. These bites can cause serious local reactions. You'll notice that the bite site starts looking infected and becomes more painful.

Want to see more?

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• Talk about it!