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WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN INSECT BITE? BEWARE OF INSECT, FLY AND BEE STINGS
Insects, ticks, bees, mosquitoes. Insect sting emergencies are among the most common problems due to the fact that we spend more time in nature in the summer season. Types, whether they are poisonous and whether an allergic reaction develops in an individual, determine the type and severity of symptoms that occur after an insect sting. It usually goes away in a short time with complaints such as itching, pain and swelling, and in some cases it can reach life-threatening dimensions. So what to do in case of an insect bite? Beware of insect, fly and bee stings.
Even if there are no reactions in the first hours of insect bites, serious health problems may develop even after hours or even days have passed. Stating that insect bites should be taken care of and should be checked by a doctor by contacting a health facility as soon as possible, iHealth member and JCI Antalya hospital Emergency Medicine Specialist Doctor described the most common insect stings in the summer, gave important recommendations and warnings.
Insect bites
Some of the insects such as bedbugs, fleas and centipedes, which usually have a painful effect, can cause an allergic reaction and blisters that collect water with regional irritation. It should be noted that the effect of an insect bite varies depending on the type of insect and the sensitivity of the person. Young children, those who have an allergic nature, pregnant women and the elderly are becoming more susceptible to insect bites. Insect species, especially those living in tropical regions, can carry serious diseases. If signs of inflammation such as abscesses and pus have formed in the bitten area and the symptoms have not passed within 2 days, this means that the insect sting is of a dangerous size and it is necessary to be admitted to the hospital without wasting time.
Symptoms of insect bites
– Itching, pain and swelling in the bitten area
– Discoloration, redness in the bitten area
– Urticaria, accumulation of water or pus in the bitten area
– Abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea
– Difficulty breathing
– Feeling of tightness in the chest
– Wheezing breathing
– Dizziness and difficulty swallowing
– Fainting and loss of consciousness
– Swelling with a diameter of 2.5 centimeters in the area where the insect bites
– Swelling in the mouth, throat or tongue.
What should be done?
If there is no allergic reaction, first aid treatment is usually sufficient against insect bites. Do not forget to use insecticides and gels to avoid further exposure to insect bites. Wash the area of the insect bite with soap and water. By applying ice to this area, you can reduce the pain and itching.
Tick bites
Ticks, which are more common in spring and summer, when they infect the body; they settle in the armpits, behind the ears, between the legs, behind the knees, in the groin or in the hairy areas. Unlike other types of pests that feed by sucking blood, they remain attached to the skin for up to 10 days after biting their host. Non-venomous tick bites are usually harmless and may not cause symptoms. Tick-borne diseases most often develop within a few days to a few weeks after a tick bite, and they can cause a variety of symptoms. In order for a tick to infect a person with a disease that it carries under normal conditions, it typically needs to be fed for 24 hours. For this reason, the sooner the tick can be identified and removed, the more positive results are obtained from the treatment. Diseases transmitted from ticks to human hosts can lead to serious problems. For this reason, even if there are no complaints, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible without any intervention in the tick bite.
Symptoms of a tick bite
– A red spot or rash on the bite site
– Fire
– Headache
– Neck stiffness
– Rash all over the body
– Fatigue
– Muscle or joint pain
– Nausea
– Swollen lymph nodes
– Bouts of chills and remittances.
How to take precautions?
When walking in open areas, forests, or areas where ticks are common, give preference to long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
Walking through the center of the road can reduce contact with ticks.
It will be effective to use a tick repellent beforehand when walking around the open ground.
It is also important that you take a shower and take a bath.
Decapitation of bee stings
The method of treatment of bee stings varies depending on the severity. While it is possible for most people to have treatment at home to relieve pain if they have any bee allergies or are exposed to multiple bee stings, serious consequences that require immediate treatment can develop. Therefore, if a bee sting, it is necessary to contact the medical institution and undergo an examination.
What are the symptoms of a bee sting?
The reactions that occur in bee stings differ from person to person. Some people may develop an allergy to the venom of bees called “venom”. If a large number of bees sting at the same time, then a toxic reaction is held.
Mild reactions; sudden burning, pain, redness, swelling.
Moderate reactions; excessive redness and gradually increasing swelling, which can persist for several days.
Severe allergic reactions: itching, redness, hives, coldness of the skin, shortness of breath, swelling of throat and tongue, nausea, vomiting, changes in heart rate, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, confusion and loss of consciousness. It is vitally important that urgent medical care is provided to people who have been exposed to these reactions.
What to do?
In non-allergic cases, what to do for a bee sting:
First, quickly decontaminate the bee’s needle. Attention! Removing the needle by squeezing the skin can burst the sac and cause more poison to contact the body. That’s why you need to act carefully and quickly. Thanks to its immediate removal, the aggravation of the reactions that will develop is prevented, since the poison released from the needle will be prevented. Tue.
Wash the place where the bee stung with cold water and soap. The cold water relaxes, while soap also helps to remove the remaining dirt or poison from the area. Be careful not to scratch the place where there is swelling and itching.
Applying an ice compress to the sensitive area is very effective in reducing the absorption of poison by the body and reducing swelling. However, caution! Putting ice directly on the skin can lead to burning. So it will be effective to wrap it in a towel and leave it for 20 minutes on the bitten area. If necessary, you can apply the compress repeatedly. If the growth of redness increases too much, it is worthwhile to get the support of a doctor.
If the inserted area is your arm or leg, placing it high provides support for reducing pain and swelling.
Mosquito bites
Mosquitoes, which are very disturbing due to both the sound they make and their blood-sucking properties, have a small risk of carrying viruses and transmitting diseases. The most common diseases caused by it include yellow fever and malaria.
What are the symptoms?
Itching and a slight redness may develop. However, in people with sensitive skin, this redness may be darker, and in some people the bitten area may swell. Severe nausea, headache and vomiting may occur with fever in people who are allergic to mosquito bites.
What to do?
To eliminate itching and redness caused by a mosquito bite, you can apply a cold compress at home. If the reddened area swells, the swollen place should not itch. Scratching the skin can cause infection.
How to take precautions?
Ventilate the living and working areas frequently.
Lavender and clove flowers can be useful to keep mosquitoes away.
In summer, mosquitoes breed much faster, so you can close the kitchen windows and balcony windows with a mosquito net.
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Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.
Physician's Resume:
Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.
Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.
In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.
Awards:
Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.
Certificates:
Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .
Professional Members:
American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.
Disclaimer:
Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.