Beacon family doctors offer advice for summer insect bites and stings

Bites and stings are two of the more common reasons for patient visits to their Beacon family doctors during the summertime.

The warm weather makes a great environment for insects, ticks and spiders, and spending time outdoors brings a greater chance of coming into contact with them.

Although it’s certainly possible to feel the pain of a bite or sting right away, sometimes we’re distracted and don’t notice anything until the itching starts. Either way, it’s uncomfortable at best. And not often, but once in a while, getting stung or bitten can actually be dangerous.

Here’s how to protect and care for yourself for as we move into the hottest part of summer.

When to take fast action

Some individuals experience a severe allergic reaction to the venom in a bug bite or sting that can lead to anaphylaxis. While allergic reactions, even severe ones, will eventually go away on their own, anaphylaxis requires medical intervention.

It’s important to know the signs of anaphylaxis that can occur immediately, after minutes have passed or even hours later.

• Adults tend to experience severe itching in the eyes or face. This can progress to swelling, a dangerous symptom if the throat or tongue are affected, because this can lead to problems breathing. Adults may also feel short of breath, break out in a rash or hives or even feel pain in the belly.
• Some adults feel a tightness in their chest or become either flushed or pale. Other symptoms might include low blood pressure, a weak or rapid pulse, dizziness, fainting or nausea.
• Children can experience any of the symptoms as adults, but they may also lose control of their bladder, feel uneasy or show signs of agitation.
• In infants, the most likely signs are swelling in and around the mouth: the lips, tongue, throat or uvula (the small pendulum in the back of the throat). Other symptoms include unusual sleepiness, crying, fussiness or sudden drooling.

If you see signs of anaphylaxis, call 9-1-1. This is a medical emergency. If you or your child has had anaphylaxis before, you may have been prescribed epinephrine and should use it right away.

Dr. Chinyama Munakampe

Summer bite and sting suspects

For some creatures, humans are seen as threats to their territory. Others find us to be tasty. And many creatures are happy to mind their own business, but we can run afoul of them if we get too close.

Here are a few critters to watch for, and how to protect yourself.

Mosquitos

We’ve all heard the dreaded buzz of a mosquito and felt the frustrating itch that follows a bite. While extremely annoying, most mosquito bites in the U.S. are largely harmless. Mosquitos can, however, carry diseases. West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne virus in Indiana and the U.S.

“Most people with West Nile Virus will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 will develop flu-like symptoms, which can be treated supportively with rest, fluids and pain medications,” said Dr. Chinyama Munakampe, a family doctor at Beacon Medical Group Main Street.

If symptoms get worse, however, call your doctor.

You can reduce your chance of mosquito bites by wearing insect repellant, covering exposed skin with light-colored clothing and removing any standing water on your property.

Ticks

Tick bites are usually harmless, although certain ticks in some areas of the country can carry diseases like Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If you find a tick on your skin, remove it carefully and put it into a sealed plastic bag or a jar with a lid. Your doctor may want to see it, especially if you experience symptoms.

“Lots of people ask about tick bites and Lyme disease – and for good reason,” said Dr. Dyllan Tiburzi, a family physician at Beacon Medical Group Cleveland Road.

Dr. Dyllan Tiburzi

The symptoms of Lyme disease can vary from a rash to arthritis, nerve pain, altered mental state and possible damage to the heart. If you are an avid hiker or outdoor lover and find you have been bitten by a tick or develop a rash in the days after, especially a rash that looks like a bull’s-eye, call your doctor.

To prevent tick bites, avoid walking through the woods or areas with tall grass. If you walk through these areas, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt and consider using a tick repellent that’s at least 20% DEET. Once you return home, bathe within a couple hours and check your body for ticks.

Chiggers

Chiggers are tiny red mites known for causing extremely itchy bites. You may never see the chigger or feel the bite, but you’ll notice the itching that comes a few hours later; you might also see bumps or discoloration of the skin. It can take a couple of weeks for the symptoms to go away.

Wear an insect or tick repellant, as well as long sleeves and long pants, to offer some protection against chiggers. Bathe as soon as you get back indoors, and wash your clothes in hot water.

Bees, wasps and hornets

A sting from a bee, wasp or hornet is going to get your attention. But unless you have a severe allergic reaction, it won’t do much harm beyond a painful red bump and some minor swelling around the sting. For most people, the symptoms will ease in several hours.

It is possible to get a stronger, but still not severe, reaction: swelling that gets worse over the day or so following the sting, and extreme redness. This type of reaction may take up to 10 days to go away. If it happens to you, talk to your doctor, especially if your reactions grow stronger each time you’re stung.

Spiders

Spiders usually don’t bite, and bites from most spiders in the U.S. are pretty harmless. They may leave two marks where the fangs punctured the skin. The area may be red and itchy, but this will go away within about a week.

Fortunately, we only have two spiders in the U.S. whose venom is truly dangerous to humans: the black widow spider and the recluse spider. Symptoms of a widow bite include cramps, nausea, tremors and sweating, as well as redness, pain and swelling that may spread onto your torso.

Recluse bites can cause increasing pain, body aches, fever and chills. You might see a bite wound that has a pale or red center with a dark blue or purple rings around it, or the wound can become an open sore.

What to do if you’re bitten or stung

The reaction from bites and stings can vary widely depending on what bit you and your body’s reaction.

If you have severe or unusual symptoms, always seek medical care right away. Also call your doctor if your symptoms get worse instead of better.

“If you have a bite or sting of concern, as well as a smart phone, taking a picture of it — borders, redness, any breaks in the skin — can be helpful, especially if things change or worsen and you need to see your doctor,” Dr. Tiburzi said. “Again, if at any time your bite or sting worsens or changes and you are concerned, call your doctor – it’s our job to help take care of you.”

For mild reactions, follow these steps:

1. Gently remove any stingers and clean the wound well.
2. Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling and pain if needed.
3. If the bite or sting is on an arm or leg, raise it to reduce swelling.
4. You can apply any of the following to the affected area up to several times a day to soothe your skin: calamine lotion, baking soda paste and .5% or1% hydrocortisone cream.
5. Keep the area clean while it’s healing, and try not to scratch it. You can use an oral antihistamine or topical anti-itch medicine to help.
6. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed.

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