Insect bites – be it from a mosquito, ants, a bee, or other insects - can irritate your skin. These bites can cause a skin itch and unsightly red spots all over the body. The reddish bumps that appear as a result of mosquito, or other insect bites, can compel you to scratch the area of skin which has been bitten, resulting in adverse effects to your skin.
Insects like mosquitoes, which are considered to be biting flies(1), can puncture your skin with their blood-sucking mouthparts, causing skin bumps that itch to appear.(2) Alternatively, you could also experience symptoms such as puffy white and reddish bumps, hard, itchy reddish-brown bumps, small blisters or dark, bruise-like spots that usually goes away after a few days.
Head to a doctor if you have(6):
- A rash
- Flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills
- Headaches
- Joint and muscle pain (stiffness or swelling)
- Fatigue
- A general feeling of being unwell
Ant bites
Ants, like mosquitoes, can sting. You’ll feel a nip, an itch, swelling and some pain. You may also see a pale pink mark on your skin(7). Ants can sting several times and inject a type of venom with every sting(8).
This can cause allergy in children, who may experience a rash, swelling of the tongue or throat and breathing difficulties. In the worst case, the child may simply collapse. These could be symptoms of a severe allergy called anaphylaxis(9), which is considered very serious. At this point, it would be best to see a doctor immediately.
Bee bites
Bee stings pump venom directly into the skin and therefore requires immediate attention. Avoid squeezing the wound as it will inject more venom into the skin. Instead, scrape the surface of the wound with a fingernail to remove any lingering stingers.
Most honey bee stings are barbed and can cause extreme pain and swelling. But a person who is allergic to bee venom may experience more general symptoms such as difficulty breathing and collapse(9).
How to stay away from mosquito and other insect bites
- As always, prevention is better than cure. Here’s how you can spare yourself from the agony of itchy, swollen skin that hurts after being bitten or stung by mosquitoes or other insects.
- Stay indoors between dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active(10)
- Repair tears on window and door screens and camping equipment
- Cover strollers and cribs with mosquito nets
- Use insect repellent ( diethyltoluamide [DEET], Icaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus)(11)
- Use spray repellent outdoors, far away from food. If you have to, apply sunscreen 20 minutes before using screen repellent
- Cover up and protect your skin from insects that bite and sting with clothing.
- Clean roof gutters, empty children’s wading pools and change the water in bird baths at least once a week
- Discard old tires at home
- Empty outdoor flower pots or store them upside down so they can’t hold water
- Drain your fire pit off water
- Keep a flyswatter or candle handy when indoors
- Cover your bed or cot with a mosquito net when sleeping outdoors, or in a building that is not fully screened
- Cover playpens, strollers and children’s beds with a mosquito net, especially if you are outdoors
- Take a shower, change and wash your clothes and gear after joining an outdoor activity.
- Six months before traveling, find out what are the species of insects which can be found at your travel destination.
Mosquito bites and insect stings may be serious. That’s why a slight itch, however harmless-looking, must be addressed as soon as possible. It is after all, for the safety of you and your loved ones.
References:
- Insect bite prevention (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 fromhttps://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/insect-bite-prevention.html
- Mosquito bites (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mosquito-bites/symptoms-causes/syc-20375310
- What Happens When a Mosquito Bite Gets Infected (And What to Do) (June 21, 2018) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-when-a-mosquito-bite-gets-infected-and-what-to-do
- Symptoms Insect bites and Stings (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/symptoms/
- Symptoms Insect bites and Stings (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/symptoms/
- Insect Bites and Stings (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/insect-bites-and-stings
- Symptoms Insect bites and Stings (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/symptoms/
- Insect Bites and Insect Stings (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/insect-bites-stings
- Insect Bites and Stings (July 22, 2020) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/insect-bites-and-stings/
- Mosquito bites (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mosquito-bites/symptoms-causes/syc-20375310
- Mosquito bites (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 1, 2020 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mosquito-bites/symptoms-causes/syc-20375310
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