Holiday warning over 8 common insect bites – and when to get medical help immediately
WITH the joy summer brings, comes the odd downside.
Hay fever, sun burn and yes... nasty insect bites!
So, if you're off on a summer holiday to soak up the sun, chances are you will want to dodge the dreaded bites and stings.
Lots of creepy crawlies can nibble us and for most people, it’s a minor irritation. But for a small few, it can be fatal.
Sun Health spoke to expert Prof James Logan, CEO of Arctech Innovation and Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
He says: "Everyone reacts differently and in some cases people can have quite nasty reactions, so it's important to know what to do if you are bitten."
Read more on insect bites
Prof Logan explains what you need to know…
1. MOSQUITOES
MOSQUITOES have a very fine proboscis, which acts like a needle going into the skin.
Bites can become very itchy and sore and tend to be on exposed limbs such as hands, feet and backs of elbows.
Fortunately mosquitoes don't cause major harm in the UK, but in some parts of the world can spread serious illnesses such as dengue fever and malaria.
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TREAT IT: Wash the area with mild soap and water and apply a cold compress.
Use an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to help relieve itching.
See your GP if you develop a high temperature, chills, headaches or feel sick, especially after a mosquito bite abroad.
2. MIDGE OR GNATS
IF you're bitten by a midge you'll often have numerous small, red bites all in one place.
They'll bite you anywhere that’s exposed, including on your head, face, in your hair or under clothes.
You might feel them nip as their mouths are like scissors.
TREAT IT: Apply a cold compress such as a flannel cooled with cold water to any swelling for at least ten minutes.
Avoid scratching the area to reduce the risk of infection.
3. TICKS
TICKS in the UK can sometimes carry a potentially serious infection called Lyme disease, so should be removed as soon as possible.
Sometimes ticks are very small and it can be difficult to know you've been bitten.
If you've been out in the countryside, check yourself when you get back home and remove a tick swiftly using a tick removal tool (Life Systems Tick Tweezers, £3.99, ).
The best way to check is not just to look but to feel your skin.
Here we've got a map revealing the Lyme disease hotspots across the UK, worth checking before you head off on your hols!
TREAT IT: If a tick has bitten you and dropped off, watch out for signs of Lyme disease.
Often people will react in the same way as they do a mosquito bite.
If you develop a bullseye rash this indicates you have contracted Lyme disease though if you don't, that doesn't mean you don't have it as the rash only occurs in 50-60 per cent of people with it.
See your GP if you start to feel tired, dizzy, have achey joints or flu-like symptoms.
A course of antibiotics should clear any infection.
4. BLACK FLIES
BLACK flies live near running water so can be a problem if you live near a river.
They will bite any exposed skin and are especially good at getting under clothes.
Some people react quite badly to black fly bites, which can be very itchy and painful and you may notice anything from a tiny puncture on the skin to a huge swelling.
TREAT IT: Wash the area with mild soap and water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and irritation.
See your GP if you suffer a bite near your eyes or mouth, symptoms don't go away after 14 days, or you have a fever and chills, which could be a sign of infection.
5. HORSEFLIES
HORSEFLIES would rather bite a big animal such as a horse but inevitably sometimes land on us and take a bite.
It will feel like a nip and you'll get quite a big wound.
As horseflies tend to live around farms and animals they can carry a lot of bacteria so if they bite you there is a risk it could become infected.
TREAT IT: Horsefly bites can take a while to heal.
See your GP if you have symptoms of infection such as pus, increasing pain redness or swelling. Sometimes it will feel hot to touch.
6. BEE STINGS
IF a bee stings, it will hurt immediately and feel sore.
A honey bee will leave the stinger - a barbed pointy end that digs into the skin - behind.
It is a pouch of poison and the muscles will continue to contract and pump venom into the skin even after the bee has gone, so you need to remove it as quickly as possible.
Scrape it out sideways using the hard edge of a bank card or your fingernails if you don't have anything else to hand.
Don't squeeze the pouch with tweezers or your fingers as you'll only pump more venom into the wound.
TREAT IT: Painkillers, a cold compress and antihistamines may help.
Serious allergic reactions occasionally happen after bee stings causing breathing difficulties, dizziness and a swollen face or mouth.
Dial 999 immediately for an ambulance if you suffer these symptoms.
7. WASP STINGS
WASPS don't leave a stinger behind but can sting multiple times.
Sometimes a larger area around the sting can be painful, red and swollen for up to a week.
This is a minor allergic reaction and usually nothing to worry about.
TREAT IT: Avoid using vinegar and other home remedies you might have heard about.
Painkillers, a cold compress and antihistamines may help.
Dial 999 if you experience anaphylaxis, which causes breathing difficulties, dizziness and a swollen face or mouth.
8. SPIDERS
Bites from spiders are incredibly rare in the UK but some species such as the false widow are capable of giving a nasty bite.
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You would probably react in a similar way to a bee sting but it would not usually cause much harm.
TREAT IT: Wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold compress if you experience swelling.
SWEET RELIEF
How to treat bites and stings - according to the NHS:
- Remove sting, tick or hairs if in the skin.
- Wash with soap and water.
- Elevate and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
- Avoid scratching or bursting blisters to reduce infection risk.
- Avoid home remedies such as vinegar.
- Over-the-counter painkillers may ease pain or swelling.
- Speak to your pharmacist about anti-itching cream or antihistamines.
- Contact your GP or 111 if symptoms don't improve within a few days or are getting worse, you've been stung or bitten in your mouth, throat or near your eyes, 10cm or more around the bite becomes red or swollen, you have symptoms of an infection: pus, swelling, fever or flu-like symptoms.
- Dial 999 if you suffer a severe reaction e.g. wheezing or breathing difficulties, swollen face, mouth or throat, feeling or being sick, fast heart rate, dizziness or feeling faint, difficulty swallowing or loss of consciousness.