Insect Bites and Stings

Dateline: 12/07/99

The majority of insects are not harmful. The dangerous insects are bees, as!s, hornets, fire ants and yello jac"ets. The #enom injected after a bite or sting can cause a reaction. $n most cases, the reaction consists of a stinging sensation follo ed by a red itchy bum! at the site of the insect bite. % bee s allo ed or inhaled causes s elling of the laryn& or #oice bo&. The follo ing first aid measures ta"e care of the local effects: 'emo#al of the stinger carefully to !re#ent s(uee)ing of the attached #enom sac and further injection. *se a t ee)er , or if that is not at hand, ease out ith the fingernail, a "ey or a credit card %!!lication of cold moist cloth or ice cubes the intense !ain % tourni(uet tied abo#e the site of the bite or sting +alamine lotion to relie#e the itch ra!!ed in the cloth to reduce

$f the #ictim is allergic to the #enom injected by any insect, an ana!hylactic reaction follo s. The #ictim may com!lain of the follo ing sym!toms: Difficulty in breathing and s allo ing, coughing or hee)ing. , elling of the

face, li!s, tongue and eyelids, and body -urning sensation o#er the sting site, and itch in the !alms, soles, nec" or groins .i#es, and formation of an itchy s"in rash all o#er the body. /umbness +ram!s /ausea, #omiting, headache, an&iety, slurring of s!eech, faintness and unconsciousness %na!hyla&is is a life0threatening condition and the #ictim must be rushed to the emergency room of the nearest hos!ital. The treatment ill consist of : 1!ine!hrine injection, 0.2ml in 1:1000 dilution 3aintenance of the air ay 4&ygen inhalation as re(uired.

5re#enti#e measures: $f the !atient is diagnosed !hysician can !ro#ide him ith a first aid "it containing a hy!odermic syringe loaded ith adrenaline 6e!ine!hrine7, a life sa#ing drug, to be used in case of e&!osure. %lmost all fatalities caused by insect stings 00 officially about 20 a year, but !robably more 00 occur in adults, says Da#id 8raft, 3.D., chairman of the $nsect %llergy +ommittee of the %merican %cademy of %llergy, %sthma, and $mmunology. 9or e#ery death, hundreds of other sting #ictims suffer se#ere reactions. ith an allergy to insect bites or stings, the

%bout a million !eo!le are dangerously allergic to stings from yello jac"ets, hornets, honeybees, more li"ely in those as!s, and fire ants. ,e#ere reactions are no

ho already ha#e other allergies, says Dr. 8raft. -ut ho ha#e been )a!!ed often. $f you:re

they are more li"ely in those

susce!tible and ha#e been stung, then get stung again fairly soon, you:re more li"ely to react, as your body becomes increasingly sensiti)ed to the allergen.

, elling at the site of a sting is not unusual. ,ee" immediate medical attention if you ha#e se#ere s elling around the face and throat, hi#es, breathing !roblems, di))iness, or throat tightening; these sym!toms may signal a !otentially life0threatening ana!hylactic reaction.

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.i,$:m <4+ D48 and $ hate insects ith a !assion. 3any !eo!le don:t reali)e ho ugly insects can be. $f you ha#e e#er jum!ed from loo"ing at a s!ider, then ran to ta"e a sho er, me and you are on the same trac". Did you "no 1,000,000 different s!ecies of beetle in the there are more than

orld and that they ma"e u! a

1/> of the life li#ing on the earth. 4n land though there isn:t anyhere you can go that you can:t find some insects li#ing there, e#en in the fro)en e&tremes of %rctica and %ntartica you during the ill some insects ali#e and acti#e e#erything about bugs,or

armer months. $f you thin" you "no

are just bored try to ta"e this (ui).

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1.Bhat is the biggest insectC 2.Bhat !ercentage of biomass are antsC >.Bhat is the fastest flying insectC D.Bhat is the most dangerous s!iderC .o yearsC 2..o many blac" ido s are in an a#erage garageC E..o many calls does the +a. 5oison +ontrol get a year dealing ith blac" many has died from them in 90

ido bitesC 7.Bhat are the com!lications from a blac" ido biteC F.Bhat do you do hen a bee stings youC 9.Bhat ha!!ens to someone that:s allergic to the sting, if they do get stungC 10.Bhat can you do from getting stungC

$nsect ,tings

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3ost insect stings lea#e a !ainful or itchy red lum! that may ha#e a tiny hole in the center. ,ometimes the stinger remains in the s"in. *nless you are allergic to the stings, most cause no !roblems.

+auses

3os(uitoes, fleas, tic"s, chiggers, bedbugs, ants, bees, s!iders, or other insects all can lea#e annoying bites.

as!s,

,igns/,ym!toms

Ty!ically, you:ll find a red lum!, often accom!anied by !ain, s elling, itching, or a rash. =ou may also ha#e a fe#er, headache, or di))iness; and you may feel nauseated or thro u!. $f you de#elo! chest !ain, a tight0feeling in your throat or chest, and trouble breathing see" care immediately . These are signs of a dangerous, e#en life0threatening, allergic reaction.

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$f necessary, the doctor can recommend medicine for minor !ain, s elling, or itching. ,ym!toms of an allergic reaction demand emergency treatment at a hos!ital. 6,ee H$nsect0,ting %llergy.H7

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Ta"e the stinger out by scra!ing it off ith your fingernail, the edge of a credit card, or a "nife blade. Do not s(uee)e it. Bash the sting ith soa! and ater, then !ut ice on it. 'aise and rest the area of the sting. To hel! reduce s elling and itching, soa" a clean ashcloth

or to el in cold ater, ring it out, and !ut it on the sting. <ea#e it on for 10 to 20 minutes out of e#ery hour. %fter 2D to DF hours, a soothe the area and reduce s elling. To relie#e !ain, ma"e a !aste ith ater and either meat arm com!ress can be used to

tenderi)er or ba"ing soda and rub it on the bite or sting for 2 minutes. To further reduce the itching and s elling, use o#er0the counter medicines such as di!henhydramine eli&ir 6be sure not to drin" or dri#e hile ta"ing this medication7 or hydrocortisone cream. $f you are using calamine lotion ith di!henhydramine do not ta"e di!henhydramine by mouth at the same time.

$f you are allergic to insect stings and ha#e a self0 treatment "it, gi#e yourself the shot of e!ine!hrine 6eh0!ih0/190rin7 immediately, ithout aiting for the rash, itching, or s elling to start. Then

call your doctor right a ay to ma"e sure you are out of danger. To "ee! from getting bitten or stung again follo directions listed under H$nsect0,ting %llergy.H the

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=our sym!toms do not im!ro#e in a fe days. The area beyond the bite or sting becomes red, tender, and s ollen. These are signs of infection. =ou ha#e a high tem!erature. arm,

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=ou ha#e sym!toms of an allergic reaction 6 hee)ing or trouble breathing, chest !ain, fainting, raised red !atches on the s"in that itch, u!set stomach, #omiting, cram!ing, or diarrhea7. T.$, $, %/ 131'81/+=A