INSECT STING
Gently wash the area where the
An insect is a bug. An insect bite or sting is a red lump in
the skin that sometimes has a tiny hole in the center.
Sometimes the insect leaves a stinger in your skin. Most
bites or stings are not a problem. If you are allergic (uh-
ler-jik) to bug bites/stings, you may have swelling, rash,
itching, or even trouble breathing. These allergic
symptoms are caused by a chemical called histamine (his-
tuh-meen).
Causes:
An insect bite or sting can come from many different
insects. Some insects that bite people are mosquitoes,
fleas, ticks, chiggers, or bedbugs. Ants, bees, wasps,
spiders, or other insects also bite or sting people.
Signs and Symptoms:
You may see or feel a red lump, pain, swelling, itching, or
a rash. You may also have a headache or feel dizzy.
Sometimes you will have an upset stomach or vomit
(throw up). Very serious problems are chest pain, a tight
feeling in your throat or chest, and trouble breathing. This
is called anaphylaxis (an-ih-fuh-lak-sus) or allergic shock. It
usually starts within minutes after the bite or sting and can
be life-threatening. Also some insect stings and bites can
cause infection (in-fek-shun) or nerve problems.
Care:
• Take the stinger out by scraping it off with your
fingernail, edge of a credit card, or a knife blade. Do
not squeeze it.
stinger was with soap and water.
• Ticks must be removed as soon as possible to try and
keep you from getting diseases caused by tick bites.
To remove the tick:
○ First, clean the tick bite site with rubbing
alcohol.
○ Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Pull it straight out and up with tweezers or with
fingertips protected by a tissue or cloth.
○ Pull gently until the tick lets go. Do not twist the
tick or jerk it suddenly because this may break
off the tick's head or mouth parts.
○ Do not crush the tick or touch it with your bare
hands. Flush the tick down the toilet
○ Do not put a hot match, petroleum jelly, or
fingernail polish on the tick. It is not helpful and,
it may be dangerous.
○ After the tick is removed, clean the area of the
bite. Then, wash your hands with soap and
water.
○ Put a cold, wet towel on the bite/sting for 10 to
20 minutes out of every hour. This will help
lessen swelling and itching. Soak a clean
washcloth in cold water, wring it out, and put it
on the bite/sting.
○ After 24 to 48 hours, a warm compress may be
soothing and will help to lessen the swelling.
○ Try keeping the area of the bite or sting raised
on pillows. This may also help lessen swelling
 and improve the blood flow. It may help the bite
or sting heal faster.
○ To lessen pain, a paste made of water and
either meat tenderizer or baking soda may be
rubbed on the bite or sting for 5 minutes.
○ If bug bites and stings cause you to have
trouble breathing or chest pain, learn to take
shots to stop these problems. These shots have
a medicine in them called epinephrine (eh-pih-
nef-rin). You can buy these shots in a special
emergency kit with a prescription from your
caregiver. Ask your caregiver how and when to
take these shots. When you use this medicine,
call your caregiver to tell him/her.
• Go to the hospital right away if you have trouble
breathing or a tight feeling in your chest or
throat. Call 911 or 0. This is an emergency!
Do's and Don'ts:
To keep from getting bitten or stung again, use insect
repellent on skin and clothing when going outside. Wear
long sleeves, pants, and shoes. Do not wear bright-colored
or flower-print clothing. Do not wear hair spray, perfumes,
or colognes (after shave).
•
Do the following to keep from getting bitten or stung
again.
○ Empty any standing water and wash container
with soap and water every 2 days.
○ Put screens on all open windows and doors.
○ Put insect repellent on skin that is showing
when going outside. Also, put insect repellent at
the top of your boots, bottom of pant legs, and
sleeve cuffs. Wear long sleeves, pants, and
shoes.
○ Using Oil of Citronella (usually candles or coils)
outdoors may help keep mosquitoes away. Put
a "tick and flea collar" on pets.
CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:
• None of the above helps, or your symptoms do not
improve with treatment.
• You have been bitten by a tick.
• The area becomes red, warm, tender, and swollen
beyond the area of the bite or sting. These are signs
of infection.
• You have belly (abdominal) cramping, vomiting
(throwing up) or diarrhea.
• You have a fever (increased body temperature).

○ Do not wear bright-colored or flower-print

clothing when you plan to spend time outdoors.
Also do not wear hair spray, perfumes, or
colognes (after shave).

○ Do not leave food around because it may

attract insects.

ANIMAL BITE
An animal bite is any wound that you get from coming into
contact with an animal's teeth. The wound may be an
abrasion (scrape), puncture (hole), or laceration (tear).
This may happen on the head, face, neck, or any part of
the body. The bite may crush or cause a deep wound and
may injure the muscles, blood vessels, nerves, bones, or
body organs. It may sometimes lead to severe loss of
blood, tissues, and body parts.
What causes an animal bite?
• Pets: Animal bites are often caused by a pet dog or
cat. It may or may not be on purpose.
• Wild or zoo animals: These include monkeys, birds,
bats, deer, weasels, foxes, wolves, lions, or bears.
Beavers, skunks, raccoons, porcupines, squirrels,
woodchucks, and snakes may also cause bite
injuries. A bite from a wild animal often occurs when
people have wild animals for pets. When a snake
bites, venom (poison) may also be released into the
skin. Ask your caregiver for more information on
snake bites.
• Farm animals: Animal bites may also be caused by
farm animals, such as pigs or horses.
What are the signs and symptoms of an animal bite?
There may be a cut, bruise, or swelling on the bitten area.
You may have bleeding, pain, or trouble moving the bitten
area. Sometimes, your skin may also get deformed when
the bones are broken or the tissues are completely bitten
off. If the bite breaks your skin, it may become infected.
Pus may develop inside the wound and the area may
become red and tender, or feel warm when touched. You
may also develop a fever.
How is an animal bite diagnosed?
• History: Your caregiver will need to know when and
how you were bitten. Your caregiver will also need to
know if you have other health problems, are taking
medicines, and had past surgeries. Knowing what
vaccinations (shots) you have received, such as
tetanus, is also important.
○ Rabies: Animals that can spread rabies include
dogs, cats, raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats.
Your caregiver will need to know if you were
bitten by one of these animals. He will ask if
something was done to cause the animal to
attack. Animals that bite without a reason, such
as being scared, can be a sign that the animal
has rabies. Other signs are the animal was
acting strangely or was foaming at the mouth.
The animal may need to be caught or watched
to see if it is sick. Rabies is a very serious
disease and can lead to death if it is not
treated. Ask your caregiver for more
information about rabies if you have questions
or concerns.
• Physical exam: Caregivers will look closely at your
injury, including the area around it. He will check to
see if the skin is broken or not and how deep the
wound is. He will also look for other problems or
signs of infection. How well you move and feel things
in your injured body part may be tested.
• Tests: Different tests may be done to check for other
problems caused by the animal bite.
○ Blood tests: You may need blood taken for
tests. The blood can be taken from a blood
vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your
elbow. It is tested to see how your body is
doing. It can give your caregivers more
information about your health condition. You
may need to have blood drawn more than once.
○ Ultrasound: An ultrasound is a simple test that
looks inside of your body. Sound waves are
used to show pictures of your organs and
tissues on a TV-like screen.
○ X-rays: These are pictures of your bones and
tissues around your wound. You may need to
have an x-ray, especially if the wound is near a
joint or bone. Caregivers use the pictures to
look for broken bones, other injuries, or foreign
objects.
○ Wound culture: This is a method to grow and
identify the germs that may be in your wound.
This helps caregivers learn what kind of
infection you have and what medicine is best to
treat it.
○ Angiography: This test looks for problems with
the arteries in a part of the body. A dye is used
to help the arteries show up better on the
pictures. Pictures may be taken using an x-ray,
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a
computed tomography (CT) scan.
How is an animal bite treated?
Treatment will depend on what animal caused the injury,
and the location and severity of the injury. It also depends
on how long you have had the injury and whether other
body parts were affected.
• Wound cleaning: Foreign objects, such as pieces of
teeth, that are left inside the skin will be removed
carefully. The wound will be cleaned with soap,
water, and antiseptics (germ-killing solutions). This
helps wash away germs which may be in the wound,
and decrease the chances of infection. Flushing with
sterile (clean) water further cleans the wound. This is
done under high pressure, using a needle or catheter
(tube) tip and large syringe. Objects, dirt, or dead
tissues from the open wound will be removed with
debridement (surgical cleaning). Caregivers may
drain the wound to clean out pus.
• Supportive treatments: Ice or other cold packs
may be applied on the bite area to help decrease
swelling and bruising. A neck brace may be needed if
the bite is on the on the face, head, or neck area.
Oxygen or blood transfusion may be given for severe
bite wounds.
• Medicines: Your caregiver will give you antibiotic
medicine to fight or stop infection. You may also be
given medicine to ease your symptoms, such as pain
and swelling. Tetanus or rabies shots and immune
globulins may also be given.
• Surgery: Your wound may be left open until it heals
or may be closed right away using stitches (threads).
You may also need surgery to repair a fracture
(broken bone) or damaged blood vessel, joint,
tendon, or nerve. Surgery to remove, reconnect, or
rebuild the injured body part may also be done.
What other problems can occur with an animal bite?
Having an animal bite may be very painful and put you at
risk of bleeding. Severe swelling of the injured area may
occur which may cause blood supply problems and may
lead to tissue death. Wounds are more likely to become
infected because of the germs present in the animal's
mouth. Infections, such as rabies and tetanus, may also
occur. The infection may spread to other parts or organs of
your body and may become life-threatening. People who
are too young or old, or have conditions that affect wound
healing are at a higher risk of problems. These conditions
include diabetes, blood vessel problems, poor nutrition, or
decreased ability to fight infection. The chances of
successfully treating an animal bite are better when
treated as soon as possible after the bite happens.
How can an animal bite be prevented?
To prevent an animal bite:
• Do not disturb an animal that is eating, sleeping, or
caring for its young.
• Do not go near an animal that you are not familiar
with. Do not run or scream in its presence.
• Do not pet a dog without letting it sniff you first.
• Make noise and avoid areas where wild animals often
stay or are found. Always read and follow sign posts.
• Treat animals with respect. Do not tease them.
• If you encounter a wild animal:
○ Do not make eye contact or stare directly at
the animal.
○ Slowly and carefully back off without making
sudden or threatening gestures.
○ Play dead in the presence of a bear with cubs.
○ Make noise and appear threatening to a bear
that seems to be hunting. A pepper spray may
also be used.
What first aid should be done for an animal bite?
• Flush the bitten area with clean water, preferably
boiled or treated with germ-killing solutions. Use mild
soap to further clean the wound. Cleaning the wound
may help decrease the risk of infection. You may also
use a cleaning solution, such as one percent
povidone solution or 40 to 70 percent alcohol.
• Gently remove dirt and foreign objects seen in the
wound area. You may do this by swabbing the wound
with a soft clean cloth or gauze.
• Apply direct pressure on the wound using a clean
cloth to stop or control bleeding. Do notuse a
tourniquet unless blood loss cannot be controlled by
direct pressure.
• Cover the wound with a clean bandage. Keep the
injured area from moving to decrease pain. This may
be done by placing a splint and bandage.
• Sit or lie down so the wound is raised above your
heart. You may put pillows under an injured leg when
lying in bed. A sling may be used if the arm or hand
is injured. Elevating the wound area will help
decrease swelling. Do not raise it too high because it
may cause more serious injury.
• Consult your caregiver as soon as possible.