What to put on a bite. Soap and other hygiene products. Why are we being bitten

Insect bites can be painful, cause swelling, or cause allergies. Therefore, it is so important to provide first aid and prescribe the correct treatment immediately after identifying the problem. You can remove swelling from an insect bite with special preparations or simple folk remedies.

In our latitudes, Hymenoptera bites are considered the most dangerous. These include hornets, wasps, bees, bumblebees, red ants. They can bite a person solely for self-defense. Therefore, contact with these insects is quite painful. During a bite, they inject substances that are the strongest allergens into the human skin.

The bites of these insects are accompanied by pronounced symptoms. They are especially dangerous for children, who may react with urticaria, rhinitis or bronchospasm.

Many insects are carriers of infections dangerous to humans - malaria, typhoid, encephalitis, Lyme disease.

Slightly less dangerous are ordinary mosquitoes, midges, simple flies, fleas. Their bites are accompanied by redness, pain, swelling. Such insects pose a potential threat, as they can cause serious human infections. The bite site is vulnerable spot through which bacteria can enter.

Symptoms

With insect bites, swelling, redness, soreness, and itching are not the only symptoms that a person may experience. In some cases, an allergy develops, accompanied by the following symptoms:

• tachycardia;
• difficulty breathing;
• dizziness and loss of consciousness;
• the appearance of a rash that spreads throughout the body;
• drop in blood pressure.

In especially severe cases, after contact with insects, a person develops anaphylactic shock, which, without medical intervention, can result in death.

First aid

You can remove swelling from a bite of a midge or other insects in the following ways:

• The impact of cold. After contact with midges, the skin begins to swell. You can prevent the spread of edema with a cold compress, which constricts blood vessels and prevents the absorption of toxic substances. To carry it out, you need to take ice or frozen foods from the refrigerator, wrap it in a soft cloth and attach it to the problem area. During the procedure, it is necessary to ensure that frostbite does not occur. After a 5-minute exposure to cold, take a break of the same duration.
• Pressing on surrounding tissues. The seal that appears on the body is quickly pressed with fingers or palms. Such actions will reduce the likelihood of developing allergic reactions and eliminate puffiness.
• Treatment of damaged skin with a water-alcohol solution in a ratio of 1: 1. You can also use hydrogen peroxide. These drugs disinfect the surface of the skin and prevent the infection from entering the bloodstream through the resulting damage.
• Compresses with Dimexide. The drug has a local anesthetic effect, eliminates the inflammatory process, destroys pathogenic microflora. Before use, Dimexide is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3 to prevent allergies.

Medical treatment

The following drugs will help eliminate swelling of the leg or other parts of the body after an insect bite:

• Fenistil-gel. It has an antihistamine effect, so it is effective for insect bites when the skin swells. The ointment is applied 2-4 times a day, depending on the severity of the person's condition.
• Antihistamines systemic action. It is best to treat swelling and itching that do not disappear for several days with the help of such remedies. Effective are Cetrin, Zirtek, Loratadin, Suprastin. Their reception should continue for several days until the disappearance of all unpleasant symptoms.
• You can remove severe swelling on the face or other part of the body with the help of hormonal ointments (for example, Hydrocortisone ointment). These drugs will quickly eliminate the inflammatory process and speed up recovery.
• Antibiotics. Assign in the presence of complications caused by infection in the human body. Medicines from this group should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor.

A tubercle that has appeared on the skin after contact with an insect is strictly forbidden to comb. This leads to an increase in all unpleasant symptoms and provokes secondary infection.

Folk remedies

Swelling from a mosquito or other insect bite is most often treated at home. In this case, folk remedies will help:

What to do if you have a severe allergy

If an insect has bitten, and a person feels unwell - a limb has become numb, dizziness has appeared, a rash on the body, pressure surges - you need to seek medical help. This will normalize the patient's condition and prevent serious allergic reactions. At the pre-hospital stage, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• It is necessary to remain calm, do not panic and clearly tell the doctors about all complaints.
• It is desirable that a sick person take a reclining or other position convenient for him.
• Upon contact with a stinging insect (wasp, bee), it is necessary to remove the sting from the skin as soon as possible and treat it with an antiseptic.
• A tight cloth bandage is applied over the bitten place. There is no need to use jute. The bandage compresses the tissues and partially restricts the movement of blood through the veins. In this case, the arterial blood flow should not be affected.
• The entire period before entering a medical facility, cold compresses should be applied to the problem area of ​​the body to prevent the spread of toxic substances throughout the body.

Adhering to such simple rules, it will be possible to save the health and life of the injured person. And when using folk remedies, you can as soon as possible eliminate swelling, itching and redness, which are almost always present after insect bites.

A bite is a wound caused by the impact of teeth, proboscis, sting and other adaptations of animals, insects, snakes and humans. The consequences of bites are a significant public health problem. An insect bite can go unnoticed, or it can cause a severe allergic reaction or cause a dangerous disease. Animal bites, snake bites annually cause massive harm both by trauma and by a pathogenic, toxic effect on the human body. Knowing how to distinguish between different types of bites, how to protect yourself and loved ones from attack, and being able to provide first aid for bites is vital for everyone.

bites

The bites of various living creatures, from fleas to wolves and snakes, make up a significant part of the injuries and cause allergic, toxic reactions and deaths, depending on the type of creature that bit the person. Factors that increase the risk of a bite to health also include the creature's ability to carry various pathogens, its toxicity, the presence of pathogenic organisms on the teeth and body surfaces, the number and size of bites, as well as the size, health status of the injured person and the availability of urgent medical care.

Biting symptoms

Symptoms of bites are varied and depend on the creature that caused the harm, the number of bites and the degree of injury. Some bites can go unnoticed, some can significantly affect health and cause death.

Symptoms of bites also differ depending on the state of the body: the physiological age of a person, sensitivity to poison, the immune system, the presence of contact with toxins in history, as well as (for animal bites) the ability to self-defense and the presence of vaccination against the most common infections.

Symptoms can be divided into local and systemic. Local include the level of tissue trauma at the site of the bite and the degree of response, limited by the localization of the wound. Systemic symptoms of bites depend on toxins, poisons, pathogenic microorganisms that have entered the body with saliva or in the process of contact with the aggressor.

Types of bites on the body can be varied, manifestations of aggression or a defensive reaction of various living beings depend on their body structure, size, type of wound, the presence of toxins or specific substances in saliva.

The bite site may look like a small and inconspicuous dot, or it may be a laceration with significant loss of flesh. Depending on the creature that bit and the degree of reaction of the victim, different types of bites require different therapy - from its complete absence to urgent resuscitation.

Prevention - the best remedy protection from different types bites. Repellent sprays, ultrasonic devices, avoidance of insects, stray dogs, snakes, tetanus vaccinations, and having a first aid kit available when hiking in the woods can greatly reduce injuries and reduce the effects of bites.

Insect bites

Insect bites, depending on their type, quantity and condition of the body of a particular person, may go unnoticed. However, in many cases, it is insect bites that lead to serious conditions, the development various diseases and even to death. According to statistics, more people die every year from the stings of bees, wasps and hornets (poisonous hymenoptera) in Russia than from snake bites.

• Poisonous insects that bite when attempting aggression, crossing the boundaries of their territory.

An insect bite in this case is a protective reaction to external influences. When bitten, these species inject poison into the wound with different type and destructive power. This group includes ants, bees, wasps, hornets, etc.

Insect bites are quite unpredictable and variable in their effect on the human body. The consequences of a bite are a combination of traumatic injury, allergic and toxic reactions due to exposure to foreign components of insect saliva or poisons. Itching that accompanies the local reaction to the bite is often a provoking factor for scratching, which contributes to the addition of a secondary infection to the injured surface.

According to the frequency of local and systemic reactions, insects are divided into the following groups:

• allergic manifestations most often accompany the bites of wasps, bees, hornets, bumblebees;
• with toxic reactions, the body reacts to the bites of some varieties of ants, as well as poisonous spiders (karakuts, tarantulas), scorpions;
• localized changes in the skin and adjacent soft tissues appear with the bites of mosquitoes, fleas, lice, ticks, midges, flies, gadflies, and some types of beetles. Such changes include hyperemia, swelling, suppuration, tissue necrosis, hematomas, blisters, subcutaneous hemorrhages.

Combinations of all manifestations, as well as systemic infectious processes, can develop with the bite of any insect due to the characteristics of the immune response of a particular person.

In addition to the direct effect on the body, insects can also carry pathogens of various diseases. Mosquitoes are responsible for the spread of leishmaniasis, malaria, some types of fevers; ticks - carriers of pathogens of Lyme disease, encephalitis; flies - dysentery; fleas - tularemia, pseudotuberculosis, erysipeloid. In the foci of relapsing and typhus, this disease is spread by hair and body lice.

Most frequent symptoms insect bites are pain during wounding and/or after; the occurrence of edema, local redness, itchy sensation.

If at the time of the bite the insect could not be traced, then general character local reaction may indicate possible view"culprit"

• slight swelling, swelling, redness, itching most often indicate mosquito bites, midges, bedbugs;
• significant swelling without discoloration of the skin, severe pain during and after the bite, a burning sensation accompany the bites of poisonous hymenoptera, wasps, bees, bumblebees, hornets;
• in the presence of redness without swelling, especially if the redness is ring-shaped with a visible bite mark in the middle, a bite of a borreliosis tick can be suspected.

Allergic reactions due to insect bites can occur both locally and cover the entire body. The most allergenic insects are wasps, bees, bumblebees, hornets, and are often provoked by multiple mosquito bites.

According to statistics, an episode of an allergic reaction of the body to an insect bite occurs in 4 out of 10 people. 6 people with an insect bite of the same species will suffer from allergy symptoms again, and it is quite possible that its manifestation is more severe.

Allocate the following types insect allergy symptoms:

• Rash on the skin.

Reddish spots or papules may be located directly next to the bite or be found throughout the body;

• Edema.

Localized swelling at the site of injury, on the affected limb, or generalized, breathtaking and choking edema;

• Anaphylaxis.

Often a similar reaction accompanies hornet bites. Anaphylactic shock occurs due to a sharp decrease in blood pressure, causing loss of consciousness, respiratory arrest, and heartbeat.

In total, there are about 3,000 species of mosquitoes on the planet, living mosquitoes since the Cretaceous period. At the moment, only Antarctica is free from the presence of mosquitoes, in Russia there are about a hundred species of these insects.

Females bite humans and animals, they need our blood for reproduction. The rest of the time, females feed in the same way as males - carbohydrate food: flower nectar. During the bite, the mosquito injects an anticoagulant substance that prevents blood from clotting in order to suck it out as efficiently as possible.

It is the anticoagulant in mosquito saliva that causes redness of the injured area, swelling, and itching.

However, the desire to scratch the reddish bump left after the bite is not the most unpleasant consequence of contact with a mosquito. And even a secondary bacterial infection, which children often bring into wounds by combing bite sites, also refers to mild consequences.

Kulicidosis - this is the name of an allergy to mosquito saliva, from the word Culicidae, meaning "mosquito". Different degrees of culicidosis characterize the reaction of the body and the immune system to specific substances in the saliva of the mosquito.

A mild form of culicidosis often occurs in childhood. A mosquito bite provokes the appearance of a papule, a swelling protruding above the skin. At different stages of the papule, it can be bright red or pinkish, and reach 10 cm.

Such a reaction is often confused with the bite of bees, wasps, horseflies, considering mosquitoes to be fairly harmless insects. However, a mild stage of mosquito allergy accompanied by significant itching. A papule, on average, takes about a day to disappear on its own, which does not exclude the need to use antihistamines to alleviate the condition.

Numerous bites of these insects also provoke a headache, an increase in body temperature, are accompanied by general poor health, a feeling of suffocation. It is too clinical picture diseases.

The middle and severe stages are accompanied by a rash similar to "urticaria", and outside the localization of the bite, very severe discomfort due to itching, swelling of the extremities, Quincke's edema. Infiltration at the site of the wound can persist for up to a month.

Neglecting allergic reactions to mosquito bites is dangerous. Severe culicidosis can be fatal due to swelling of the upper respiratory tract or anaphylactic shock.

In addition to the development of allergies, a mosquito bite can cause the development of other unpleasant diseases. Much less frequently than ticks, but still with a sufficient recorded frequency, mosquitoes carry the virus of encephalitis, hepatitis, West Nile fever and infect with myxomatosis, leishmaniasis.

Even the immune system A person works actively and protects him from allergies and infection, mosquito bites, especially numerous ones, weaken the body, forcing it to use reserves to protect itself from infectious agents and foreign substances. Therefore, when being outdoors in the warm season, especially near shady, humid places, it is necessary to take preventive measures: wear clothing that covers the body, use insect repellents.

By itself, a tick bite is quite unpleasant, but not particularly dangerous. Ticks cause local toxic reactions on the skin, and they need blood as food so much that they have evolved in a direction convenient for themselves: a tick bite is almost imperceptible, it releases painkillers when introduced into the body, and its entry and movement through the body is also difficult to track.

Ticks are dangerous because, migrating from one temporary host to another, they carry pathogens of serious diseases. Encephalitis, Lyme disease or borreliosis are the two most dangerous infections, whose carriers are ticks.

A tick bite can be identified by a characteristic reddish ring around the punctate wound. After detecting a tick or bite site, you should visit a doctor, if possible, you should also bring the tick with you for research.

In some cases, the victim will be recommended medicines that prevent the development of diseases. If a visit to a specialist after a tick is found is impossible, it is necessary to carefully monitor the well-being of a bitten person: diseases may not develop immediately, incubation period is several days.

To prevent the development of diseases, everyone who plans to visit forests and forest parks during the period of tick activity is recommended to wear closed clothing and hats. Upon returning home, outerwear must be shaken from the outside several times and inspected.

Animals should also be examined for ticks and, especially dogs, are recommended vaccinations against tick-borne diseases and bite protection measures (topicals, injections).

Bed bug bites

Bedbugs are classified as "domestic insects", they prefer to exist in fairly warm conditions, while for life they need the blood of a person or warm-blooded animals.

Bed bugs live in linen, in the folds of upholstery, in the cracks between the fittings. Bedbug bites look like a mosquito bite, a slight swelling of pink or reddish color, accompanied in some cases by itching.

Bedbugs may not be noticed for a long time: they hunt mainly at night, bedbug bites are practically painless, and traces of their feeding are often attributed to mosquitoes, even in winter time, since mosquitoes can successfully live and breed in warm, damp basements, climbing into apartments through ventilation hatches.

Bedbug bites are distinguished from mosquito bites by their characteristic chain. As a rule, bedbug feeding marks line up in threes. There can be several such chains in one place.

The same method of differentiation is used in diagnosing differences between manifestations of contact or food allergies and bedbug bites.

Massive bedbug bites, in addition to discomfort, can be the cause bad sleep, neuroticism, anemia in children, and also cause allergic reactions in the form of headaches, fever, and feeling unwell.

For the extermination of bedbugs, the best option is to contact the services of combating domestic insects.

The wasp is a poisonous insect, in its venom the concentration of toxins (neurotoxins, acetylcholine, histamine, etc.) is much higher than that of bees, and the wasp sting is marked by severe pain. About 2% of the population react to wasp stings with a severe allergic reaction, up to Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock.

Wasp stings are especially dangerous for young children, as well as for a group attack of insects. A wasp sting, unlike a bee that leaves its sting in the body of the victim, can be repeated many times. Therefore, first of all, having felt pain and burning and noticing a wasp, it is necessary to leave the location of the insect.

In addition to the allergic and toxic reactions, wasps are able to carry a variety of pathogens. Wasps are predatory insects that eat flies, caterpillars, other insects, and also feed on meat and fish waste and rotting flesh. In the process of such nutrition, various bacteria accumulate on the body and paws of the wasps, which, having got into the wound from a bite, can cause not only local reactions, but also intestinal infections. Therefore, wounds from a wasp sting should be washed and treated with antibacterial agents, and in no case should you try to “suck out” the poison.

bee sting

Despite the fact that many people use bee venom as a medicine, its direct introduction into human body insects can lead to negative consequences even for those who used the poison for treatment.

A bee sting can cause both a local reaction and cause the development of a systemic insect allergic reaction. When a bee stings, you must first remove the sting left from the wound. It is important not to kill the biting insect, it will die on its own anyway. But the crushed body of a bee emits a specific smell that attracts other bees, which can lead to a mass attack on a person.

In what cases should a bee sting be a reason for urgent medical attention? Here are the most common factors leading to the need for medical intervention:

• if a bee has bitten a child;
• if the bites are multiple;
• if a person has already had a history of episodes of allergy to insect venom;
• if the state of health deteriorates sharply.

A bee sting in the area of ​​​​the tongue, throat, lips is dangerous. In such a situation, even if the bite is single, and the victim is an adult who is not prone to allergic reactions, it is better to consult a doctor or take an antihistamine and monitor the dynamics of well-being.

In nature, there are more than 2500 varieties of fleas. About 500 species live in Russia. Fortunately, a few subspecies can coexist with a person in the same room, unfortunately, fleas multiply rapidly, live in groups and can cause a lot of harm.

Flea bites are quite painful and, unlike, for example, a bug bite, do not go unnoticed.

Flea bites feel like superficial pricks. By themselves, fleas bring quite a lot of discomfort due to pain when biting through the skin, which irritates, interferes with sleep, and causes insomnia. With massive attacks of fleas, especially if a child suffers, anemia may develop. Secondary infection when the infection enters the wounds causes inflammation of the skin and soft tissues of bacterial etiology.

Typhus, or epidemiological typhus, is another dangerous disease that fleas can transmit from a reservoir host (rat) to a person. Filariform nematodes and some varieties of helminths are also carried by fleas from infected vertebrates.

Animal bites

Animal bites are one of significant reasons morbidity and mortality worldwide. Their consequences are determined by the number of injuries inflicted, the size and presence of diseases in the animal, as well as the age, size of the body, the state of health of the victim and the availability of urgent medical care.

Animal bites are dangerous as traumatic, attacked mainly by predatory animals with the most capable of inflicting wounds on the structure of the mouth and teeth, and human infection. The bacterial composition of the saliva of the attacked animal, pathogenic organisms and pathogens of various diseases can cause significant harm and lead to the death of the victim, even in the case of minor damage to the skin during a bite.

Dog bites are the cause of annual injuries, the number of which is tens of millions on our planet. Frequent victims of dog attacks are young children. Due to the inability to self-defense and the small surface of the body, dog bites are especially dangerous for this age group.

According to statistics, about 4.5 million people in the United States suffer from dog attacks every year. A fifth turn to a doctor for help, about thirty thousand are in need of reconstructive surgery to restore the surface of the body. 18% develop infections of various etiologies due to a bite, and approximately 20 people die each year, despite the efforts of specialists.

A dog bite is a factor that leads to half the cases of all injuries in people whose profession or lifestyle involves frequent traveling.

Of the 55,000 people who die each year from rabies, half were infected by dog ​​bites.

A dog bite, if it led to damage to clothing and allowed contact of the skin surface with the saliva of the animal, despite the apparent absence of a wound, is a clear reason to visit a doctor and, if it is impossible to assess the condition of the animal by a specialist, to vaccinate against rabies and tetanus.

Cat bite

According to statistics, 13% of bites requiring medical attention are inflicted by cats. At the same time, the bite of a cat, despite the seemingly small cat teeth, can be quite deep.

Cat teeth are sharp and narrow, which leads to wounds closed type. This is a dangerously complicated process of disinfection of the wound surface, the penetration of bacteria and infectious agents deep into the tissues and the development of diseases in an enclosed space without air access.

Street cats, especially those behaving in unusual ways, can carry rabies. However, pets that have never gone beyond the balcony can bring a lot of trouble to the owners.

A cat bite can cause the development of tetanus, pasteurellosis, sepsis. The causative agents of certain diseases are found in 90% of domestic cats, but even if pathogenic bacteria that cause inflammation in wounds do not come from a pet, their penetration into injured tissues from the surface of human skin can also lead to the development of diseases.

The most common disease caused by cat bites is pasteurellosis. Its causative agent, the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, not only causes a septic infection, but also interacts with streptococci and staphylococci that are in the body or on the skin.

If a cat bite hit the hand - and this is the most common localization of this type of bites, then pasteurellosis can affect the tissues of muscles, tendons, joints, and spread throughout the body with the blood stream up to the heart.

For all deep cat bites, doctors recommend first washing the wound thoroughly for 5 minutes using soap or a soapy solution. Next, the wound should be treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine and bandaged or applied with a gauze bandage. In no case should the damaged surface be sealed with plaster, medical glue, covered with ointments, this provokes the development of pathogenic bacteria.

The next correct step is to visit the emergency room for wound treatment, vaccination against tetanus and, possibly, against. Cat bites often require antibiotic treatment.

The sooner you turn to specialists, the less likely it is to develop infectious complications. A cat bite is a common cause of loss of sensation in the fingers, immobility, long periods of treatment, and incomplete recovery from septic events.

Other types of bites

In fact, any living being that has a body part capable of violating skin, can "bite" a person. Although some of these actions are not actually bites, you should be careful when interacting with animals, birds, insects, fish and marine arthropods - some of the listed species are poisonous, many others can bring various infections into the wound, even without being carriers of pathogens.

Thus, the bite of the moray eel, a conger eel, is dangerous because of its way of feeding: the moray eel is a scavenger, preferring to eat fermented flesh, due to which its inward-pointing teeth are covered with a large amount of bacteria. Although moray eels are not aggressive, they are protective of their habitats and are capable of leaving lacerations with rapidly developing inflammatory processes.

There are about 3,500 species of snakes in the world, about 500 are poisonous. In a year, 5 million people are bitten by snakes, 2.4 million suffer from the consequences of poison, up to 125 thousand die, about 400 thousand experience severe consequences, for example, amputation of a limb, paresis, paralysis.

In Russia, there are 11 species of poisonous snakes, of which 4: 3 varieties of vipers and muzzle are quite widespread.

Any snake bite leaves a characteristic mark of two points and is quite painful.

First aid for a snake bite

A snake bite requires emergency care. First, you need to quickly make sure that the attack does not happen again. If it is established that the snake is poisonous, one should try to remove the poison from the wound (it is better to use a syringe without a needle), treat the wound with an antiseptic, provide the injured person with the opportunity to take a horizontal position, give an antihistamine, drink plenty of water and deliver to the clinic for further treatment.

In no case should tourniquets be applied to the limbs, the poison spreads faster than the tourniquet is applied, and the cessation of blood flow accelerates the process of tissue necrosis at the site of the bite. Such a measure is justified only when bitten by a snake with nerve-paralytic venom, like a cobra, in Russia such species are not found. Also under the ban are wound incisions and the intake of alcoholic liquids.

Treatment for snake bites consists of administering an antidote to the venom and supportive care. Detoxification of the body by drinking plenty of fluids or intravenous fluids, painkillers, sedatives, and heart-stimulating drugs may be used.

First aid for bites from non-venomous snakes is to wash the wound and treat it with an antiseptic. Injuries inflicted by large individuals can be quite painful, so that first aid for bites can include local or systemic painkillers. Do not use ointments and patches that block the access of air to the surface, optimal choice if necessary, a light gauze bandage.

Human bite is a fairly broad concept. Trauma to the joints and tissues of the hand against the teeth, inflammatory processes due to biting of burrs and other types of wounds resulting from contact with teeth and saliva are classified as resulting from a human bite.

The structure of the human jaw is such that contact, intentional or accidental, with the teeth can leave significant wounds, penetrating or squeezing. A frequent case of injuries characterized as a “human bite” occurs in childhood, with conflicts between children, vigorous activity or curiosity of babies.

Injuries caused by human teeth, even if they are insignificant, should be treated with an antiseptic and observed by a specialist.

Treatment of bites

Treatment of bites depends on the type of bite, the type of aggressor, his state of health, as well as the physiological characteristics of the victim. Treatment of bites can include both treatment with an antiseptic or antihistamine, and require surgical intervention, therapy against the development of infections, intoxications, and resuscitation.

Itching from insect bites is a common consequence of a local reaction to foreign proteins in saliva. If a mosquito bite itches, immediately after the bite, you can press on the place with your fingernail, several times in different directions, this will disperse saliva and reduce itching.

The drugs of first choice in case the bite itches, swelling, redness are observed, are local antihistamines, for example, Fenistil-gel. With a large number of bites or a pronounced reaction, medications are prescribed for oral administration: Fenistil, Zirtek, Suprastin, etc.

Allergy to bites in a child

Allergic reactions to bites in a child are quite common. An imperfect immune system often reacts even to mosquito bites with quite significant manifestations.

It is necessary to establish who caused the bites in the child, to ensure the possibility of drinking plenty of water, to give an antihistamine. In case of a pronounced reaction, it is necessary to visit the clinic, subsequently a consultation with a pediatrician and an allergist will be required.

If there are episodes of allergy to bites in a child, it is imperative to take preventive measures: avoid places of accumulation of allergenic insects, carry medicines for first aid in case of bites.

Most children outgrow the sting allergy, however, about 2% of adults suffer from allergic reactions throughout their lives.

The consequences of a bite may not appear at all, but may have a significant Negative influence on the body of adults and children. In nature, there are more than one hundred thousand species of insects, as well as other living creatures, which are often referred to as them (orders of arachnids, arthropods, etc.), which are capable of causing severe toxic, allergic reactions or carrying pathogens dangerous diseases.

The consequences of bites from domestic and wild animals also vary from discomfort to death, depending on the degree of trauma, the effect on the body, and the possible entry of an infectious agent into the wound.

The bites of snakes of various species present on the territory of Russia can cause both local trauma and inflammation in the tissues, as well as severe toxic shock, leading to the death of a person.

The consequences of a bite are possible both immediately after the wound is applied, and in a remote period of time. Some diseases do not appear immediately, the incubation period can be up to several weeks.

To avoid the consequences of a bite, it is necessary to carefully monitor all possible damage to the skin surfaces, clean wounds when they occur, and seek medical attention. Preventive measures - The best way avoid both bites and their possible complications.

Sometimes insect bites go unnoticed, leaving no negative consequences. But it also happens that they cause serious complications or even death. Therefore, it is very important to take into account the possible subtleties and mechanisms of development of the reactions of the human body to insect bites. This will help to identify threatening situations in time and take appropriate measures.

Insect bites are a type of combined traumatic and allergic injuries, as well as toxic reactions caused by exposure to foreign components of saliva on the human body. You can get bites almost everywhere, due to the wide distribution of a wide variety of insect species. Some of them are poisonous. Depending on the prevailing pathological changes provoked by insects, a classification of dangerous bites can be formulated.

Preferential reactions	Who is calling
allergic reactions
Toxic reactions	Spiders (tarantula, karakurt); Scorpions.
Local changes in the skin and soft tissues (edema, black scabs, wounds, redness, blisters, hemorrhages, necrosis, suppuration)	Some types of beetles;
Other reactions in the form of systemic infectious processes or a combination of the above symptoms can be caused by stings of any insect in specific people, depending on many factors.

If we characterize the problem of insect bites in in general terms, then it lies in the diversity and unpredictability of the consequences. After all, if we simulate the situation of the bite of the same insect in different people, the reaction can be completely different. This suggests that in addition to the characteristics of the insect, the immune reactivity of the organism of a particular person and his tendency to allergies play an important role in the formation of bite manifestations. That is why the bites of seemingly harmless insects can become a problem that will take a lot of effort to solve.

Swelling and redness from an insect bite

The cause of symptoms such as swelling and redness of the skin after a bite can be contact with any insect. Of course, it is better if a specific species is known. Then it is possible to use specific measures designed to eliminate the consequences of the bites of these particular insects. If the bite is received imperceptibly, and it is impossible to establish its origin, it is necessary to observe the course clinical manifestations. By characteristic symptoms the culprit can be presumably identified.

But for a person with these unpleasant symptoms, it is no longer so important what kind of insect he was bitten by. The question is much more urgent than what can be done to help in this situation. The most important thing to worry about is an assessment of not only local manifestations, but also the general condition. If the state of health is not disturbed, and the swelling against the background of redness is not accompanied by a temperature reaction and is local in nature, then the problem can be dealt with independently at home. Otherwise, you should seek help from a specialist.

How can you help:

Local application of cold. Under its action, vasoconstriction occurs, which slows down the absorption of toxic substances into the systemic circulation and the progression of swelling;

Pressing down the bite site and surrounding tissues. Has the same goals as cooling procedures;

Rubbing or lotions from a semi-alcoholic solution (alcohol with water 1: 1);

Soda solution. Concentration doesn't matter. It is better to have as much soda as possible. You can prepare a mushy mass and lay it on a swollen place;

Compresses with dimexide. They can be both monocomponent and combined. It is important to remember that dimeskid can cause. It must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3-1: 4. Antibiotics, hydrocortisone, heparin are added to the resulting mixture;

Ointment preparations. It is better if they contain antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory components. These drugs include gioksizon, trimistin, kremgen, triderm, Rescuer cream.

A bump or swelling from an insect bite

The bites of some insects are accompanied by the formation of inflammatory infiltrates around the bitten wound. The presence of a bump indicates that the components of saliva or insect secretions are so persistent that the body is not able to quickly eliminate them. Therefore, a certain space suit is formed around the affected area, which is a shell with non-neutralized particles inside. From a medical point of view, this is a manifestation of incomplete immunity.

Most often, such processes are the result of contact with blood-sucking insects. These are, first of all, gadflies. The bites of certain types of flies and mosquitoes can lead to bumps. Among other insects that bite a person not out of nutritional need, only hornets can cause the formation of tumor-like formations. It is characteristic that such a bump can persist for a long time, without showing itself in any way or causing slight discomfort.

main reason the formation of limited seals in places of insect bites is the infection deep into the skin. Moreover, some of the species of gadflies lay their larvae in the tissues of the victim. Then maturation and nourishment of the offspring takes place in the cone. Fortunately, people rarely suffer from gadfly bites due to large sizes this insect and its limited geographical distribution. Its bite is extremely painful, and it is impossible not to notice this, which cannot be said about the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Also, sometimes there is a reaction of lymphoid tissue to insect bites. Clinically, this manifests itself in the form of tumor-like formations in places distant from the bite. As a rule, these are enlarged regional lymph nodes, which are a natural barrier to the spread of infection.

Therapeutic measures:

Treatment of foci of pathogenesis with antiseptics. Alcohol and iodine are ideal for these purposes. Aqueous solutions are ineffective;

Hygienic bath or thorough washing of the skin with laundry soap;

Lotions or compresses based on a semi-alcoholic solution or diluted (1: 4) dimexide. Can be used in the form of wet-drying dressings or oilcloth compresses for 1.5-2 hours. You can’t leave them all night, because you can cause a chemical burn to the skin;

Ointments. They are much more effective than simply lubricating the skin with anti-inflammatory ointments. Hormonal gels and ointments are used: sinaflan, kremgen, trimistin, hydrocortisone. The duration of the lotion is 2-3 hours. After the procedure, the skin is washed and wiped with alcohol;

In cases of widespread multiple bumps or large single formations, there is a need for systemic administration of antihistamines and antibacterial drugs (tavegil, loratadine, azithromycin, amoxiclav, ciprofloxacin).

You should not expect the bumps to disappear quickly with any treatment. This is a gradual process that takes a long time.

Itching after an insect bite: how to remove it?

The bites of most insects cause various complaints, among which the bitten area and adjacent areas are often found. In its origin, the main role belongs to allergenic mechanisms. In the nearest time after the bite, there is a massive release of mediators of inflammation and allergies in response to substances foreign to the body. The result of the ongoing reactions is the appearance of redness and swelling of the skin, accompanied by severe itching. Another cause of itching of the skin after a bite can be the extinction of inflammation. In the process of its reverse development, stretched tissues return the temporarily lost structure, which causes itchy sensations.

To remove itching can help:

Cold, squeezing or washing the affected area in cool water with laundry soap;

Applying thin strips of potatoes or its grated mass to the bitten places. Such lotions change as they heat up from the skin;

Pieces of onion and its juice. They are used by analogy with;

Boric alcohol. Rub it on itchy areas. Ordinary alcohol is used with the same success;

Lotions based on soda solution. Its optimal concentration is considered to be a full teaspoon diluted in a glass of water;

Rubbing with vinegar. Apple cider vinegar works well;

Ointments, pastes and solutions containing menthol and other coolants. They cause reflex excitation of nerve receptors, which significantly reduces their sensitivity. As a result, itching is reduced;

Menovazin. Medication for outdoor use. Well removes not only itching, but also inflammatory manifestations after insect bites;

Toothpaste. The more minty it is, the better its antipruritic effect. The only limitation for use is the presence of wound damage to the skin. It is better not to apply paste on them, so as not to provoke allergic reactions;

Fenistil-gel. An excellent antihistamine for topical use. Relief can be felt after the first application;

Cold tea lotions. You can apply both tea infusion and moistened bags to itchy places. It's good if the tea is made from medicinal plants(chamomile, St. John's wort, sage, oak bark).

Allergic reaction to insect sting

Local and general allergic reactions to insect stings are also not uncommon in recent times. It is impossible to say unequivocally what the reason for this phenomenon is. There is a medical opinion that unfavorable environmental conditions and poor-quality nutrition lead to the spread of allergies among people.

Allergic reactions to insect bites can be very diverse. Most often, such consequences are caused by the bites of bees, wasps, hornets and bumblebees. Moreover, the manifestations of allergies are systemic in nature and can be life-threatening. Mosquito bites usually cause local allergic reactions, which are much less dangerous.

The main manifestations of systemic allergies are:

Skin rash. It is common and has the appearance of red spots or papules not only in areas close to the bite site, but also in distant areas of the skin;

Puffiness. It can capture the entire affected segment and spread at lightning speed throughout the body. This means that the face, neck, torso swells, causing a danger of compression of the upper respiratory tract and endangering the life of the victim;

Numbness of the affected limb;

Increase in body temperature;

Decreased blood pressure.

If you have these symptoms or suspect a bite of a poisonous insect, you should definitely seek medical help at a medical institution. It is better to conduct a short-term observation of the patient, constantly assessing vital signs and laboratory data, in order to take timely action if necessary.

How to behave in the prehospital stage?

No panic, no matter what happens. Calm behavior helps in providing full assistance. Vanity will lead to nothing good;

The victim is laid down or takes a semi-recumbent position;

If the bite is made by a stinging insect (bee, wasp), the remnants of the sting must be removed from the skin;

A pressure bandage is applied to the segment above the bite site. There is no need to apply a tourniquet. The bandage involves superficial compression of the skin and saphenous veins in the affected area. Arterial blood flow should not be affected;

Cold compresses, objects or ice packs are applied to the bite site. This slows down the absorption of toxic products and their distribution with the bloodstream;

Help in a medical institution:

First of all, the possibility of introducing specific antitoxic immune sera should be considered. But this can only be done if the culprit of the bite is precisely known, and refers to spiders or scorpions. Serum is the most effective remedy and has a neutralizing effect on the very source of pathological changes in the body - poison;

pathogenic treatment. It is aimed at eliminating those changes that the toxin has already caused. Includes massive infusion therapy with colloid and crystalloid solutions, diuretics, glucocorticoid hormones;

Anti-shock measures, if necessary;

Symptomatic therapy - painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, lowering body temperature, local treatment of the skin in the area of ​​​​the bite.

Fortunately, single bites of most poisonous insects rarely turn into serious consequences. Much more dangerous are multiple bites by several insects of the same or different species.

First aid for insect bites

First aid measures for insect bites are undifferentiated and should be standard, regardless of the culprit. The sooner the necessary measures are taken, the less negative consequences the bite will cause.

First of all, it is worth saying about what not to do after an insect bite:

Drink alcoholic drinks;

1. To fuss and move actively;

   Apply heat to the bite site.

All these actions increase blood flow in the affected area, which leads to an acceleration of the absorption of toxic and allergenic products. The inevitable result of such changes will be pronounced toxic-allergic reactions of general and local types.

The correct scope of first aid measures includes:

Washing the bite site cold water with laundry soap;

Treatment with any antiseptic solutions: alcohol, chlorhexidine, menovazine, hydrogen peroxide, furatsilin;

Pressing the bitten place or applying a circular pressure bandage to the entire area and overlying areas. You can use both a simple and elastic bandage;

Applying cold;

Taking tablet forms of antihistamine and antiallergic drugs: diazolin, loratadine, suprastin, claritin, erius, edem.

Thus, the process of spreading toxic substances from the primary focus will be maximally blocked. All other well-known methods of treating insect bites can be used only after an assessment of the existing consequences. The duration of first aid procedures should be at least an hour. After this time, the treatment of foci of bites is carried out using various lotions, solutions, ointments and gels.

If, despite the measures taken, there is a progressive deterioration in the victim's well-being, this indicates a bite poisonous insect or a severe allergic reaction. In such situations, patients should be urgently taken to a medical facility, where they will be provided with specialized medical care. Do not neglect this advice, hoping that everything will pass by itself.

How to treat insect bites?

Separately, it is worth dwelling on the most modern achievements of pharmacy in the field of treatment of insect bites. The range of drugs is very wide, and it is important to be able to correctly assess the purpose of the specific components of each of them. Of greatest interest are topical agents - ointments and gels. They can be single or multicomponent, contain anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, antimicrobial and other substances.

The classification of agents for the treatment and prevention of insect bites is clearly shown in the table.

Composition and action of the product	Representatives and trade names
Bite Prevention Preparations based on essential oils that repel insects - repellents.	Taiga Carnation;
Antihistamines They have a decongestant effect, reduce itching.	Fenistil-gel
Monocomponent glucocorticoids Anti-inflammatory effect and reduction of edema.	Hydrocortisone ointment; Prednisolone ointment; Flucinar; Sinaflan.
Glucocorticoids in combination with antibiotics Reduce swelling and inflammation, especially with infected bites.	Hyoxysone; Trimistine;
Antimicrobial action It is necessary for infection and suppuration of bites. Ointments containing a water-soluble antibiotic.	Levomekol; Oflokain; Synthomycin;

Before using hormonal ointments, especially if long-term use is foreseen, it is better to consult a doctor. Thus, the necessary dosage and frequency of application of the agent will be selected.

Education: in 2008 he received a diploma in the specialty "General Medicine (Therapeutic and Preventive Care)" at the Russian Research Medical University named after N. I. Pirogov. Immediately passed the internship and received a diploma in therapy.

Often we simply do not notice the bite of some insect, sometimes we scream painfully.

But there may be more sad consequences from meeting with some of them, in the form of serious complications or even death. Therefore, we must always be prepared for unforeseen situations and take appropriate measures if necessary.

Introduction

With the first warming, the life of various insects begins to become more active. And there are a lot of them, about five million species. The most common in our country are Lepidoptera, Coleoptera in the form of beetles, butterflies. There are also many Hymenoptera: ants, mosquitoes, wasps, bees.

The most dangerous Hymenoptera, they bring a lot of inconvenience, suffering, illness to a person. The mortality from their bites is more than 3 times higher than the mortality from the bites of reptiles.

Because 30% of the world's population is allergic to proteins of various origins, including those contained in insect venom. When bitten, it easily enters the human body along with poison and saliva.

Insects are carriers of various microorganisms that cause many dangerous diseases in a bitten person. They are transmitted most of all by blood-sucking insects: fleas, mosquitoes, lice, mosquitoes. You need to learn to distinguish insects from completely harmless, medium danger and high danger.

Tired of pest control?

Are there cockroaches, mice or other pests in the country house or in the apartment? They must be fought! They are carriers of serious diseases: salmonellosis, rabies.

Many summer residents are faced with pests that destroy crops and damage plants.

It has the following properties:

• Gets rid of mosquitoes, cockroaches, rodents, ants, bedbugs
• Safe for children and pets
• Mains powered, no recharging required
• No addictive effect in pests
• Large area of ​​action of the device

Why do insects bite?

Each person experiences insect bites to varying degrees. The response will always be different, it depends on individual features human and insect species.

If someone without harm to health can be subjected to numerous bites, for another weakened person, even a single bite can cost their lives.

Especially for children after insect bites, you need to be extremely careful. It is not swelling and pain that is dangerous, but the substance that the insect injects. The most serious consequences for a person are a possible allergy, the threat of infection, the transmission of serious diseases.

Almost all insects are insatiable, aggressive, but attack only in 2 cases:

• for their own saturation;
• defensive purposes.

Stories from our readers!
“I have very sensitive skin and an increased reaction to insect bites. After mosquito and midge bites, swelling and severe itching appear. A friend advised me to order drops, the composition of which is completely natural.

I started taking the drug and the skin reaction is not at all the same as before! Slight swelling and slight itching! For me, this is a wonderful result. I decided to drink the course and repeat in the spring. I advise!"

Insect bite symptoms

All bites have consequences, but they are different. The symptoms vary little, but the severity of the differences can be significant.

Unpleasant manifestations of bites:

• severe itching;
• irritation;
• redness;
• Seal;
• soreness;
• increase in body temperature;
• puffiness;
• swelling.

You can not comb the bite site, so as not to inadvertently infect the infection. An especially unpredictable and very dangerous reaction is an allergy. Death can occur within 15–30 minutes. from anaphylactic shock, if you do not provide emergency medical care to the victim.

In addition to local manifestations, a general reaction is also added in the form of:

• loss of consciousness;
• respiratory failure or cessation;
• strong heartbeat;
• falling blood pressure;
• dizziness.

With a moderate form of allergy in the form of swelling, itching, rash, no special measures need to be taken, but upon arrival home, immediately treat the wound.

What insect bites are dangerous?

Often we underestimate the dangers of a bite, and then pay for our carelessness for years. Hymenoptera are especially dangerous in the middle latitudes: fire and nomadic ants, bumblebees, horseflies, wasps, gadflies, hornets, and bees. They attack not for survival, but for self-defense.

Especially dangerous:

• - are carriers of malaria;
• mosquitoes- carry leishmaniasis;
• mosquitoes- transmit yellow fever and dengue disease;
• lice- danger in the form of rickettsiosis, typhoid;
• rat fleas- plague wand;
• fleas- bubonic plague;
• bed bugs- tularemia, viral hepatitis B, plague pathogens, Q-fever;
• cockroaches- worms, dysentery, tuberculosis;
• tsetse fly- infect with sleeping sickness;
• flies- lead to dysentery, typhoid, etc.;
• ticks- to incurable Lyme disease;
• black widow spider It can even cause death. Here you can read what else live in Russia;
• brown recluse spider- completely destroys tissues, it takes months to heal, and young children and the elderly can even die.

Stories from our readers!
“Always used fertilizer and top dressing in his garden. Neighbor said he soaks seeds with new fertilizer. Seedlings grow strong and strong.

Ordered, followed instructions. Great results! We did not expect this! We harvested a wonderful crop this year, now we will always use only this tool. I recommend trying."

Tumor, as a natural reaction of the body to a bite

After a bite, a tumor appears immediately or after a short period of time, but this is a completely understandable reaction of the body to an irritant. This is how the immune system reacts to dangerous toxins and enzymes injected under the skin by insects. Often this starts an inflammatory process.

Then the puffiness will be insignificant, and the affected areas will resemble only small swellings. But when a person is stung by a more dangerous insect: a hornet, wasp, bumblebee, bee, bug, then the appearance of a tumor will be inevitable, often very impressive.

The specifics of inflammation after an insect bite

If, after an insect bite, some part of the body is slightly swollen, you should not panic prematurely. This is a normal reaction of the body to the penetration of foreign biologically active substances. But if a significant part swells, or the edema has already spread throughout the body, then an undesirable allergic reaction can be allowed, which must be eliminated immediately.

If there is only a slight discomfort in the form of burning, redness, this is normal. But when the body temperature rises significantly, it means that the process has become generalized, and the patient must be immediately hospitalized.

The specifics of inflammation after a bite in children

If the child’s bite is only a little reddened and itchy, and there are no other dangerous symptoms, while the baby is cheerful and cheerful, and you know that the reason for everything is just a mosquito or a fly, you can safely use any improvised means after bites.

But when the sore spot is very reddened, swollen, there is a temperature, vomiting, and the child is lethargic and whiny, urgently call an ambulance.

When should a tumor be treated?

These situations often include:

• edema, tumors of an allergic nature;
• with a secondary infection (when an infection was introduced into the wound);
• tumors affecting the respiratory system.

Now let's take a closer look at when medical assistance may be needed:

1. The larynx, tongue, or eye swelled from the bite. In the first two cases, suffocation may occur, in the latter, serious damage to the eye is possible.
2. If more than 3 days have passed after the bite, and the wound has become inflamed, then a secondary infection has occurred.
3. When intoxication occurs: vomiting, dizziness, elevated body temperature, etc.
4. An extensive abscess appeared on the affected area - this may be due to tissue damage.
5. There was a rash, blisters, and the edema quickly spreads further.

It is always better to fight a tumor, especially when bitten by hornets, scorpions, spiders. Some insects do not die immediately after a bite, but can harm a person for a long time. But there are also those who die immediately.

We all know which insect dies after being bitten, of course, it is a bee. This is the most valuable insect for humanity, and attacks only in exceptional defensive cases.

Systemic therapy

In severe cases, systemic therapy is used:

1. Tablets and injections of potent drugs: hormones, anti-inflammatory and antihistamines, as well as calcium preparations and painkillers.
2. Analgesics- used for severe pain and allergic reactions. It can be taken in tablet form, but intramuscular administration will work faster: Baralgin, Analgin, etc. To enhance and speed up the effect, they are administered intramuscularly.
3. Apply and hormonal preparations: Prednisolone in the form of tablets and injections, drops.
4. Medications with a calcium base needed to reduce the sensitivity of the immune system to slow down the production of histamine. Usually these drugs are used together with antihistamines to enhance the effect.
5. To eliminate itching, redness, allergic edema, you will need the following drugs: Calcium chloride, Calcium thiosulfate.

Anti-inflammatory drugs

You can remove inflammation with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these include ointments, creams, gels. Some of them include glucocorticosteroids, but they are not readily available, they are available only by prescription.

Antihistamines

They are used for allergies and to relieve itching and swelling, they must be taken as quickly as possible. Especially with a predisposition to allergies (you should always carry it with you).

All antihistamines are divided into:

• local- these are ointments, gels that are applied to the affected area;
• systemic- tablets, it is advisable to choose drugs of the 2nd generation, they do not have a sedative effect: Loratadine, Cetirizine, etc.

Local treatment

Topical treatment is directed directly to the skin and mucous membranes that have suffered from an insect bite. Antihistamines - prevent the further spread of edema, quickly remove itching and red spots after a bite, block the production of a protein - histamine.

The most effective antihistamines:

• Fenistil;
• Tavegil;
• Suprastin;
• Claritin.

Ointments

Any, even the most effective, ointment can only slightly alleviate the condition of the bitten. But this is not a 100% guarantee of getting rid of the symptoms that disturb you, you should not count on it.

Because they all ointments have a different inherent property only to them: anti-inflammatory, disinfecting, soothing. They can even prevent an allergic reaction.

You need to be able to choose the right tool:

1. You can pick up an ointment against various fleas, bedbugs, horseflies, mosquitoes and remove discomfort.
2. But with poisonous stings: leeches, bees, hornets, centipede, etc., even a good ointment will not bring relief, but only relieve the pain a little. In this case, the ointment is used together with other medicines in order to quickly remove intoxication.
3. When a tick bites, an ointment with only an antiseptic effect is needed, but, alas, it is not able to protect against infection with encephalitis or berylliosis.

Especially effective ointments:

• Hydrocortisone;
• Streptoderm;
• Akriderm;
• Levomekol;
• Advantan;
• Menovazin;
• Fenistil.

Balms

Balms are good to use in first aid, it will soothe and cool the skin:

• for adults - Gardex Family, Floresan cream-balm, Mosquitall, OFF, Mommy Care, Doctor Theiss Arnica, etc.;
• for children - "My sun", Gardex Baby, Acomarin cream.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine will help relieve swelling after a bite:

• cold compress or ice;
• mash a little and attach plantain, mint, parsley, dandelion leaves and fix;
• prepare a decoction of Veronica officinalis and make lotions: 1 tbsp. l. herbs for 1 tbsp. boiling water, insist until cool;
• make a decoction of parsley roots: chop 0.5 tbsp. l. roots per 0.5 l. boiling water, boil for 2-3 minutes, cool and take 2 tbsp. l. 3 times a day;
• soda solution: dissolve 1 tsp of soda in 5 tbsp. l. boiled water and treat the affected area;
• treat with medical alcohol or vodka in half with water, boric alcohol, calendula;
• balm "Asterisk" helps well.

Conclusion

Self-treatment can be carried out only in the absence of allergies and with a mild standard form of the body's reaction to an insect bite.

With an increase in temperature, the appearance of severe edema, suffocation, unbearable itching, jumps in blood pressure, blisters that begin to merge before our eyes, forming large areas, immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance. home treatment unacceptable, it can lead to serious complications and even death.

In order not to deal with the consequences of bites, it is better to warn them right away. There is a huge selection of products for protection and repelling insects. And the right remedy will help maintain health!

Wasps are the most famous predatory insects. They eat flies, caterpillars, spiders, carrion and various wastes. They also sting painfully, causing a person to suffer insane pain. What to do if bitten by a wasp? How to reduce pain and swelling?

How to distinguish a wasp from other insects?

The ability to distinguish wasps from other Hymenoptera is very important, if only for the reason that the provision of first aid after an attack by a wasp or, for example, a bee, is not similar to each other. Try to carefully consider the offender until he flew away. The bee is quite large with a densely pubescent body. The wasp looks sleeker - it is much thinner, light yellow in color and almost lint-free.

Are wasp stings dangerous?

For the most part, the bites of these insects are not particularly dangerous. Of course, you can’t do without consequences, but they will disappear on their own even without special actions. However, cases where wasp attacks ended in the development of severe allergies or even led to death happen very often. Several factors influence the development of a particular reaction.

Factor 1. Type of stinging wasp

Few people know that these insects come in several species, each of which has its own characteristics.

Factor 2. The sensitivity of the organism to the poison of these insects. Most people are unaware of their increased susceptibility until the very moment they are stung. It is for this reason that everyone should understand what is normal and what is to be feared.

Usually wasp stings manifest themselves as follows:

• The puncture site hurts;
• Soft tissue edema develops;
• The skin becomes red and noticeably hot.

Some of these symptoms may last up to 2 days. Such a response of the body to wasp stings is absolutely adequate - you should not be afraid of it.

At the site of the wasp sting, a wound and swelling are visible, as well as severe reddening of the skin.

Allergy symptoms look very different:

• Temperature rise;
• Headache;
• Hemorrhages (internal and under the skin);
• convulsions;
• Discomfort and pain in the abdomen;
• Nausea
• Quincke's edema - leads to suffocation (asphyxia);
• Anaphylactic shock - develops in the first 5-30 minutes after an insect attack, in 15% of cases ends in the death of the victim.

On a note! Fortunately, such reactions to insect venom are extremely rare. However, if an allergic reaction really exists, it develops catastrophically quickly.

Factor 3. Mass bites

All signs of allergies can easily develop with a massive attack of wasps. In this case, you need to drink 2-3 tablets of ascorbic acid and inject 5-10% calcium chloride. It is also advised to drink plenty of liquids - hot sweet tea or sweet water.

Factor 4. Venom injection site

The most dangerous areas are:

• The skin around the eyes - in this case, the edema occupies the floor of the face, and a variety of discharges can ooze from the eyes. The situation is fraught with inflammation of the eye and mucous membranes (panophthalmitis);

• Lips and mucous membranes of the mouth - often accompanied by difficulty in breathing;
• Neck - swelling resulting from an acute reaction can block breathing.

Factor 5. The speed of first aid.

On a note! The most severe wasp stings are carried by young children and pregnant women. They should especially beware of contact with these hymenoptera.

What to do with wasp stings?

First aid for a wasp sting looks quite simple. These important tips will definitely help you with this.

Tip 1. Treat the stung place with any product that contains acid (orange, apple, chopped parsley root, lemon, plantain leaf or Kalanchoe). Acid neutralizes the main dose of poison in a still open wound.

Tip 2. Lubricate the bite with any antiseptic - medical alcohol, vodka, brilliant green, iodine, hydrogen peroxide or any other alcohol-containing solution. This is especially true for young children - because of the constant itching, they comb the wound and can bring some kind of infection there;

Tip 3. Apply cold to the damaged area - an ice pack, a coin, a metal object, meat or greens from the freezer. It will help relieve puffiness.

Tip 4. You can also make a compress - mix alcohol with water, soak a rag in the mixture, apply it to the skin and lightly wrap it with a towel or scarf. Hold for half an hour. An alcohol compress slows down blood flow and stops the process of further spread of the poison throughout the body. The sooner you apply it, the greater the effect will be.

Tip 5. To stop the development of an allergic reaction and prevent serious health problems, drink 1 tablet of Suprastin, Claritin, Zodak, Citrine, Prednisolone or Loratadine - they can be safely used at home conditions.

Such means are absolutely not suitable for a child. It is better to give him a syrup, which includes desloratadine (for example, "Erius").

Tip 6. Apply one of the pharmacy creams to the bite:

• Fenistil-gel - helps relieve pain and itching, reduces the risk of developing an inflammatory and allergic process;
• Insectline - famous for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, reduces pain;
• Menovazin is a budget anesthetic used to reduce itching;
• Gardex Family and Gardex Baby are mild but very effective drugs that can be used by both children and adults;
• Soventol - ointment for pain relief;
• Advantan - a special gel to prevent an allergic reaction;
• Rescuer is a universal balm for all age groups;
• Picnic Family - a cream designed to lubricate wasp stings in schoolchildren;
• Mosquitall is a series of creams, emulsions and sprays for adults and children.

Tip 7. If there are no pharmaceutical preparations at hand, use effective folk remedies:

• A slice of tomato, onion or garlic;
• A piece of cloth soaked in essential oil, vinegar, lemon juice, alcohol tincture calendula, golden mustache or plantain;
• A gruel of water and soda;
• Validol moistened with water;
• Fresh parsley leaves (chewed);
• Lotions from tea;

Apply a warm bag of freshly brewed tea to the bite site to help relieve pain and redness.

• A piece of sugar.

Advice! When bitten by wasps, you should not drink alcoholic beverages - they provoke the development of edema.

Tips to help with a wasp or hornet sting:

How to help with allergies?

What to do if a wasp has bitten, and the victim suffers from intolerance to the poison of this insect? You need to act quickly here, because the count is in minutes!

Using an auto-injector

An autoinjector is a special syringe filled with adrenaline. It's easy to use:

• Remove the cap;
• Firmly press the autoinjector against the victim's thigh;
• Inject, releasing adrenaline over 5-10 seconds.

The injection can be done directly through clothing without wasting time removing it.

During the warm period, people prone to allergies to wasp and bee stings are advised to always carry a set of medicines prescribed by an allergist and a passport of a patient with an allergic disease. This document can be obtained from the attending physician. It contains basic information about the patient - full name, age, address, diagnosis, first aid rules and the phone number of the allergist who has it.

Using a hollow tube

If, after a wasp or bumblebee sting, wheezing or whistling is heard in the victim’s breath, try to insert a clean hollow tube into the throat - it will allow breathing even with severe swelling. In very rare cases, the victim will need to undergo a conicotomy, a procedure in which the front wall of the throat is cut open. Not everyone can decide on such an operation.

When should you go to the hospital?

There are several cases in which you should immediately call an ambulance or go to the hospital yourself:

1. Severe inflammation began at the site of the bite;

2. The victim suffers from the following diseases:

• Asthma - first stop the asthma attack with a special inhaler;
• Allergies of any kind - give an antihistamine;
• Heart problems - stimulate the heart with valocordin, nitrospray, or nitroglycerin;

3. A wasp has stung a child or a pregnant woman;

4. There are several wounds on the body (for adults - more than 5, for children - more than 1);

5. The bite is located on the face or neck;

6. The victim went into anaphylactic shock.

Popular Mistakes

There are several egregious mistakes that most of the victims make. What should not be done when attacked by wasps?

• Do not look for a sting in the wound - it is simply not there;
• Do not squeeze out the poison - this leads to its spread through the bloodstream;
• Do not pick or comb the bite - this is fraught with rapid suppuration;
• Do not lower the affected area into dirty water and do not apply earth to it - an infection can get into the wound;
• Do not limit yourself to drinking - the development of the tumor does not depend on the amount of fluid you drink. Rather, it is water that reduces the main symptoms of intoxication.

How to avoid a wasp sting?

To prevent unpleasant consequences from meeting with a wasp, remember a few rules.

Rule 1. Going to nature, give preference to clothes in neutral shades. It should cover the arms, legs and head.

Rule 2. Do not use sweet perfume in the heat - it will attract insects.

Rule 3. Do not eat berries, sweets and fruits on the street.

Rule 4. Seeing a wasp next to you, do not wave your arms or make sudden movements.

Rule 5. Do not disturb the hives.