How to Treat Bug Bites

Real Simple Magazine

Experts weigh in on how to treat the suffering inflicted by seven common insects and answer a few truly pest(ering) questions.
By Karen Asp


Mosquito Bite
Symptoms: A soft pink or red bump; intense itching; less commonly, hives.

Grant Cornett
Grant Cornett


How to treat:
Wash with soap and water and use cold compresses to reduce itching. Some swear by a thick paste of water and baking soda; apply to the skin, allow to dry, then brush off. "There's no clinical evidence that this works, but it can't hurt," says Donald V. Belsito, a professor of clinical dermatology at Columbia University. If you develop hives, take an antihistamine, such as Benadryl, and then apply an over-the-counter cream with 1 percent hydrocortisone. Avoid scratching; breaking the skin could cause infection.

Good to know:
Mosquitoes can transmit a number of diseases. The greatest concern in the United States is the West Nile virus, a potentially serious illness that can cause fever, head and body aches, and vomiting, says Robert L. Norris, the chief of the division of emergency medicine at Stanford University. If you develop these symptoms 3 to 14 days after a bite, see your doctor.

Also See: Keeping Mosquitoes at Bay



Bee or Wasp Sting
Symptoms: A red welt on the skin, plus a burning sensation; less commonly, itching, light-headedness, and hives.

Grant Cornett
Grant Cornett


How to treat:
If you see a stinger, gently remove it by scraping the surface of the skin with the edge of a credit card (this will lift out the stinger). Then clean the skin with soap and water. To control pain, use ice-10 minutes on and 10 minutes off, for up to an hour-and/or take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), such as Advil. If you develop hives, take an antihistamine. For cases that involve severe pain, a doctor may inject the sting with an anesthetic to numb the area temporarily, says Belsito.

Good to know:
A small percentage of the population may experience a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Signs of anaphylaxis include swelling of the throat or tongue, difficulty breathing, and nausea. If you develop these symptoms, telephone 911.

Also See: Your Biggest Bug Questions, Answered


Fly Bite
Symptoms: Immediate pain at the site of the bite and red bumps that itch.

Grant Cornett
Grant Cornett


How to treat

:
Wash the bite with soap and water. Then apply ice for about 15 minutes at a time, several times a day. Or use an over-the-counter bite-relief product that contains ammonia, such as After Bite ($4 at drugstores), to reduce pain and itching, says Roxanne Connelly, an associate professor of entomology at the University of Florida, in Vero Beach. Avoid scratching so you don't break the skin and invite infection.

Good to know:
The bites of some flies, including horseflies and deer flies, can bleed. If the bleeding doesn't stop on its own, see a doctor.

Also See: How Do I Get Rid of Fruit Flies?



Fire-Ant Bites and Stings
Symptoms: A burning sensation, followed by red, itchy bumps that turn into white, fluid-filled blisters.

Alex Wild/Getty Images
Alex Wild/Getty Images


How to treat

:
Clean the bites with soap and water. To stop itching, apply calamine lotion or anti-inflammatory hydrocortisone as directed on the package label. If you experience increased pain, worsening redness, or fever, call your doctor; you could have a secondary infection.

Good to know:
In rare cases, some people develop an anaphylactic reaction. Call 911 if you have those symptoms.

Also See: Bug-Repelling Basics

Read About More Types of Bug Bites and How to Treat Them


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