Insect bites: allergic manifestations and their treatment. What is important to know about insect sting allergies

In whatever corner of the planet a person is, insects can be found everywhere. Currently, more than 100 thousand species of insects are known to science. It is insects that have the largest representation among other living beings.

There are practically no such people who have never been bitten by any insect. Moreover, the human body is designed in such a way that different reactions to bites can be expected from it, regardless of the type of insect. Some bites can be completely unnoticeable, while others can cause complications. In some cases, this can even lead to death.

How to determine who bitten?

Usually bites various insects differ in a number of features. They may have different appearance, different symptoms after a bite and various consequences. In order to determine which insect bitten, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the bites of each of them in more detail.

bedbugs

Most often from bedbugs a person is bitten precisely bed. Bed bugs tend to bite at night when people are sleeping. Initially, after a bug bite, almost no traces are visible on the body. Only red spots may appear small size on a pinkish background. A day later, swelling and redness appear at the site of the bite.

Also, in most cases, bed bug bites can be accompanied by itching. These symptoms are a pronounced allergic reaction to the bites of many insects. It used to be thought that bed bug bites were very harmless, however, as a result of recent research, it has become known that these bugs can carry Chagas disease.

Spiders

Most varieties of spiders are non-poisonous. Their bites are accompanied only by the appearance of a red spot. However, there are also such spiders, after the bites of which a severe allergic reaction appears. It can also cause skin necrosis and even poisoning.

Only a black widow can pose a threat to a person. The first reactions after a black widow bite appear within half an hour. Initially, there is swelling and pain. After a few hours, the bite causes an ache all over the body, as well as nausea and vomiting. If you are bitten by a black widow, seek medical attention immediately. medical institution.

Ticks

Ticks occupy the first place in terms of adverse effects on the human body among insects. As a rule, a person becomes a victim of a tick during a walk in nature.

Ticks move well over the human body, so most often they affect the most delicate parts of the body:

• Groin area.
• Stomach.
• Armpits.
• The area behind the ears.

A person does not feel when a tick bites him.

The main symptoms of a tick bite:

• Weakness.
• Headache.
• Tachycardia.

In addition, ticks are also among the leaders in the transfer of various diseases.

These diseases include:

• Tick-borne encephalitis.
• Lyme disease (tick-borne borreliosis).
• Hemorrhagic fever Crimea-Congo.

Fleas

When a flea bites, small red dots first appear on the body, which are accompanied by itching.

Basically, fleas bite the following parts of the body:

• Ankles.
• Caviar.
• Lap.
• Stomach.
• Armpits.

An allergic reaction to a flea bite is accompanied by redness, swelling and itching. If the redness is combed, then an infection can get in, which will lead to suppuration of the bites. For a long time, fleas carried the plague. Now you can also meet endemic outbreaks, but only in rare cases.

bees

Bee stings are characterized by severe pain that appears instantly. This pain may not go away for several hours. The place bitten by a bee takes on a pale appearance in the very center, and redness appears around. As a rule, with bee stings, severe swelling appears. If there were several bites, then a person may experience a severe allergic reaction.

Allergy is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Dizziness.
• Weakness.
• Seizures.
• Quincke's edema.
• Cardiac arrest (with a large number of bites).

linen lice

Ants

The ant sting itself is very painful, so it is simply impossible not to notice it. Outwardly, the bite is a red dot. It is also worth noting that there are poisonous species of ants. If a person is bitten fire ant, then the bite is accompanied by a strong burning sensation and the formation of pustules, which can leave scars behind.

scorpions

The bite of a scorpion will also not go unnoticed. It is immediately accompanied by sharp pain and burning. Symptoms of a scorpion sting may vary depending on the type of insect itself.

Mainly:

• Burning and pain.
• Puffiness and swelling.
• Redness.
• Numbness.
• Seizures.
• Nausea.
• Tachycardia.

Dermatitis is a rash in the form of bubbles, peeling, discomfort, itching, burning, and so on. The reasons may be different, depending on which several varieties of dermatitis are distinguished, for example, infectious, allergic, atopic, food, etc.

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What kind of insect bites can be dangerous?

The main varieties of insects that live on our planet do not pose a particular danger to human health, however, the bites of some can lead to serious consequences. Poisonous hymenoptera species of insects and some species of ants can carry the greatest threat to the body.

It is worth taking into account that mostly poisonous insects attack people only as a defense. Flying bloodsuckers are also dangerous to human health. These are mosquitoes, gadflies and some types of flies. With their bite, a certain substance is introduced into the blood of people that can provoke allergic symptoms.

Insect bite symptoms

The main symptoms from an insect bite can be as follows:

• Pain sensations.
• Puffiness and swelling.
• Redness.

It should be noted that the presence of itching can cause a number of complications. It is for this reason that you should not comb the bite site to avoid infection.

Edema

Edema from an insect bite can be different, depending on the type of insect itself. In most cases, swelling is present at the site of the bite for a very short time. In order to relieve swelling, it is necessary to resort to some methods, which will be described below.

Itching

Itching can be called the most excruciating problem with an insect bite. Most often, itching occurs after the bites of mosquitoes, fleas and bedbugs. In order to answer the question, you can use any remedy after an insect bite. There are also a number effective methods able to deal with itching.

Pain

Most often, pain is accompanied by stings of scorpions, spiders, bees and poisonous insects. Sometimes the pain may occur only some time after the bite itself, however, in most cases the pain occurs immediately, so the bite cannot be overlooked.

Hyperemia

Hyperemia called redness of the affected area of ​​the body. As a rule, hyperemia appears in almost all cases of insect bites. It can only differ in the level of its severity, depending on the insect itself.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW!

Most insect bites are accompanied by an allergy. However, as a rule, this should not be a cause for concern, since these reactions of the body are of a moderate nature of their manifestation.

The main signs of an allergic reaction:

• Edema.
• Pain.
• Rash (in some cases).
• An increase in temperature at the site of the bite.

If an insect has already bitten a person before, and this provoked an allergic reaction, then the next bite will be accompanied by it with a probability of 60%. In most cases, there is no need to resort to certain therapeutic methods to eliminate the allergic process.

However, there are cases when an allergy can be expressed by more serious symptoms:

• Swelling of the face and larynx.
• Labored breathing.
• Stress.
• Cardiopalmus.
• Rash.
• Dizziness.
• Pressure drop.

In such situations, it is best to seek help from a medical institution.

Tired of dealing with dermatitis?

Peeling of the skin, discomfort and itching, redness, rashes in the form of bubbles, cracks, weeping wounds, hyperemia, burning are signs of dermatitis.

Treatment requires an integrated approach and this cream, which has a 100% natural composition, will be a good helper.

It has the following properties:

• Relieves itching after the first application
• Eliminates rash and peeling of the skin in 3-5 days
• Reduces overactive skin cells
• After 19-21 days completely eliminates plaques and traces of them
• Prevents the appearance of new plaques and an increase in their area

Help with insect bites

To relieve swelling at the site of the bite, you must:

• Apply cold to the bite.
• Wipe the place with an alcohol solution (before that, it must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1).
• Wipe the area with saline solution.
• Spread the bite site with a special ointment (Trimistin, Rescuer, Fenistil).

If a dense bump has formed at the site of the bite, then the following must be done:

• Treat the bite with alcohol or iodine.
• Apply a lotion of ointment (Sinaflan, Kremgen). The lotion should be at the site of the bite for at least 1.5 hours.
• Taking systemic antihistamines (Tavegil, Loratadin).

Methods that can eliminate itching:

• Applying potato pulp to the bite site.
• Rubbing with onion juice.
• Lotion from a solution of soda.
• Rubbing apple cider vinegar with input (ratio 1:1).
• Smearing the place with toothpaste.

Perhaps not everyone knows that three-quarters of the living creatures that live on our planet are insects. modern science over a hundred thousand species of various insects are known. Of course, a person cannot but be disturbed by such a numerous neighborhood, especially since the bulk of insects demonstrate aggressive behavior, often being carriers of various diseases and infections.

Insect bites- very annoying and sometimes dangerous phenomenon. That is why we will devote this article detailed consideration the main symptoms of insect bites, their likely consequences, as well as ways to prevent these very consequences.

Stings of ants, hornets, bumblebees, bees and wasps

These insects are characteristic representatives of the order Hymenoptera. However, they are also united in a single group due to their special behavior during bites. The fact is that when a person’s skin is damaged, a poisonous substance is injected into his blood. Actually, this is the reason why some people have a strong allergic reaction to insect bites.

After a bite from a stinging insect, the sting can easily remain in the wound. Which, by the way, often happens with bee stings, which after such "incidents" lose their stinging apparatus. The special structure of the bee sting, which provides for a lot of specific notches, makes it very difficult to extract it from the wound. Hornets and wasps can sting repeatedly. But the ant cannot sting, since its jaws are adapted specifically for bites, followed by injection of poison from the abdomen into the wound.

What are the causes of bites?

All of the above insects bite exclusively for defensive purposes. Most often they attack when trying to crush them or when a person makes sudden movements. On the part of wasps, ants or bees, cases of unmotivated aggression are extremely rarely recorded.

Bites of stinging insects, the symptoms of which are quite easy to recognize, sometimes require emergency medical attention. Typically, a person may experience:

• Swelling of the area surrounding the bite;
• severe itching and pain;
• Redness of the bitten place;
• General weakness;
• Significant allergic reactions are possible;
• Hives;
• Nausea and sometimes even vomiting.

More severe reactions are less common, but if they occur, seek immediate medical attention. medical care:

• Chest pain;
• The presence of wheezing;
• Difficulty speaking and swallowing;
• Interception of breath;
• Dyspnea;
• Weakness and dizziness;
• Infection.

What bites are the most dangerous?

• Numerous bites of such insects are extremely dangerous, since in this case critical doses of toxic substances enter the human blood, which can lead to general poisoning of the body, and also cause death.
• No less dangerous is individual intolerance to insect poisons, even in small quantities, since a strong allergic reaction can cause anaphylactic shock.
• Insect bites in the area of ​​​​the tongue are considered extremely dangerous, which can lead to swelling of the larynx, followed by asphyxia and death.

What to do?

With a single bite of any insect, swelling of the leg or other part of the body may occur, which is a natural reaction of the body. In case of redness, pain and itching, without serious allergic reactions, it is enough to carry out the usual treatment. Insect bites, which are most often treated at home, should be treated according to a specific, pre-designed scheme:

• If a sting remains in the wound, carefully remove it;
• We treat the damaged surface of the skin with a disinfectant (peroxide, iodine, fucorcin);
• Apply ice to relieve swelling.
• We take antihistamines;
• Directly on the wound we apply ointment (to relieve itching) from insect bites.

These actions are quite enough in normal cases. However, special attention should be paid to the individual tolerance of the poison and the total number of bites - the further strategy will depend on this. At the slightest suspicion or deterioration of the condition, you should immediately call for medical help. Before the doctors arrive, you can use the anti-anaphylactic package, which includes:

• antihistamines;
• tourniquet;
• adrenaline injector.

Further medical manipulations will be carried out by the attending physician.

Prevention

Of course, it is impossible to foresee all the nuances, but some simple preventive rules will allow you to avoid the dubious prospect of being bitten by a frightened insect. First of all, it is not recommended:

• Approach apiaries without special training and clothing;
• Dress in bright outfits that bees may like;
• Strangle with floral and sweet aromas before going out into nature;
• Rest on anthills and strategic ant paths;
• Make sudden movements that insects can be perceived as a manifestation of an aggressive mood;

These basic precautions can keep you safe from most insect attacks. Although it is impossible to deny the existence of annoying exceptions to the rules, for example, when you inadvertently touch a hornet's nest on a walk ... This is where knowledge of first aid for insect bites will come in handy.

Bites of bloodsucking insects: flies, midges, gadflies, mosquitoes

What are the causes of bites?

Insects of this group bite a person for their own, exclusively selfish purposes, which is fundamentally different from hymenoptera. For example, the body of mosquitoes, traditionally feeding on flower nectar, during the period of active reproduction requires special proteins that are contained in human blood. That is why female mosquitoes, risking their own lives, selflessly rush at people.

A similar concern for procreation drives horseflies and gadflies: during bites, they tend to lay their eggs under the skin of a person. Actually, therefore, their bites often fester and are very painful. The motivation of flies is not entirely clear, meanwhile, in certain periods, they also demonstrate quite aggressive moods.

Biting symptoms and possible complications

In our climatic conditions bites blood-sucking insects very rare, but still can be accompanied by serious complications. The fact that this group does not have a poisonous gland is very comforting, however, during a bite, the animal injects a special substance under the skin of a person that helps thin the blood. It is this that most often causes allergic reactions, which, in fact, do not pose a serious danger.

As a rule, after insect bites, a person may experience:

• Redness of the affected skin;
• Unbearable itching;
• Skin allergic reactions that look like a small red rash;
• Pain in the bitten places.

• When an infection enters the wound, suppuration, for example, if after an insect bite the leg is very swollen, it is necessary to visit a surgeon;
• In case of atypical allergic reactions (convulsions, vomiting, nausea, shortness of breath, rash)
• If an insect stuck under the eyelid or in the ear causes severe irritation and swelling, and sometimes suppuration.

How dangerous are the bites of bloodsucking insects?

In our strip, the bites of blood-sucking insects, as a rule, do not cause serious inconvenience to a person. Meanwhile, sometimes they can be fraught with a serious threat. Do not forget that:

• Numerous bites of mosquitoes, horseflies, gadflies, mosquitoes, midges or midges can provoke life-threatening and extremely severe allergic reactions;
• Tse Tse flies, which are typical inhabitants of African countries, carry extremely dangerous sleeping sickness in our country;
• No less dangerous are mosquitoes that spread leishmaniasis;
• Through the bites of deer flies, one can become infected with such an exotic disease as tularemia;
• Flies carry E. coli and infections very quickly;
• Mosquito bites can cause diseases such as equine encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever.

What to do?

After discovering the brutal bites of bloodthirsty insects on their bodies, many people ask themselves a completely logical question: how to treat insect bites, how to get rid of the manifestations of allergic reactions? Insect bites are especially difficult for children, who simply do not want to put up with the discomfort that has appeared. First of all, after the bite of a blood-sucking insect, it is necessary:

• Treat the affected areas with a disinfectant;
• Apply special remedy from bites, aimed at reducing irritation and itching;
• Prevent combing of wounds, as this is fraught with prolonged healing, the formation of suppuration and scarring;
• At the first manifestations of urticaria or allergic reactions, it is recommended to take antihistamines.

In the event of the appearance of atypical symptoms, accompanied by nausea, fever, difficulty breathing, vomiting, you should immediately contact a medical facility for qualified assistance.

Prevention

As in most other similar situations, the bites of blood-sucking insects are easier to prevent than to spend effort, time and money on their treatment. To avoid such troubles will help you:

• Mosquito nets installed on the window openings of the premises where you spend most of your time;
• Also, indoors, a good effect can be achieved through the use of special spirals and fumigators, which have a depressing effect on blood-sucking insects;
• Before going out into nature, you can use repellents that are widely represented on the modern market;
• For a country trip, you need to prepare special clothes that cover the whole body, not forgetting to pick up the appropriate headgear.

Adhering to these simple rules, you will reliably protect your body from such an unpleasant phenomenon as the attack of bloodsucking insects.

As a rule, at the mere mention of these insects, we have associations with dirt and slovenliness. But in fact, no one is safe from their uninvited visit and annoying neighborhood. To date, getting rid of fleas and lice does not cause any particular difficulties. It is much more difficult to cope with an army of bedbugs occupying the entire room. Often in such situations, a complete disinsection of the premises is required with the help of a sanitary and epidemiological station.

What are the causes of bites?

Biting symptoms and possible complications

Characteristic signs of the presence of bedbugs in the house are numerous bites all over the body in the form of red small dots. Sometimes they can be concentrated in certain places or have the form of a kind of "tracks". Often, after an insect bite, swelling can be observed, as well as allergic reactions:

• severe itching;
• redness;
• Edema and swelling of the affected areas of the skin.

Flea bites are intermittent because they "specialize" exclusively in animals, but the discomfort from this does not decrease:

• Unbearable itching;
• The appearance in places of bites of seals and redness of the skin.

Lice bites are almost impossible to notice with the naked eye, because they are located on the head, under the hairline. Meanwhile, their symptoms are quite pronounced:

Insect bites of these species are very rarely accompanied by acute allergic reactions. Although when the skin is damaged, for pain relief, they can inject saliva into the wound, which can cause minor irritation.

These insects pose a more serious danger in terms of the spread of various diseases:

• Fleas can carry bubonic plague spores;
• Lice are carriers of such an epidemiological disease as typhus.

With regard to bedbugs, there is no proven data on the spread of any diseases yet, but the very fact of their neighborhood that poisons a person’s life is sufficient for the use of serious disinfectants for premises.

What to do?

• In order to avoid introducing infections into wounds, bite sites should not be combed;
• As a rule, allergies go away on their own after a few days. However, taking antihistamines will significantly speed up this process.
• Bite sites should be treated with disinfectants;
• To relieve irritation and itching, you can apply one of the suitable remedies after insect bites.

Prevention measures

tick bites

From early spring to late autumn, ordinary walks in the forest or walks in the park can end in an attack of ticks. Adult representatives of this insect patiently wait for the future victim in dense thickets of bushes or on high stalks of grass. A tick can choose a place suitable for a bite for a long time, after which it will literally “drill” a selected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin. For a person, the bite itself is almost invisible, because during its commission, the tick injects an anesthetic into the blood. The female tick can live on the human body for as long as ten days.

Why do ticks bite us?

The main cause of tick bites is procreation. Partly they use blood proteins for nutrition, but mostly for reproductive functions.

Biting symptoms and possible complications

The anesthetic injected by the tick during the introduction makes the bite itself almost invisible. However:

• The main complication of tick bites is infection with dangerous diseases;
• Itching and local inflammation are the main symptoms that allow you to identify the bite site;
• After removing the tick, a swelling may remain at the site of the bite, which quickly passes. Allergic reactions to an insect bite practically do not occur;
• Outwardly, a tick bite resembles a large mole. And the bites of "moose" ticks generally look like a small dark tubercle.

What is the danger of tick bites?

Today, two serious diseases are known that are spread by ticks. It:

• Tick-borne borreliosis, also called Lyme disease;
• Tick-borne encephalitis.

That is why, if weakness, chills, headache appear after a tick bite, it is necessary to urgently contact a medical facility.

What to do?

If you find a stuck tick, you can immediately go to a specialized emergency room, or you can try to remove it yourself. It is worth noting that in the first case, you will have the opportunity to diagnose an insect for the presence of infectious diseases.

Algorithm for self-extraction of the tick:

• Immediately after detection, place a drop of gasoline or vegetable oil then remove the tick with tweezers;
• Disinfect the bite site;
• Apply a special remedy used after insect bites.

Prevention measures

To protect yourself from tick bites, you must:

• Use repellents during the period of greatest activity of these insects;
• Before leaving for the forest or forest park zone, put on the most closed equipment, without neglecting the headgear;
• After forest walks, make a thorough examination of the body.

If, despite the preventive measures taken, you still could not avoid a tick bite, go to a medical institution for an injection of iodantipyrine or immunoglobulin within the next four days.

Generally speaking, insect bites in their manifestations have much in common with various skin diseases, injuries and allergic reactions: some of them can be easily confused, for example, with nettle or hogweed burns, while others can be mistaken for characteristic symptoms of allergic dermatitis.

The photo below shows the bites of typical blood-sucking insects. Mosquitoes:

Fresh marks on the skin after the "feast" of bed bugs:

And in this photo - the consequences of a nettle burn:

Nevertheless, insect bites can still be distinguished from skin lesions of a different nature - albeit quite similar. There are some signs and symptoms that point specifically to the consequences of an insect attack:

Unfortunately, in practice it is far from always easy to distinguish between an allergic reaction or skin diseases from the bites of certain insects. Moreover, some dermatitis themselves may be the result of regular or numerous bites, so in cases of serious doubt and concern, it is still better to consult a doctor.

Insect bites can be either practically harmless and passing in just a few hours, or extremely dangerous, which can lead to extensive hemorrhages, swelling, and even anaphylactic shock with a possible fatal outcome. Again, there is no single framework here: for example, harmless enough for adults mosquito bites can result in children with a severe allergic reaction, high fever and a generally serious condition.

Various types of insect bites can be divided into several groups according to external signs and the severity of the consequences and complications caused.

The first group includes light, subtle, practically non-disturbing bites. They are left, for example, single small midges or red wood ants. A person may not notice the consequences of such attacks at all - only slight redness or just dots remain on his skin after them.

In the photo - an ant is trying to bite a person:

The second group also combines relatively light, but already more pronounced and, as a rule, numerous insect bites: for example, mosquitoes, bedbugs, fleas and lice. The attack of one such offender is often unobtrusive and does not attract much attention, but these insects “take” precisely the mass character - and this already threatens with severe itching, allergies, and sometimes fever (for example, in children). The victim usually gives a very colorful description of his sensations, precisely because of the large area of ​​the bitten body surface.

That summer we went to the pond to relax, so it was some kind of nightmare, by the evening all the bitten ones went. Mosquito - not measured! Sashenka's face was all swollen, her temperature rose, and she began to feel sick. Then for another week he was all covered in spots ...

Oksana, Yekaterinburg

In the photo - a mosquito at the time of the bite:

On a note:

It is interesting to note that when bed bugs start up in the house (and this is not uncommon in our 21st century), many people do not believe in the presence of insects in the house to the last, writing off redness in themselves, and especially in children, for an allergic reaction. At the same time, they sin for anything - for washing powder, irritation from clothes, allergies from fruits, from coffee, etc. Until one day they find a bug in their bed or the bed of a child ...

The third group consists of bites that cause a pronounced local reaction in the form of severe pain, swelling and redness, with the possible development of serious edema and allergic reactions, up to anaphylactic shock. These include the stings of wasps, hornets, bees, some tropical ants, certain types equestrians, large horseflies, etc.

Such bites (especially in children) require the closest attention, since in some cases they can threaten human life. Even a single hornet bite is often fatal.

In the photo - the consequences of a hornet bite:

Horsefly at the time of the bite:

In addition to the insects mentioned above, there are also other arthropods, the bites of which, within the framework of the above classification, should be attributed to separate groups. For example, ticks can be identified as carriers of serious illnesses humans, as well as poisonous spiders, centipedes, scorpions, which also pose a serious danger.

It should be borne in mind that even if an insect bite in itself does not cause catastrophic consequences, in some cases pathogens of deadly infections can be introduced into the blood with it.

At the same time, there is an interesting relationship: the most painful and pronounced bites almost never lead to infection with anything, and vice versa - those types of bites that attract attention the least are sometimes especially dangerous. An example here is ticks, the bites of which are dangerous for the transfer of encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis, malarial mosquitoes, as well as fleas that can spread a variety of diseases, of which the most famous are plague, encephalitis and anthrax.

On a note

But stinging insects - wasps, bees, hornets - bite only in exceptional cases, defending themselves or protecting their nest. Therefore, bacteria and viruses (even if they infected such an insect) would not have a great chance of being transmitted to a person or animal.

For example, below are a few photos showing what they look like at the time of the bite:

A characteristic feature of bed bug bites is their alignment in long chains (paths). So, it is for bedbugs that bites into three points located in one short line(this helps to determine which insect has bitten at night: a mosquito or a bug).

Flea bites also have a specific appearance (see example in the photo):

Flea bite marks usually have clearly visible single red spots in the center. This is explained by the fact that when a flea bites, it has to immerse almost its entire head into the skin:

As a rule, the marks from the attack of these insects are noticeably smaller than after the bites of bedbugs. "Paths" of red dots on the body may also be present, but very short, usually no more than 2-3 dots.

Another example of biting insects, which can only very conditionally be called domestic, is lice. Head and pubic lice never leave "paths" of bites and attack only the hairy areas of the body (sometimes even eyelashes and eyebrows), because for life and reproduction they need to attach their nits to the victim's hair:

However, speaking of these well-known insects, one should not forget about the rarer, but still found in the civilized world, clothes (linen) lice. In the course of evolution, they adapted to bite a person for any part of the body and not depend on his hairline.

A characteristic difference between lice bites is bluish spots on constantly attacked places and scabs from scratching. In the photo - traces of the bites of these insects:

As mentioned above, single bites of domestic insects in general are not very disturbing, however, for example, regular attacks of bed bugs can even cause nervous disorders, insomnia or anemia in children.

In the photographs you can see the bites of these insects:

What the stings of bees, wasps, hornets, poisonous ants and other stinging insects look like

The venom of wasps, bees, some stinging ants and their relatives contains a large amount of allergens, which can lead to the development of extensive edema, urticaria, fever and general intoxication of the body. In some cases, such bites lead to the death of the victim, especially if the insects attack in a swarm.

Photo of a hornet sting:

And here is a photo of a honey bee at the moment of a bite - its sting gets stuck in human skin along with part of the insect's insides:

A photograph of a bullet ant - its bites are so strong that they are considered one of the most painful among insects in general in terms of pain:

On a note

Stings of giant Asian hornets in some countries lead to more deaths than the attacks of any wild animals (an example is Japan, where about 40 people die from hornet attacks per year).

If, when stinging, you did not have time to notice and recognize which insect bit you, then first aid should be provided according to a universal scheme in such cases with an emphasis on preventing the development of a severe allergic reaction:

• visually assess the presence of a sting in the wound, and if it is, then remove it;
• suck the poison out of the wound (without spending more than 1 minute on it);
• disinfect the affected area with hydrogen peroxide, iodine or brilliant green;
• apply a cold compress to the bite site;
• take an antihistamine (Suprastin, Diphenhydramine - but only in the absence of contraindications, a list of which can be found in the instructions for the corresponding drug).

“This summer I could not stand it and called in specialists to deal with hornet's nest. For two years, these wasps settled in behind the barn. At first they tried to get rid of it themselves, they smoked it, but after they bit their granddaughter, they did not save. The child was all swollen, I even had to call an ambulance, everyone was scared. Two bites in the face, one on the collarbone, they were afraid that the edema would pass to the lungs, the temperature rose greatly. It’s good that everything worked out, but we still got rid of the wasps, at the same time we got the ants in check.”

Anna Valerievna, St. Petersburg

Bites of spiders, ticks, centipedes and other "non-insects"

In everyday life, ticks, spiders and centipedes are often called insects, although these creatures are not at all (insects have only 3 pairs of legs).

In the photo below, these "rings" are just clearly visible:

In case of a tick bite, you should immediately contact an infectious disease specialist and take necessary tests to exclude encephalitis and borreliosis (it is advisable to bring the tick that bit you with you). If this is not possible, then you need to carefully monitor your condition and “listen” to the body: the slightest ailment may indicate a developing disease.

Often, a tick may not cause significant harm to health, but the bites of poisonous centipedes almost always turn out to be very dangerous. So, the attack of the Crimean skolopendra, or drupe, ends, as a rule, with extensive edema, an increase in body temperature up to 39 ° C, hemorrhages and painful inflammation. The pain from her bite persists for several days.

Unfortunately, even this serious condition is not the worst thing that can happen after a centipede attack: tropical species of these arthropods can be deadly to humans.

In the photo - Crimean scolopendra:

The bite of the "insect" in this case consists of two points - this is how the victims usually describe the result of the attack of the centipede. Outwardly, it really looks like two characteristic points, because the arthropod pierces the skin with two jaws.

Another "not insects" that leave significant traces on the human body are leeches. Their attacks are notable for the fact that the resulting wound bleeds for a very long time, and from this a person loses much more blood than from being sucked out by the leech itself.

In the photo - leech bites:

The bites of some spiders can also be quite painful. Among them there are many species whose bite is deadly to humans - for example, karakurt, or, in other words, the steppe widow:

The most pronounced are the consequences of the bites of karakurt in May-June, when the mating season is running in spiders, and it is in large females. However, it is believed that the bites of these spiders only pose a deadly threat to children and the elderly.

On a note

Males of all species of karakurt are much smaller than females, and rarely bite a person.

The tarantula is also a well-known poisonous spider, although in most cases it does not pose a serious danger to humans. However, its sting is very painful, and both in sensation and in consequences resembles a bee sting.

Below is a photo of a tarantula bite:

It is interesting

The “lucky ones” who have experienced the bites of various spiders say that the more dangerous the spider, the less painful its bite. For example, when walking through hard and prickly grass, a person may not even notice the bite of a karakurt, while the bite of a tarantula immediately causes severe pain. But after half an hour the situation changes: the bite of a tarantula can stop hurting, and from the bite of a steppe widow a person can lose consciousness.

Scorpions living in our country are also dangerous to humans. Their bite is very painful and can lead to anaphylaxis and death.

On the picture - yellow scorpion, which can be found in Dagestan or the southern Volga region:

Specificity of insect bites in children

Often children react to insect bites more acutely than adults, because their body is not yet “ripe”, and their immunity is not strong enough. On their skin, bite symptoms may appear more clearly, and blisters and swelling last longer.

In the photo - bite marks on a child left by bedbugs living in an apartment:

On the other hand, children are less likely to have severe allergic reactions to insect bites due to the lack of previous sensitization - a certain “experience” accumulated by the body that is necessary for a violent immune response.

Speaking about the specifics of insect bites in children, one cannot but mention the rules for treating babies: it is imperative to take into account the characteristics of the child's body and use only those medicines that are approved for use in children. Unfortunately, many adults forget about this and give the kids drugs that exacerbate and complicate the already severe consequences of meeting insects.

If insects have bitten a pet

Insect bites on dogs, cats, and other pets are often less noticeable than on humans due to their thick coat or feathers. Animals may not even show their “feelings” much, and suffer in silence, but this does not mean that insect attacks on them can be completely ignored.

In dogs, tick bites most often attract attention, which leave large hard bumps in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ears and the back of the head. Dogs cannot become infected with encephalitis, but ticks are dangerous for them by transmitting other serious diseases. So, for example, ticks carry piroplasmosis, from which the animal can die even during the first day.

Somewhat less often, animals are attacked by stinging insects. The consequences of these bites in them are generally similar to those in humans. The photo shows how the cat's paw swelled from a wasp sting:

Vlasoyed photo:

Domestic birds - especially chickens - are often bitten by bed bugs that settle in outbuildings. With mass reproduction, insects can lead to loss of egg production in birds, slowing down the growth of chickens and their death.

And the following photographs show examples when birds are overcome by the so-called chicken fleas:

A similar situation can be observed in other household animals and birds - rabbits, ducks, pigeons. The latter, by the way, are often disturbed by bird bloodsuckers, which carry some deadly diseases for these birds.

And finally, we will touch on one important topic that worries many tourists - insect bites in Thailand, India, Vietnam and the Caribbean. These resorts are very popular among Russians, but many are frightened by stories about the "monstrous" insects that live in those places.

Photo of a sand flea under the skin and after extraction:

Tropical hornets - also quite common local "residents" - are considered one of the most dangerous insects in the world, and South American ants are the owners of the most painful bite among insects in general.

However, this does not mean at all that it is impossible to relax in the tropics, and that it is not worth going there. You just need to know which insects bite a person in a particular country and a particular place, as well as have a specially prepared first aid kit with you and be careful in dealing with unknown nature.

And one more thing: do not be shy to go to the hospital with insect bites - in any country, this very step often saves many lives.

How to protect yourself from insect bites in the summer and what to do if you are still bitten

Being the most diverse class of animals, insects are widely represented in nature. Accordingly, the nature of their life activity and behavior varies.

In relation to a person, it can be:

1. Defensive (manifested by wasps, bees, ants and other Hymenoptera);
2. Aggressive (which is typical, unfortunately, for most insects).

The consequences of hymenoptera bites are much more serious than in most other cases, since, in defense, they secrete a strong protein poison, which is also a powerful allergen.

The reaction to bites and stings should be considered the action of these substances in our body. Insects have a different structure of the stinging / biting apparatus and lead a very different lifestyle, so the description of reactions to their bites varies quite a lot.

Biting Symptoms

The most common symptoms of any insect bite are:

• Redness of the skin around the affected area;
• A tumor that occurs at the site of the bite;
• Annoying itching that accompanies other symptoms until they almost disappear;
• When stinged by bees and other hymenoptera, edema develops.

duration, external signs and pain associated with a bite is individual characteristics the body's response to foreign substances. This is called a local reaction.

Another thing is multiple bites that cause a toxic reaction. It is characterized by an increase in symptoms, often leading to a noticeable deterioration in the general condition of the body.

A life-threatening condition, or even death, is the consequence of either severe poisoning or an allergic reaction to substances injected into the blood by insects.

Manifestation of an allergic reaction

Most often, such a reaction to a bite manifests itself with the same symptoms as with a local reaction, but more pronounced. These effects take longer than usual, but do not pose a particular threat to health.

Worst of all, if a person's intolerance to bites is extremely high. In such cases, delay is indeed like death. Within half an hour, the negative consequences of the bite develop rapidly, and anaphylactic shock occurs. The following symptoms are typical for an acute allergic reaction:

• There are problems with breathing;
• Redness turns into a bright rash;
• Edema is excessively expressed;
• The blood pressure goes down;
• The victim falls into an uncontrollable state of constant anxiety;
• Dizziness and fainting are possible.

In such situations, immediate medical intervention is required.

Although often people who are aware of their problem cope even with relatively severe cases on their own, using the recommendations of doctors and their own experience.

Why are insect bites dangerous?

The above ailments, which are the body's reaction to a bite, arise as a result of the struggle immune system a person with anticoagulants and protein poisons that have penetrated into the blood. Single bites and stings are rarely capable of incapacitating a person.

Consider the category of people most susceptible to exacerbation of symptoms:

1. Allergy. In some cases, a few minutes from the moment of the bite is enough for anaphylactic shock to occur. If a person is aware of their predisposition to acute reactions to insect stings, they should always have a drug prescribed by a doctor (most often epinephrine hydrochloride for subcutaneous injections and antihistamines) with them at all times.
2. Children. Due to the fact that the developing organism has not grown stronger for a full-fledged independent struggle with the consequences of insect bites, the reaction to them in a child is more pronounced. In general, it has the same character as in adults. Of course, the use of drugs without necessity is not justified.
3. Pregnant. Carrying a child implies constant protection of the expectant mother from stress. This means limiting the use of the vast majority medical preparations. This is the complication of situations with pregnant women affected by insect bites.

General recommendations come to the rescue in cases of bites of children and pregnant women:

• It is necessary to wash the damaged area with soap and water to avoid infection;
• Ice applied to the bite site will help relieve swelling and relieve itching;
• If necessary, you should take an antihistamine, if the situation does not improve, consult a doctor.

Multiple bites, especially of poisonous insects, can cause a life-threatening condition and even lead to death.

Therefore, in such cases, you should immediately seek medical help. Medical procedures should be agreed with the doctor, it is recommended to apply only preventive measures on your own and follow the precautionary rules (more on them below).

indirect danger

In addition to direct harm, insect bites and stings are fraught with infection of the victim with pathogens.

An itchy blister at the site of a bite should never be scratched, because scratching increases the chance of infection in the wound.

Irritation will help relieve:

• Antipruritics (for example, Fenistil or Mosquitol-gel).
• 50% ammonia solution.
• Calendula or mint tincture
• Weak soda solution.

Elementary help in the conditions of unavailability of other means is one's own saliva.

It has antiseptic properties, so you should not disdain it in the absence of other options.

Classification of insects according to the type of damage caused

Bites and stings different insects are individual in nature due to the peculiarities of their structure. It makes sense to consider separately each group that causes harm characteristic only to it.

Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, bumblebees, hornets, ants)

The insects presented in this section represent perhaps the greatest danger (in terms of consequences from bites) for our latitudes.

Many hymenoptera do not bite their prey, but sting. And in different ways:

1. Bee stings are characterized by tearing off the sting along with the poisonous gland and leaving them at the site of the bite. Thus, the poison is injected into the blood for at least a couple more minutes, so you should carefully pull out the sting immediately after the bite.
2. Wasps, bumblebees and hornets do not have such sophisticated mechanisms and are able to sting several times. Therefore, the best escape from their bites is flight. Remember: the poison secreted by the wasp signals danger to its relatives, so it would be wiser to move away from the conflict zone.
3. Ants have jaws and, accordingly, bite. However, the strength of the ant venom, combined with the likely multiplicity of stings, makes these hard workers not much safer.

Defensive insects cause a lot of trouble for the object of their painful bites. As a counter negative consequences the following treatments are recommended:

• Immediately get rid of the bee sting, trying not to press on the container with the poison with your fingers, trying to pick it up;
• Get rid of rings and bracelets if the bite site is limbs to prevent complications associated with swelling;
• Rinse the wound running water with soap or treat with a disinfectant;
• Use cooling and soothing lotions;
• If necessary, take an antiallergic agent;
• Seek medical attention for multiple bites.

You should also visit a doctor if the affected areas are the eye area, oral cavity and larynx, if there is a suspicion of an aggravated allergic reaction.

Mosquito bites in our nature cause significant harm only to allergy sufferers and young children. For the most part, the unpleasant consequences of them are annoying itching in the affected area, which is quite easily eliminated by the methods described above.

Even multiple bites of this midge do not pose a serious danger to humans. However, do not forget about the diseases that their relatives from hot countries carry in themselves. There, a mosquito bite can be fatal. Keep this in mind when traveling in those directions.

Their task is to gnaw off a miniature piece of skin, then to lay eggs in the wound.

Such care for offspring is the cause of painful bites and possible infection with a variety of ailments.

Symptoms of bed bug bites:

• Rows of bites, found only in the morning (nocturnal bugs have the ability to pierce the skin almost imperceptibly);
• Quite severe swelling of the skin near the affected areas;
• Persistent redness;
• Strong itching.

Bedbugs attack open areas of the body. Diseases carried by bed bugs have not been identified by science. Thus, the harm caused by these lies in skin irritation and stress caused by numerous bites of voracious insects.

Fleas are seasonal insects, from the appearance of which no one is insured in the apartment, especially if there is a pet in the dwelling that requires walking. It is with pets that fleas most often enter the apartment.

Usually all adults in the population attack at once. Bites are characterized as follows:

• Zigzag wounds;
• Abundant bites are accompanied by the appearance of a rash and swelling;
• Very intense itching;
• Sometimes seals are dark red in places of bites.

The main danger posed by fleas is the threat of infection. Therefore, the bite sites are thoroughly washed, and baths with a small amount of starch dissolved in them are used to prevent itching.

Infection with lice, or pediculosis, also has many unpleasant consequences. There are three types of pediculosis:

1. Head.
2. Clothes.
3. Pubic.

• Gray spots at the site of bites;
• Severe itching, which is the source of constant scratching of the affected areas;
• The presence of nits in the affected area.

Thus, if any of these insects is found at home, pest control measures should be started. Wounds from their bites are disinfected and protected from combing.

Ticks

Insects that the announcements of local health authorities "scare" every year. And, I must say, not in vain. These are carriers of many diseases, among which encephalitis and Lyme disease are especially dangerous.

Waiting for good time, the tick overtakes the victim with a jump and begins to search appropriate place for suction. Especially often people find stuck ticks in the inguinal and axillary areas, on the head among the hairline.

Their bites correspond to the following symptoms:

• The moment of the bite itself, imperceptible due to painlessness;
• Dark seal;
• short swelling;

The main danger to humans is the possible infection. When bitten, the tick first secretes rapidly hardening saliva, tightly fixing its proboscis in the puncture. In the future, he secretes a liquid containing anticoagulants and tissue-dissolving substances of the victim.

The virus, if it is present in the body of the tick, instantly enters the bloodstream with the first saliva, so infection occurs instantly.

So far, there is no cure for tick-borne encephalitis Therefore, vaccination is the best measure to prevent the disease.

Having found a tick on yourself, it is advisable, without removing it, to go to a medical facility, where a specialist will pull it out. At the same time, insect diagnostics will immediately provide data on the presence of viruses. If this is not possible, you can pull the tick out with tweezers or a loop of thread, picking it up at the surface of the skin and swinging it from side to side. Then go with the insect for diagnosis.

You can not smear the tick with anything! Such attempts cause the insect to vomit, which is fraught with additional problems with a bite.

Spiders and other arthropods

The bites of representatives of this group are defensive in nature.

On the territory of Russia, the following spiders cause danger to humans:

1. Karakurt, whose bite can be deadly even for a healthy adult.
2. A brown hermit spider, at the site of the bite of which a liquid blister appears, leaving behind a long-term non-healing ulcer. In rare cases, a meeting with him leads to death.
3. Tarantula. A weakly poisonous spider, the malaise from the bite of which, however, can last a week.

Poisonous spiders, salpugs, scorpions and centipedes are common only in the southern regions of the country. Symptoms of poisoning by their poison are very similar. This is redness, swelling of varying severity and aching pain at the site of the bite, in severe cases - nausea, pain in the head and abdomen, convulsions. Children are of particular danger.

The exception is karakurt. Its imperceptible injection, expressed by slight swelling and slight redness, leads to persistent and very painful muscle cramps. Symptoms can develop from a few minutes to 6 hours. Sweating and puffiness, pallor and clouding of consciousness, turning into delirium, are characteristic.

If you are bitten by these creatures, you must urgently take an antidote serum (when you are in potentially dangerous places, it is advisable to always have it at hand) and immediately seek help, because a possible allergic reaction to their poisons is sometimes protracted and very difficult.

Preventive measures

It is much easier to prevent a bite than to deal with its consequences.

Knowing the preventive measures and necessary actions in case of bites will make life much safer and calmer.
Expert consultation:

You can treat yourself for a lot of insect bites with paracetamol or ibuprofen at the recommended doses and it helps. But, if your child has an allergy or you observe an unusual reaction to insect stings in children, you should contact your doctor immediately.

How and what to treat children

when they were bitten by pests, we will consider in detail in this article.

If your child bitten by an ant then he gets pain and swelling. Ants can sting several times.

Some children may be allergic to ant venom and develop rashes and difficulty breathing. Someone may go into shock (this is known as anaphylaxis).

Treatment
When the child has only moderate pain and swelling, you can give her (him) paracetamol or ibuprofen at recommended doses to relieve pain. Antihistamine Other medicines can help relieve itching.

When he has a strong reaction, take him immediately to the local doctor or to the nearest emergency room, hospital. First, remove the insect. If the insect is dead, take it to the doctor so that he can identify it and prescribe the correct treatment.

bees

The bee sting has burrs at the end that remain in the skin with the poison. The bee dies after being injected with poison.

Symptoms
The child will feel severe pain, the bite site swells up very quickly.

If he is allergic to bee venom, he may develop a rash all over his body, difficulty breathing, and collapse (anaphylaxis).

Treatment
Carefully remove the insect. If it is dead, save it so the doctor can determine the type of insect. Avoid squeezing out Bee Venom because it will spread it more. Instead, scrape off the sting whenever possible.

Apply ice to the area of ​​injury to reduce swelling. You can give him paracetamol or ibuprofen at the recommended doses to relieve the pain. Antihistamines will help reduce itching.