Medicinal Remedies

Spider, Insect, Bug Bite & Sting Treatment Information: Diagnosis, Symptoms, Conditions

 

Spider, Indect Bug Bites & Stings

Insects are one of the various and abundant class of the animal kingdom, Insecta. Insects to be in contact with humans are inevitable. Therefore, humans are at constant risk to biting, urticating or stinging. Some may be common in our everyday lives while others can pose a life threatening condition.

Insect bites and insect stings are two terms that are used interchangeably by most patients. Stings are associated with order Hymenoptera and Arachnida which include ants, wasps, bees, and spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks respectively.

Insect born diseases in certain local areas may be easily recognized. But health professionals must be aware of some particular diseases that are considered exotic or those which are only found in specific areas of travel. Certain environmental factors in different countries have contributed to various insect born diseases that can cause outbreaks or epidemics. These known exotic insects may transmit the diseases through pets or in shipments from foreign countries.

These exotic insects can carry diseases such as malaria and Lyme diseases that are considered notorious in some foreign countries. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes and Lyme disease are carried by ticks.

Another known disease is the Chagas, which is found in the southwestern deserts of Central or Southern America. Insect bites containing Chagas disease commonly affect the lips or the soft skin of the periorbita. This disease can cause certain morbidity and have caused quite a few mortalities. Usually affected are the pediatric patients. Health professionals should monitor detailed information on the causes, source, and treatment of this disease.

It is important to note that some of theses insect borne diseases do not show symptoms at their initial stage. At some parts of Africa and South America, blackflies carry the notorious disease of onchocerciasis. Symptoms of this illness include blindness that can cause permanency over the years, thus it is also called river blindness. There are rare cases of onchocerciasis in the United States.

Stings from arthropods often produce cellulites, dermatitis, urticaria, and blistering that are not entirely related to the insect bite or sting. Insects including beetles, caterpillars, centipedes, moths, and spiders produce secretions from their urticating hairs that leads to cutaneous infections.

Somewhere in North America, fly larvae has transmitted a disease called myiasis. Fly larvae penetrate the body through a number of ways like entering into open wounds, oviposition of live, attaching themselves to other bloodsucking insects, or burrowing larvae on the host. Although not really included in the symptoms of myiasis, this illness can produce lesions and pustules comparable to insect bites. Several fly larvae may be contained in these lesions. In rare cases of myiasis, seizures may occur in patients.

 

Spider, Insect, Bug Bite & Sting: Symptoms

Normal insect bites usually can cause intense skin irritation or itch for most individuals. It usually appears in a small red spot or blister. Scratching can definitely result to an open sore or damaged skin. When this happens, bacterial infection can easily invade the cells which require a longer time to heal. Some insects are believed to be carriers of diseases such as malaria, Dengue fever, rickettsial disease, and Lyme disease.

For most cases, patients who acquire insect bites or stings only experience mild reactions. However, if the stings originate from known venomous insects, there may appear skin redness and swelling. There is also the presence of pain and stinging sensation. In such cases, the symptom of itching is not a major concern.

For allergic individuals, a venomous sting might lead to a reaction called anaphylaxis. This condition involves the swelling of the face, breathing difficulties, and skin rash on almost every part of the body. Immediate medical attention must be sought to cope with this life-threatening condition.

The patient who acquired a venomous sting can always experience a considerable amount to pain, skin redness, and swelling. In extreme cases, the affected area may grow to a size of 12 inches also known as a localized swelling.

Systemic reactions are common in sensitive individuals. This “whole body” reaction involves redness of the skin, hives, and swelling of the affected area. These reactions are not to be taken for granted because it may affect the airways and circulation that might pose a life-threatening condition. This is why it is important to distinguish systemic from local reactions.

 

Spider, Insect, Bug Bite & Sting: Diagnosis

A previous case of insect bite or sting is typically helpful in diagnosing the reactions and symptoms a patient has. Your doctor or physician usually conducts a physical examination to search for the effects of the sting or bite on the different parts of the body. In particular cases, the doctor may require further examination of the oral cavity, respiratory system, cardiovascular system or the skin.

If it is observed from the patient that he needs hospital admission, then specific laboratory studies may not be necessary. Routine lab tests are enough. Lesions may undergo biopsies in certain cases but generally they are non-determinant.

In diagnosing mite infestations or scabies, doctors may require microscopic examinations of skin scrapings to determine any of the mentioned infections.

To self-diagnose skin insect bites go to: http://www.biteremedy.com

 

Spider, Insect, Bug Bite & Sting: Treatment

If a patient is experiencing a mild reaction, the first step is to remove the stinger of the insect. Not until it has been removed, the stinger continues to excrete venom into the skin until its empty. The edge of a knife or a credit card may be a good tool to remove the stinger from your skin. Constant pressure should be applied to scrape off across the skin to remove the stinger. This process is better than using common fingers or tweezers which can even aggravate the condition by squeezing more venom into the skin. Quickly cleanse the infected area with ice cold pack or any disinfectant to reduce the swelling and the pain. Over-the-counter topical treatments may be administered for a period prescribed by doctors. Oral antihistamines may also be taken if topical treatments fail to cure the symptoms.

A suggested mixture for your cleansing is 1 part of bleach to 9 parts of water. This compress treats common insect bites by alleviating the pain. Cleansing also prevents secondary infections.

Ice packs or compresses can minimize the selling in localized swellings. This routine should not exceed 15 minutes at a time. It is better to use a cloth in wrapping the ice to do away with skin thermal injury.

A proven prehospital treatment is the Epinephrine that is specifically effective in systemic reactions. Methods of administering this treatment may either be through endotracheal, intramuscular, intravenous (IV), or subcutaneous. The methods are dependent on the condition of the patient and the expertise of the medical professional. Other systemic reaction treatments may consist of antihistamines or corticosteroids.

It is important to note that topical antihistamines are not advisable on large surface areas. Nor are they effective when applied simultaneously with H1 antihistamines. If health professionals are careless in administering these medications, the patient may develop systemic anticholinergic toxicity.

For severe cases, like that of anaphylaxis, consult your physician immediately. If allergic reactions may occur, adrenaline may help in alleviating any discomfort that may arise from any bite or sting.

 

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