An insect bite is a condition when a person experiences symptoms due to being bitten by an insect. In general, insect bites or stings only cause mild symptoms in the bitten area, including:
- Swollen
- Itchy rash
- Rash and redness
- Hot, stiff or tingling
- Pain in the bitten area.
In other cases, insect bites or stings can cause severe reactions that require immediate medical attention, such as:
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizzy
- Faint
- Heart beat
- Swelling of the face, lips, or throat
- Difficulty swallowing and talking
- Hard to breathe.
Immediately consult a doctor if the above symptoms appear. Because it can be fatal to life-threatening.
Types of Insect Bites
There are many types of insects that live in nature. Some insects only sting when they feel threatened, while others bite intentionally to eat human blood, such as bed bugs. However, both types of insects can cause mild to severe conditions.
Several types of insects that bite humans to feed on blood, and at the same time spread disease, include:
- lice. Certain types of ticks can be an intermediary for the spread of disease, such as: bubonic plague (bubonic plague of the lymphatic system) and Lyme disease.
- Flies. Some types of flies can bite and spread diseases, such as leishmaniasis (a parasitic disease spread by flies phletobomine), and sleeping sickness caused by the tsetse fly.
- Mosquito. In general, mosquito bites only cause itching. However, the bite of certain types of mosquitoes can spread serious diseases such as Zika virus infection, West-Nile virus infection, malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever.
In addition to the several types of insects above, there are also types of insects that, although they do not spread disease, their stings can cause serious allergic reactions, for example:
- fire ant. Fire ants are an aggressive type of ant, especially when they feel the nest is disturbed. These ants can sting several times, and inject a poison called solenopsin.
- Bee. When they sting, bees generally leave a venom-containing stinger on the skin. If the sting is not removed immediately, more poison will enter the body, and trigger a severe reaction.
- wasp. Like bees, wasp stings also contain poison. The difference is, if bees generally only sting once, wasps can sting several times in one attack.
In certain cases, the bite of other animals such as centipedes or centipedes can also cause a dangerous reaction. Some insects, such as the tomcat beetle, do not sting or bite, but can secrete bodily fluids that can cause contact dermatitis.
Insect Bites Treatment
As previously mentioned, insect bites often only cause mild symptoms, such as itching, burning and swelling. In such cases, treatment can be carried out at home in the following ways:
- Wash the bitten or stung area with soap and water.
- If there is a stinger left on the skin (for example from a bee sting), carefully remove the stinger.
- Apply calamine or baking soda to the bitten area. Do it several times a day until the symptoms disappear.
- Cold compress the bitten area with ice wrapped in a towel, or a cloth soaked in cold water. This method is useful for reducing pain and swelling.
In general, mild symptoms from insect bites will disappear within 1-2 days. But in severe cases such as bee or wasp stings in the throat or in the mouth, the patient must be taken to the hospital immediately.
If you are in a situation where your partner has a severe reaction after being bitten by an insect, take the following steps while waiting for medical help:
- Loosen the victim's clothes, and cover him
- Do not give anything to drink to the victim
- If the victim vomits, sit him down so he doesn't choke
- Perform CPR (artificial respiration) if the victim is not breathing.
Insect Bites Prevention
Insect bites can be avoided by staying away from places that are generally insect habitats, such as trees and flowering plants. Prevention can also be done by taking the following steps:
- Stay away from the nests of harmful insects, such as bees or wasps, and don't try to get rid of the nests yourself. Ask a professional exterminator to remove the nest.
- Some mosquitoes are active during the change of day to night or vice versa. Therefore, avoid activities outside the home at this time.
- Remain calm if a bee or wasp approaches. Trying to hit him will only make him sting. But if attacked by bees in groups, immediately run into a closed room.
- Wear clothes that cover the whole body, such as long pants and long sleeves. Choose clothes that are clean and brightly colored, but don't use perfume or perfume.
- Some insects are attracted to food scraps. Therefore, keep the room clean, especially from food residue.
- Perform mosquito nest eradication (PSN) by fumigating insecticides (fogging) followed by 3M's actions, such as closing water reservoirs tightly, and burying used goods that can hold water.
- Use an anti-mosquito lotion with the active ingredient DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or lemon eucalyptus oil, especially when outdoors.
- Install mosquito nets in the ventilation of the house, and use air conditioning (AC).