How to Treat Insect Bites and Stings

Her are some ways to treat and prevent bites and stings from insects. This article will also show you ways to relive the pain.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Antiseptic ointment
• aspirin
• soap
• water
• Epsom salts
• Baking soda
• calamine lotion
• Ice pack
• Antihistimine

1. Wash the bite from insects with soap and water then apply antiseptic ointment to reduce risk of infection.

2. To reduce the itching from mosquito bites try moistening the skin area with water and rubbing aspirin tablet over the bite immediately. Aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties. Don't do this if you have allergy to aspirin.

3. To reduce swelling and itchy hives from insect bites you can try to cover the bites with calamine lotion , ice packs, or anti-histamine cream (which can also be an oral antihistamine tablet)

4. Salt is another way to treat itch and swelling. make a salt paste (add two tablespoon salt to quarter cup of water and mix till it becomes paste-like in texture)and apply it to the area of the bite.

5. Baking soda can help reduce the swelling. Dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Use a cloth and dip into the solution and place on top of the bite for 20 minutes.

6. Use Epsom salt. Mix one teaspoon o of Epsom salt in one quart of hot water. Then chill in the fridge and apply over the bite with a cloth soaked in the solution for 20 minutes..

7. With tick bites, you have to be very careful when pulling the tick off the skin so you don't leave the mouthpart embedded as this will cause an infection to the affected skin. Use a pair of tweezers to remove to carefully pull off the tick form the skin. Wash the bite area after removing the tick with soap and water thoroughly and apply antiseptic cream..

8. For spider bites you need to immediately clean and wash the bite wound with soap and water and disinfect it with an antiseptic. Apply ice pack to slow the absorption of the venom. You can also neutralize the poison by moistening the wound bite with water and rubbing in an aspirin tablet. Avoid this step if you are allergic to aspirin

9. Prevention from insect bites is the key. Wear insect repellent when going camping or hiking or to the parks especially during the hot summer months.
   DEET is available in most drug stores. Apply over the surface of the skin but be careful around the eyes because it can sting badly if it penetrates into he eyes.

10. Some bath oils such as Alpha-Keri, have repellent effect. Also use diluted solution of chlorine bleach before going outside can be another to repel insects. Dilute two capful of bleach into a tub of warm water and soak for 15 minutes. Don't get solution into the eyes. This repellent effect can last for several hours.

11. The stings from bees and wasps can cause redness, swelling redness and intense pain. The key to effective treatment is acting quickly in applying first aid to the sting.

12. Remove the stinger immediately. The best approach is to scrape the stinger out of f the skin. Using the fingernail or a edge of a credit card to gently scrape under the stinger and then flip it out. The sooner you remove the stinger the less will be the swelling and pain.

13. Wash the area of the skin that had the bee or wasp sting with soap and water ti reduce the risk if infection. To reduce the throbbing pain and the swelling you must add FAST> Add ice pack or ice cube to the sting to reduce swelling which also helps the venom from spreading.

14. Heat applied to the sting can help neutralize the chemical which causes the inflammation. Use a hair dryer and blow the hot heat over the sting.

15. Moisten aspirin inn water till it becomes a paste and apply this onto the sting.

16. Applying baking soda to the sting can also help reduce pain and swelling.

17. Use of a meat-tenderizer such as Adolph's or McCormick's can help because it has it can breakdown the proteins that make up insect venom. You need to apply this immediately to the sting for it to be effective.

18. Activated charcoal paste will help to draw out the poison. Open a few charcoal capsules and remove the powder. Moisten the powder with water and apply to wound. Cover it with gauze.

19. Mud can also be use ti help the sting form pain and swelling. Mix clay soil and water into a paste and apply onto the sting. Cover it with a bandage or handkerchief and leave on until the mud dries.

20. Take an anti-histamine ti to help relieve the pain.

Tips & Warnings

• Vapor-rub also can act as an insect repellent.
• Wear long pants and jackets to reduce the skin expose ti insect bites. For areas where ticks causing Lyme disease is prevalent then consider getting a Lyme disease vaccination.
• Black widow spider venom is so potent that it can cause intense abdominal pain which can be confused with appendicitis. at the ER you must let the doctor know that you have been bitten by a spider so he can administer and antidote injection of calcium gluconate.
• A brown spider bite can cause sore lumps can develop several weeks after the bite. You should seek medical attention when they appear.

Resources

• Jewell Productions TV

[girlscouter2558]

on 12/25/2008 You have great information and I hope I can read more information you guys have. Great job and I hope everyone reads from this page so that they learn how to actually prevent these accidents!

[EddieV]

on 1/11/2008 WOW, WOW...great advice especially for outdoorsy people who like camping or hiking during summer or in woody humid areas.....please write more articles on health and preventative issues....fabulous!!