But if you know that you may have this kind of reaction, “it’s critical that you carry an EpiPen at all times if you are in an outdoor area because bees can be anywhere,” Sliwkowski said.Įven if you are quick to jab yourself with an EpiPen after you are stung, you should still call 911 for help because the medication in the EpiPen (epinephrine) only gives temporary relief that lasts about 10 minutes, Sliwkowski said. Life-threatening allergic reactions to bug bites or stings are rare, occurring in fewer than 1% of children and about 3% of adults. This type of localized reaction can usually be managed with over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Zyrtec, Sliwkowski said. He has treated patients who developed welts the size of lemons where they were bitten. “The allergic reaction is very individualized,” Sliwkowski said. It’s bad enough that many insects – honeybees, fire ants, wasps, to name a few – release venom when they bite or sting that causes pain and swelling.īut for some people, the venom triggers an allergic reaction, which can either be localized to the sting site or spread throughout the body and create a life-threatening anaphylactic shock. It is more important than ever this time of year to treat your furry friends with flea and other pest repellents, he added. “They tend to be more prevalent when it’s warm and dogs are out more,” Sliwkowski said. The much more likely culprits are fleas, whose bites tend to occur in groups of three or four, often around your ankles, and can cause a red rash. The truth is, these arachnids often avoid people, preferring to dine on insects rather than human blood. Spiders may get the blame – unfairly – when you wake up with itchy pink bumps. And even the lowly mosquito is an important food for birds and fish, after it feasts on you. Honeybees fertilize about a third of the world’s crops. “If you add (the insects) up, it’s pretty scary, so we need to be aware they’re there and take precautions,” Sliwkowski said.Īnd next time you’re nursing a nasty bite or rash, try to keep in mind that insects have their place. We need all the help we can get to combat the insect world – it is estimated that their global population is a staggering 10 quintillion (that’s 10 with 18 zeros). And never scratch the bite, if you can help it, because that increases your risk of infection, Sliwkowski warned.īuzz off, bugs! How to stay safe during insect season Simple foods such as garlic and basil may help fight the bite. Joe Sliwkowski, a family medicine and sports medicine doctor at CareWell Urgent Care in Framingham, Massachusetts.Īlthough we may never break free from the cycle of spray, swat and scratch, there are better ways than ever to prevent and treat bug bites. And the bugs are ready for us: fleas, ticks and mosquitoes all thrive in warmer months.Īs temperatures rise, “it switches from flu season to bite season one stops and the other starts,” said Dr. From family picnics to camping trips, summer is the time when we invade insect territory.
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