Text Box: With spring in full swing, many Americans will be spending more time outdoors. Bug bites and stings are a common problem during this time of year. Most of the time bug bites and stings are just a painful nuisance, but sometimes they can become life-threatening problems if you don’t know what to do. An estimated 2 million Americans are allergic to various insects, and are prone to potentially serious health problems. Here are a few answers to common questions you may have when dealing with bug bites and stings. How do I prevent getting bitten or stung and what type of insect repellent should I use? Using insect repellant and wearing protective clothing anytime you are outside is the first step in avoiding bites and stings. You should also avoid wearing perfumes or colognes while outdoors because this may attract insects to you. Most importantly just use common sense and avoid provoking dangerous insects whenever possible. As far as insect repellent goes, the best and longest lasting types of insect repellents available are products that contain an ingredient called DEET. There are other products available that offer some protection, but DEET-containing products provide the best protection against bug bites. What symptoms do I look for if I’ve been bitten or stung? Common symptoms include lumps or spots on the skin, itching, redness, and pain. Less common, but much more serious symptoms include severe swelling, numbness, increasing pain, hives anywhere on your body, wheezing, or trouble breathing. If you experience any of these symptoms you are probably experiencing an allergic reaction and you should call 911 immediately. If you have had a serious reaction to a bite or sting in the past you Text Box: should talk to your physician about getting an anaphylaxis kit (Epi-pen) which is a device that injects a life-saving medication after a person has been bitten or stung. How do I remove the stinger if I’ve been stung by a bee or wasp? First of all don’t use tweezers or attempt to pull the stinger out. This may cause more toxin to be squeezed into the wound and lead to bigger problems. Instead, try using the edge of a credit card or some other blunt object to gently scrape across the area and push out the stinger. What medical treatments are available to treat bites and stings? The first thing you should do when bit or stung is wash the area with soap and water. If you have been stung you then can apply a solution of baking soda and water to help neutralize the venom and relieve the pain. You then should apply ice to the area for at least 5-10 minutes. If itching continues you can apply hydrocortisone cream to the area or take oral Benadryl. For more information on the subject you can visit the following websites: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000033.htm www.utexas.edu/student/health/guide/bites.html

Bug Bites and Stings

Contributed by: Boe Keesling, Pharm.D. Candidate

                      KU School of Pharmacy

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Text Box: Balls Hen House Pharmacy Text Box: May 2005 Text Box: Volume 3, Issue 11

Our mission is to empower our patients with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions regarding their health and optimize the use of their medications through screenings, seminars, and consultations.

We will serve as a knowledgeable and trustworthy source by providing drug and health-related information in a confidential and professional manner.
Text Box: Co-edited by: Sarah Kerner, Pharm.D. Miranda Wilhelm, Pharm.D. Tammy Stack, Pharm.D. Text Box: Next Page