Treating Insect Bites and Stings
What to Look For Before You Give First Aid
Learn how to identify different bites and stings in order to give the most effective first aid treament. Find out how to remove a bee sting and when to seek medical help.
There are Two Types of Bites and Stings
- The first is from the venomous insect which is attacking or defending itself. It injects venom or a type of poison through its stings. Examples of these are wasps, bees and ants.
- The second is the non-venomous insect which is looking for a meal – literally your blood! The irritation experienced can be from the insect saliva and the small amount of anti-coagulant injected. This category would include mosquitoes, flies, lice, fleas and bugs.
In general, insect bites cause redness, itching and mild swelling. The small percentage of people who develop severe reactions such as facial swelling, difficulty breathing and shock, would be responding to a venomous bite or sting.
Venomous stings are always painful. There might be discomfort, redness and swelling in a large but localised area. If the redness and swelling spreads to other parts of the body, seek medical assistance immediately. If you are in any doubt at all, call a doctor.
First Aid – How to Help
Be calm and act promptly. Keep the affected person calm. Move away from the area where the bite or sting occured, to avoid repeats.
Bee Stings
When the bee stings, the stinger remains in the skin along with part of the bee's abdominal muscles. These continue to push the poison out of it's little bag until it is empty. The stinger tail sticks up out of the skin where it has been stung. Don’t try to pull it out with fingers or tweezers as this just pushes more poison into the body. It can usually removed by gently scraping a credit card or knife blade over the area, or wiping the sting with a piece of gauze. If this does not work, the poison bag is probably empty so it is safe to remove it with finger tips or tweezers. Once the sting is removed, ice will help to reduce the swelling. Vinegar or lemon juice will also give relief.
Wasp stings
These do not leave little poison bags, but can also be painful. Apply the cut side of half an onion. It contains a sting healing enzyme.
Flea Bites from Cats and Dogs
They are usually clustered where the flea has hopped from one place to another. Ice will reduce the swelling and stop the itching.
Mosquito Bites
After washing thoroughly to disinfect the bite, apply calamine lotion or an anti-histamine cream.
For Other Bites or Stings
After washing with warm water and soap, apply
- Aloe vera gel from the plant (break open a leaf) or a pure aloe gel product
- A thick paste of baking soda mixed with water
- A few drops of lavender oil which has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect
- Tea tree oil or cream for its skin soothing and healing effect
If stings or bites occur around the eyes or mouth it is best to seek medical advice.
Reference: Natural first Aid by Mark Mayell (Vermillion Publishers 1996)
