Sunshine Smiles: Enjoying the Outdoors Safely with Adventist Health Portland

Simple precautions and prompt treatment can assist in preventing bug bites from ruining your summer activities.

Summer is here, and life is easy: The children are on break, and the weather is ideal for swimming, hiking, or having barbecues. Just be sure to bring bug spray, or your enjoyment may quickly diminish. The lakes, mountains, and forests that attract people in large numbers during warm weather are also habitats (and hunting areas) for insects, from ticks and fleas to venomous spiders and mosquitoes that could transmit infectious illnesses.

Although most insect bites aren’t dangerous, it’s wise to have a few remedies in your arsenal, alongside other summer safety pointers.

Discover essential strategies to avert bites and stings, information about prevalent biting insects, and various home treatment alternatives.

How to Avoid Bug Bites

To safeguard yourself and ensure that your time in the sun remains enjoyable, Adventist Health professionals and health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise the following precautions:

• Utilize repellents sanctioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, such as DEET and picaridin.

• Wear closed-toe footwear, trousers, and loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts.

• Steer clear of fragrances and scents that might entice insects.

• When dining outdoors, shield food and store it appropriately.

• Seal small gaps, holes, and crevices around your residence to prevent insect entry.

• Inspect yourself and your children for bites after spending time outdoors, particularly if you’ve been in wooded areas.

• Check equipment, clothing, and pets for ticks (nobody wants Lyme disease!) and scorpions once indoors.

What Causes Bug Bites to Itch So Much?

Even if you don’t experience the initial discomfort from a bug bite or sting, you’re likely to notice the itching afterward. This reaction is triggered by the saliva the insect injects into your skin, along with your body’s response. Your immune system combats substances in insect saliva using tools like histamine, which leads to swelling, inflammation, and itching. If you scratch in response to the irritation, it can worsen the bite, intensifying the itching and heightening the risk of infection.

While many insect bites result in only mild aftereffects, like redness and slight discomfort, some can lead to more serious repercussions necessitating medical attention. Below, we explore common sources of bites, associated risks, and treatment options.

Bees and Wasps

Stings appear red and swollen, frequently with white centers. The primary distinction is that most bees die after stinging, whereas wasps do not.

• Managing bee stings: If the stinger remains embedded in your skin, gently scrape it off with a piece of gauze. Avoid squeezing the stinger, as that might inject more venom into your skin. Then, clean the site with soap and water, dry it thoroughly, and apply a cold pack to alleviate pain.

• Managing wasp stings: Use a cold compress for 10 minutes, remove it for another 10 minutes, then reapply, repeating this process for up to one hour. Wasps are often exposed to the bacterial toxin tetanus and could infect you upon stinging. You may require a tetanus vaccine booster if over a decade has elapsed since your last one.

• Allergy concerns: Immediately seek medical help if you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, as their effects can be life-threatening. Symptoms of a severe reaction include hives, intense itching, flushed skin, and difficulty breathing.

Fire Ants

Bites and stings from these insects, which can be red, brown, or black, may appear red and swelling after several days, with itching and pain lasting up to a week. Fire ants bite and cling to the skin, stinging multiple times, resulting in a circular or semicircular wound pattern.

• Caring for fire ant bites: Clean the site with mild soap and water to minimize the risk of infection. Cold compresses can help alleviate discomfort, and over-the-counter antihistamines may provide relief from itching. Refrain from scratching a fire ant bite, as this may lead to scarring.

• Allergy concerns: An allergic reaction to fire ant bites can be life-threatening and necessitates medical attention. Severe symptoms may include dizziness, a drop in blood pressure, and difficulty breathing.

Fleas

Approximately 2.5 millimeters in length, these reddish-brown insects bite not only humans but also dogs, cats, and other mammals. Flea bites typically manifest in a straight line or a cluster of small, bleeding bumps, predominantly on people’s legs, feet, or ankles.

• Managing flea bites: First aid includes over-the-counter antihistamines and hydrocortisone cream. Try not to scratch if possible — but if the bite becomes infected with pus due to scratching, consult a physician.

Mosquitoes

These insects reproduce in areas with stagnant water, including ponds, ditches, and even puddles. Only female mosquitoes bite, feeding on blood from animals or humans prior to laying eggs. The swelling they leave behind, with a raised red center, is a result of an allergic reaction to mosquito saliva.

• Managing mosquito bites: Most bites can be treated with over-the-counter hydrocortisone or antihistamine creams to alleviate itching.
• Allergy risks: In the event of a severe reaction — symptoms may include hives, a low-grade fever, or swollen lymph nodes — seek guidance from a healthcare provider.
• Disease transmission risks: Mosquitoes may carry dangerous viruses, such as dengue, Zika, and West Nile, which can have potentially fatal consequences such as encephalitis and meningitis. The CDC recommends the best way to prevent these diseases is to avoid mosquito bites by employing measures like treating clothing and gear with the insecticide permethrin and managing mosquito presence both indoors and outdoors.