They can be small, large, crawling, flying or jumping. They bite, sting or stick to the skin - there are millions of different insects in the world, encountering which is rarely pleasant for humans. You can cope with itching, swelling, redness and pain at the bite sites with the help of special medications, primarily ointments. Such products adhere well to the surface of the skin, which has a long-lasting effect, relieves pain, relieves discomfort and prevents complications.

Danger of insect bites

Innocent at first glance, insects can cause enormous harm to humans. According to scientists, some species are many times more poisonous than the most dangerous snakes. In the world, three times more deaths are recorded annually from insect bites than from reptiles.

This is explained by the fact that nature has provided insects with special protein substances that are foreign to humans. If they enter the body during a bite, they cause a severe allergic reaction. In addition, insects often carry infections that are fatal to humans. The most common today is tick-borne encephalitis, typhus, various types of leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).

All insect bites have similar signs:

• Inflammation of the skin around the skin puncture
• Itching, soreness
• Swelling of the skin
• Redness
• Accumulation of lymph under the skin

Manifestation of an allergic reaction after a bite:

• A burning sensation spreading from the bite site throughout the body
• Extensive small rashes
• Nasal congestion
• Laryngeal edema
• General weakness, lethargy
• Dizziness.

If these signs appear, you should consult a doctor to avoid anaphylaxis and further complications.

Ointments to eliminate the effects of insect bites

Considered one of the the best means with bites. The drug is affordable, sold in every pharmacy and has virtually no contraindications. It can even be used by pregnant and lactating women. The ointment contains natural substances: milk lipids, beeswax, vegetable oils with strong disinfectant and analgesic effects (sea buckthorn, tea tree, lavender, turpentine), as well as echinacea extract and tocopherol acetate (Vit. E).

During processing, it must be taken into account that it cannot be combined with hydrogen peroxide and iodine. The action of the Rescuer slows down under the influence of hormonal ointments or creams.

The drug in the form of a gel and ointment helps with mosquito bites, fleas, and bed bugs. The drug contains betamezone, which is a GCS. The ointment relieves itching and swelling and prevents inflammation from developing. Approved for use by patients over 12 years of age. Since this is a hormonal drug, it is advisable to coordinate its use with doctors.

The drug is in the form of cream, gel and emulsion. The medicinal component of the drug is dimethindene, a substance with powerful antipruritic and antiallergic effects.

Helps well against bites of wasps, mosquitoes and other insects that cause severe allergic manifestations. Fenistil against mosquito bites for children can be used from the 1st month of life. If the child is several days or weeks old, then using Fenistil is extremely undesirable. The use of ointment is possible only with the permission of a doctor and under his supervision.

The drug is applied 2 to 4 times a day. If necessary, you can enhance the effect of Fenistil gel against insect bites using another dosage form of the drug - a drop. They are taken orally to relieve severe itching and stop the allergic reaction from spreading throughout the body.

The drug is in the form of ointment, cream and emulsion. It is a hormonal agent, since its active component is the substance methylprednisolone aceponate, which has a powerful antiallergic effect. Quickly relieves itching, swelling of tissues, and prevents the further spread of allergies throughout the body.

The drug can be used by adults and children from 4 months. It is recommended to lubricate the bite site once a day.

The duration of treatment with Advantan in children should not exceed 1 month (for ointment) and 2 weeks (for emulsion). Adults can use the drug longer – up to 3 months.

When treating bites in children, it must be taken into account that the product cannot be used after vaccinations, as well as for chickenpox, herpes zoster, acne, perioral dermatitis, and hypersensitivity.

Ointment with antibacterial and regenerating effects. The active ingredients of the drug are chloramphenicol (an antibiotic that inhibits most bacterial pathogens) and methyluracil (a stimulator of tissue repair).

Levomekol is considered one of the best remedies in the treatment of insect bites: it relieves swelling and inflammation in children. The ointment is especially indicated in cases where the child scratched the skin heavily in the affected area, it became inflamed and began to break out. The use of Levomekol eliminates the infection, stops purulent-inflammatory processes and at the same time promotes accelerated healing of the bite site.

The ointment can be used for severe suppuration, as it retains its medicinal properties even in the presence large quantity pus and necrotic masses. Therefore, in difficult cases it is used under bandages.

This ointment and other preparations based on dexpanthenol soothe irritation, moisturize well, and also have some anti-inflammatory effect and help speed up the healing of the bite. The effect of the ointment is provided by dexpanthenol, a vitamin-like substance, which, after penetrating into skin cells, is transformed into pantothenic acid, or vitamin B5.

Ointment and cream are applied to the damaged area once a day.

Diphenhydramine-based ointment is a substance with a strong antiallergic effect. After entering the body, it blocks the release of histamine, the main culprit of the body’s negative reaction. Improves the condition of the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, helps reduce tissue swelling, has an analgesic effect, and cools the affected area.

The drug is produced in the form of a gel, it is well distributed over the skin, leaving no traces or a sticky feeling. It can be used by adults and children over 2 years old.

Psilo-balm is applied to the place mosquito bites in a small amount and rub in a little. You can treat insect traces 3-4 times during the day. But you must be careful, as the ointment increases the photosensitivity of the epidermis, so it is recommended to avoid exposure to bright sun. While using the ointment, you should not use other creams containing the same active substance.

Additional restrictions for adults: Do not take alcoholic beverages or medications while using the ointment, and you should also exercise caution when driving.

How to choose the right ointment for bites

For insect bites, it is necessary to select an ointment taking into account the characteristics of the preparations, the degree and stage of skin damage. It is not recommended to use hormonal ointments on your own, especially if we're talking about about the child. Such drugs should be prescribed by a doctor after examining the baby. In addition, drugs with GCS have various contraindications and side effects, features of application and duration of the course, which must be observed.

When choosing an ointment for bites, you should take into account what kind of insect the person suffered from: mosquitoes, midges, midges, bed bugs, wasps or other individuals, since in each case the consequences of skin damage are different.

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When infection and suppuration occur in the wound, it is recommended to use ointments with antimicrobial action. They neutralize infection and speed up the healing of damage.

If allergic reactions to a bite are accompanied by inflammatory processes accompanied by suppuration, then antihistamines are replaced with ointments containing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions, For example, . This antibiotic will relieve swelling and prevent the infection from spreading further. Children can only be treated with ointment from the age of 8 years.

Like any drug, each ointment for insect bites has its own characteristics of action and method of application. You can use them on your own in mild cases: to relieve itching and redness. If the victim has a fever, the bite site is very swollen, and allergic symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a specialist.

Often we simply do not notice the bite of some insect, sometimes we cry out in pain.

But there may be more tragic consequences from meeting some of them, in the form of serious complications or even death. Therefore, we must always be prepared for unforeseen situations and take appropriate measures if necessary.

Introduction

With the first warming, the life of various insects begins to intensify. And there are many of them, about five million species. The most common species among us are Lepidoptera and Coleoptera in the form of beetles and butterflies. There are also many Hymenoptera: ants, mosquitoes, wasps, bees.

Hymenoptera are the most dangerous, they cause a person a lot of inconvenience, suffering, and illness. The mortality rate from their bites is more than 3 times higher than the mortality rate from reptile bites.

Because 30% of the world's population is allergic to proteins of various origins, including those contained in insect venom. When bitten, it easily enters the human body along with poison and saliva.

Insects are carriers of all kinds of microorganisms that cause many dangerous diseases. They are transmitted most of all by blood-sucking insects: fleas, mosquitoes, lice, mosquitoes. You need to learn to distinguish insects from completely harmless, medium danger and high danger.

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Why do insects bite?

Every person experiences insect bites to varying degrees. The reaction will always be different, it depends individual characteristics person and insect species.

While someone can endure multiple bites without harm, for another weakened person, even a single bite can cost their life.

Especially with children after insect bites, you need to be extremely careful. What is dangerous is not the swelling and pain, but the substance that the insect injects. The most serious consequences For humans, this is a possible allergy, the threat of infection, and the transmission of serious diseases.

Almost all insects are insatiable and aggressive, but they attack only in 2 cases:

• for your own saturation;
• defensive purposes.

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Symptoms of an insect bite

All bites have consequences, but they are different. Symptoms vary little, but the differences in severity can be significant.

Unpleasant manifestations of bites:

• severe itching;
• irritation;
• redness;
• Seal;
• soreness;
• increased body temperature;
• swelling;
• swelling.

Do not scratch the bite site to avoid inadvertently causing an infection. A particularly unpredictable and very dangerous reaction is an allergy. Death can occur within 15–30 minutes. from anaphylactic shock, if emergency medical care is not provided to the victim.

Except local manifestations, the general reaction is also added in the form:

• loss of consciousness;
• breathing problems or stoppages;
• strong heartbeat;
• drop in blood pressure;
• dizziness.

In case of a moderate form of allergy in the form of swelling, itching, or rash, no special measures need to be taken, but upon arriving home, immediately treat the wound.

What insect bites are dangerous?

We often underestimate the dangers of a bite, and then spend years paying for our carelessness. In mid-latitudes, Hymenoptera are especially dangerous: fire and nomadic ants, bumblebees, horseflies, wasps, gadflies, hornets, and bees. They attack not for survival, but for self-defense.

Particularly dangerous:

• - are carriers of malaria;
• mosquitoes- spread leishmaniasis;
• mosquitoes- transmit yellow fever and Dengue disease;
• lice- danger in the form of rickettsiosis, typhus;
• rat fleas- plague stick;
• fleas- bubonic plague;
• bed bugs - tularemia, viral hepatitis B, pathogens of plague, Q-fever;
• cockroaches- worms, dysentery, tuberculosis;
• tsetse fly- infect with sleeping sickness;
• flies- lead to dysentery, typhoid, etc.;
• ticks- to incurable Lyme disease;
• spider black widow- can even cause death. Here you can read which others live in Russia;
• brown recluse spider- completely destroys tissue, healing takes months, and small children and the elderly can even die.

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A tumor as a natural reaction of the body to a bite

After a bite, a tumor appears immediately or after a short period of time, but this is a completely understandable reaction of the body to an irritant. This is how the immune system reacts to dangerous toxins and enzymes injected under the skin of the insect. Often this begins the inflammatory process.

Then the swelling will be insignificant, and the affected areas will resemble only small swellings. But when a person is stung by a more dangerous insect: a hornet, wasp, bumblebee, bee, bedbug, then the appearance of a tumor will be inevitable, often very impressive.

Specifics of inflammation after an insect bite

If after an insect bite some part of the body is slightly swollen, there is no need to panic prematurely. This is a normal reaction of the body to the penetration of foreign biologically active substances. But if a significant part swells, or the swelling has already spread throughout the body, then an unwanted allergic reaction can occur, which must be eliminated immediately.

If you feel only slight discomfort in the form of burning or redness, this is normal. But when the body temperature rises significantly, it means that the process has become generalized, and the patient must be immediately hospitalized.

Specifics of inflammation after a bite in children

If the child’s bite site is only slightly red and itchy, and there are no other dangerous symptoms, while the baby is cheerful and cheerful, and you know that the reason for everything is just a mosquito or a fly, you can safely use any available means after bites.

But when the sore spot becomes very red, swollen, there is a fever, vomiting, and the child is lethargic and tearful, immediately call an ambulance.

When should a tumor be treated?

Such situations often include:

• edema, tumors of an allergic nature;
• in case of secondary infection (when an infection was introduced into the wound);
• tumors affecting the respiratory system.

Now let's take a closer look at when medical attention may be needed:

1. The bite causes swelling in the larynx, tongue, or eye. In the first two cases, suffocation may occur; in the latter, serious damage to the eye is possible.
2. If more than 3 days have passed since the bite and the wound is inflamed, then a secondary infection has occurred.
3. If intoxication occurs: vomiting, dizziness, elevated temperature bodies, etc.
4. A large abscess has appeared on the affected area - this may be due to tissue damage.
5. A rash and blisters appear, and the swelling quickly spreads further.

It is always better to fight a tumor, especially when bitten by hornets, scorpions, or spiders. Some insects do not die immediately after being bitten, but can continue to harm humans for a long time. But there are also those who die immediately.

We all know which insect dies after being stung; of course, it is a bee. This is the most valuable insect for humanity, and attacks only in exceptional defensive cases.

Systemic therapy

In severe cases, systemic therapy is used:

1. Tablets and injections of potent drugs: hormones, anti-inflammatory and antihistamines, as well as calcium supplements and painkillers.
2. Analgesics- used for severe pain and allergic reactions. Can be taken in tablet form, but intramuscular administration will act faster: Baralgin, Analgin, etc. To enhance and speed up the effect, they are administered intramuscularly.
3. Hormonal drugs are also used: Prednisolone in the form of tablets and injections, drops.
4. Medicines with calcium base needed to reduce the sensitivity of the immune system in order to slow down the production of histamine. Typically, these drugs are used together with antihistamines to enhance the effect.
5. To eliminate itching, redness, allergic swelling, you will need the following medications: Calcium chloride, Calcium thiosulfate.

Anti-inflammatory drugs

Inflammation can be removed with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these include ointments, creams, and gels. Some of them include glucocorticosteroids, but they are not readily available and are available only by prescription.

Antihistamines

Used for allergies and to relieve itching and swelling, they must be taken as quickly as possible. Especially if you are predisposed to allergies (you should always carry it with you).

All antihistamines are divided into:

• local- these are ointments, gels that are applied to the affected area;
• systemic- tablets, it is advisable to choose 2nd generation drugs, they do not have a sedative effect: Loratadine, Cetirizine, etc.

Local treatment

Local treatment is aimed directly at the skin and mucous membranes that have been damaged by an insect bite. Antihistamines - prevent further spread of edema, quickly remove itching and red spots after a bite, and block the production of protein - histamine.

The most effective antihistamines:

• Fenistil;
• Tavegil;
• Suprastin;
• Claritin.

Ointments

Any, even the most effective, ointment can only slightly alleviate the condition of the bitten person. But this is not a 100% guarantee of getting rid of the symptoms that bother you; you should not count on it.

Because all of them have different inherent properties: anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, soothing. They can even prevent an allergic reaction.

You need to know how to choose the right product:

1. You can choose an ointment against various fleas, bedbugs, horseflies, mosquitoes and remove unpleasant sensations.
2. But with poisonous stings: leeches, bees, hornets, centipedes, etc., even a good ointment will not bring relief, but will only relieve the pain a little. In this case, the ointment is used together with other medications to quickly remove intoxication.
3. When a tick bites, an ointment with only an antiseptic effect is needed, but, alas, it is not able to protect against infection with encephalitis or berylliosis.

Particularly effective ointments:

• Hydrocortisone;
• Streptoderm;
• Akriderm;
• Levomekol;
• Advantan;
• Menovazin;
• Fenistil.

Balms

Balms are good to use when providing first aid; they will soothe and cool the skin:

• for adults - Gardex Family, Floresan cream-balm, Mosquitall, OFF, Mommy Care, Dr. Theiss Arnica, etc.;
• for children - “My Sunshine”, Gardex Baby, Akomarin cream.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine will help relieve swelling after a bite:

• cold compress or ice;
• mash a little and add plantain, a leaf of mint, parsley, dandelion and secure;
• prepare a decoction of Veronica officinalis and make lotions: 1 tbsp. l. herbs for 1 tbsp. boiling water, leave until cool;
• make a decoction of parsley roots: chop 0.5 tbsp. l. roots per 0.5 l. boiling water, boil for 2-3 minutes, cool and take 2 tbsp. l. 3 times a day;
• soda solution: dissolve 1 tsp soda in 5 tbsp. l. boiled water and treat the affected area;
• treat with medical alcohol or vodka in half with water, boric alcohol, calendula;
• “Zvezdochka” balm helps a lot.

Conclusion

Self-treatment can be carried out only in the absence of allergies and with a mild standard form of the body’s reaction to an insect bite.

If the temperature rises, severe swelling, suffocation, unbearable itching, surges in blood pressure, blisters that begin to merge before your eyes, forming large areas, immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance. Home treatment is unacceptable; it can lead to serious complications and even death.

In order not to deal with the consequences of bites, it is better to prevent them immediately. There is a huge selection of insect protection and repellent products. And the right product will help you stay healthy!

Insect bites. What to do after a bite?

Thank you

General information

Insects are living organisms from the order of arthropods; they inhabit almost all continents. Of all the living creatures on our planet, insects are the most numerous.

There is no person who has never experienced insect bite. Consequences bite depend primarily on the type of insect and secondly on the individual characteristics of the organism. For some people, the bite of the most common mosquito can be deadly.

The reaction of the human body is caused not by the fact of skin puncture itself, but by the substances that insects inject during a bite. The purpose of bites can be both defensive and food ( bloodsucking).

What insects can be dangerous?

The main danger for residents of mid-latitudes is bites Hymenoptera insects: bees, wasps, bumblebees, hornets, red ants. These insects sting solely for the purpose of self-defense. During a sting or bite, a poison consisting of active proteins and other components, which are often strong allergens, enters the human body. The body responds to the introduction of these substances with redness, pain and swelling of the tissues. According to statistics, four times more people die from bee and wasp bites than from snake bites. Different insects attack using different methods. Thus, wasps and bees sting with a sting, while the latter die, since the sting along with the stinging apparatus remains in the wound. Ants inject poison by biting with their jaws, and they can bite as many times as they like.

When bitten by bloodsuckers ( mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, bedbugs) a person experiences unpleasant sensations. But at the same time, some of them are also carriers of dangerous infections.

• Malarial mosquitoes carry malaria,
• African mosquitoes carry West Nile encephalitis,
• Lice carry relapsing fever,
• Mosquitoes carry leishmaniasis,
• Tsetse flies carry sleeping sickness
• Common flies can be carriers of typhoid, dysentery,
• Deer flies carry tularemia,
• Fleas carry bubonic plague,
• Lice carry rickettsiosis,
• Mosquitoes can carry viral diseases: yellow fever, dengue fever, equine encephalitis,
• Ticks carry Lyme disease,
• Spider bite ( especially Black Widow and Brown Recluse) can cause severe complications and even death.

Swelling, pain and other signs of a bite

Most often, when an insect bites, there is itching, pain, swelling and redness at the site of the bite. Trying to scratch the affected area can cause infection. But if the victim is allergic to insect bites, the poison can provoke not only a local, but also a general reaction of the body: rashes all over the body, deterioration of breathing, impaired consciousness. In especially severe cases, death occurs half an hour after the bite.
A wasp or bee sting on the tongue can cause swelling of the tongue and pharynx and further suffocation.
Stings from multiple bees or hornets cause kidney failure and paralysis.
The bites of red ants cause a lot of trouble to the victim, as they itch very much and also hurt.

Allergy to bites

An allergic reaction to insect bites can be mild to severe. With a moderate allergic reaction, the following signs or one of them are observed:

• swelling,
• pain,
• slight swelling,
• increase in body temperature at the site of the sting.

If you have had an allergy to an insect bite once, the chance of it happening again is 60%. A moderate allergic reaction is observed in many victims and does not require special measures. The standard help described below is quite sufficient.

Signs of an acute allergic reaction:

• swelling of the face,
• breathing disorder,
• anxiety, nervousness,
• acceleration of heartbeat,
• the rash appears all over the body, it is itchy and very bright,
• my head is spinning
• blood pressure decreases sharply.

Severe reactions to insect bites are not very common. However, within ten minutes the patient may develop anaphylactic shock, impaired consciousness and death. Therefore, such a victim requires immediate medical attention.

The first drug used for anaphylactic shock is adrenaline ( epinephrine). Timely administration of the drug relieves allergic manifestations. Sometimes oxygen masks, IVs and other more serious procedures are used. The patient may be left in the hospital for another day to completely stabilize the condition. For people who have already experienced similar conditions once, it is advisable to always have an ampoule of epinephrine with them during hikes in the forest and walks in nature. But sometimes just one dose of this drug is not enough, so in any case you need to call an ambulance.

Bites of wasps, bees, bumblebees and hornets

If in middle lane More often you can find bees and wasps, but in the south they are also supplemented by hornets - huge wasps. As already mentioned, stinging insects bite in self-defense. At the same time, wasps and hornets can sting many times. In bees and bumblebees, the sting is covered with serrations that slow it down in the body. Along with the sting, the stinging apparatus also escapes from the insect’s body. Venom is sprayed out of it over the course of another 3 to 5 minutes, so the sting should be immediately removed from the wound.

At the site of the bite, the body becomes red, swollen, painful and hot. If you are individually sensitive to bee venom, your body temperature may rise, you may feel sick, have a headache, lose coordination, and experience lethargy and fever. The same reaction occurs if a person is stung by several insects at once.
In especially severe cases, even one bite is enough to disrupt the heart rhythm, cause convulsions, joint and back pain, and impaired consciousness. Some people may experience an asthma attack or even anaphylactic shock.

What to do after a bite?
If you are bitten on the hand, you need to immediately remove all the rings and then immediately pull out the sting and try to gently squeeze the liquid out of the wound. In order to carefully remove the sac of poison, you need to “scrape” it with any hard object.

There is no need to try to pull on it, as the poison will be injected even faster. Persons who are not allergic to bee and wasp stings need only take an antihistamine tablet and apply a cold lotion with ammonia ( dilute in a ratio of 1:5) or with ethyl alcohol diluted three times with water.

It also wouldn't hurt to drink some warm tea and lie down. Just in case, you can take an antihistamine for a couple of days in a row until the swelling goes away. Some doctors recommend taking 25 grams of vodka orally ( product for adults only!). For acute pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, will help.

In some people, individual intolerance to poison manifests itself after some time. Therefore, those who are not confident in their body should carefully monitor signs such as nausea, changes in blood pressure, increased body temperature, rashes in other places, as well as difficulty breathing.

Traditional methods of treating bee, wasp, bumblebee or hornet stings
1. Chew and stick a plantain leaf on the affected area.
2. Wash the bite site with urine.
3. Tie a previously crushed dandelion leaf to the site of the bite.
4. Make a strong infusion of the herb Veronica officinalis and make lotions with it.
5. Attach parsley leaves to the affected area. This will eliminate pain and swelling. Take a decoction from the roots of this plant internally: half a liter of boiling water for two tablespoons of raw material. Pour in a thermos overnight. Drink a third of a glass three times a day, 30 minutes before meals. This remedy eliminates sensitization of the body.
6. Brew three tablespoons of the string in a thermos with 500 ml of boiling water overnight. Take 100 ml orally three times a day, half an hour before meals. Make lotions with the leaves of the string.
7. Squeeze the juice from mint leaves and treat the sting site. This will relieve pain, inflammation, and relax.
8. Cut a raw onion and attach the cut to the bite site. Leave overnight. You can treat the sore spot with onion juice.

Multiple wasp or bee stings can be very dangerous. If in the forest you accidentally stumbled upon wasp's nest, in no case should you brush away insects or try to crush them. We need to get away from this place as quickly as possible. If only one insect releases poison, others smell it and also rush to attack. In case of multiple bites, it is imperative and urgent to go to the hospital.

Mosquito bites

Mosquito bites not only leave behind excruciating itching. These insects can be truly dangerous if they carry the malaria pathogen.
According to ancient legend, these small bloodsuckers were sent to people as punishment for the evil tongues of women.

More than two thousand species of mosquitoes are known. Moreover, not all of them are carriers of malaria. The latter are slightly larger and their abdomen is located significantly higher than the head, whereas in ordinary species the head may be slightly higher or the body is parallel to the surface. Despite the fact that recently the number of malaria mosquitoes in the middle zone has increased, in most cases we observe common species these insects.

Only females suck blood and only when they are preparing to lay eggs. Blood proteins are necessary for mosquitoes to lay as many eggs as possible. Thus, a “hungry” mosquito can lay no more than 50 eggs, and a well-fed one can lay up to 300.

A mosquito can detect its prey several kilometers away! Its sting looks like a syringe, the needle of which is still covered with a special protective cover. During insertion into the body, the cover rises. As soon as the sting is inserted into the body, a substance that prevents blood clotting is immediately injected into the human tissue. It is this very anticoagulant that causes itching and redness.

Even five hundred mosquito bites are not dangerous for a healthy adult. However, for an allergy sufferer, one can be enough to cause a severe allergic reaction and even death.

What to do after a bite?
1. Make a strong solution of baking soda and periodically treat the itchy area.
2. Lubricate the bites alcohol tincture calendula, boric alcohol, tomato juice.
3. Make a cold lotion.
4. For multiple bites, take an antihistamine.
5. You should definitely keep an antihistamine in your first aid kit or at the dacha, fenistil or fukortsin (relieve itching and even eliminate nettle burns).

Traditional methods for mosquito bites
1. Treat with sour cream or kefir.
2. Apply a bird cherry or plantain leaf to the bite site.
3. Lubricate the affected area with “Star” balm.

Spider bites

There are very poisonous spiders, the bites of which can lead to the death of the victim. When attacked by such a spider, a person should be taken to the hospital immediately.

In fact, not every spider is truly dangerous. Brown hermit spiders, karakurts and tarantulas are very dangerous. These insects are found in warm regions, do not like dampness. They usually live in places where people rarely visit, for example, in attics, among firewood.

Tarantulas are quite large and prefer to settle in steppe sandy places. The brown recluse spider has a special pattern on its back that looks like a violin. And the karakurt's belly is decorated with a bright red pattern, similar to an hourglass.

Tarantula bite quite painful. At the site of the lesion, the skin becomes red, swollen and painful. The general condition of the victim is deteriorating, he is lethargic and sleepy. Most often, these signs last for several days.

Karakurt bite resembles a weak prick. The condition worsens after about an hour or two. The body at the site of the bite swells and begins to hurt. Gradually the pain spreads to the lower back, leg muscles, stomach and top part backs. I feel dizzy, feel nauseous, and my whole body aches. 2% of karakurt bites result in cardiac arrest and death.

At bitten by a brown recluse spider the victim feels a slight burning sensation. But after 8 hours, the affected area turns red, hurts and becomes covered with a blister. After some time, the blister disappears, but a rather large ulcer remains, which gradually becomes even larger. The body temperature increases, the patient’s general well-being worsens, the body aches, and the victim becomes nervous. Deaths from bites of these spiders have been recorded. They are more dangerous for children.

What to do after a bite?
1. Wash the body thoroughly at the affected area with soap and water.
2. Achieve immobility of the affected limb. To do this, apply a splint. When moving, the blood flows faster and the poison spreads throughout the body more quickly.
3. If a spider has bitten your leg or arm, you can lightly squeeze the limb just above the bite site, applying a kind of “tourniquet.” But you can’t squeeze the tissue too much. In addition, such a bandage cannot be kept on the body for a long time ( no longer than an hour).
4. Apply a cold lotion to the affected area.
5. Drink a lot to cleanse the body of poisons through the kidneys.
6. Take aspirin ( adults) or paracetamol.

Be sure to go to the hospital if:

• The victim is a child,
• After the bite, the general health of the victim deteriorates significantly,
• There is a possibility of being bitten by a karakurt or brown recluse. In such cases, an antidote must be administered.

Domestic insect (bedbug) bites

There are more than fifty thousand varieties of bedbugs on the planet. There are about a thousand species in temperate climates. The bug feeds on average once a week. But if you consider that their colonies are very large, the problem of bedbug bites becomes clear. It is almost impossible to exist in the same room with them.

Bedbugs prefer to suck the blood of children and women, because they have thinner skin. If there is a choice, they will go to feed on the body of a non-smoking family member.

Often, a bug bite is initially mistaken for a mosquito bite or even an allergy. Bedbugs like to settle in hard-to-reach corners: in cracks, under baseboards, in the cracks of furniture, behind paintings and wallpaper. During the day you can only find them if you look carefully.

A bug bite is absolutely painless, as it injects an anesthetic into the wound. Sometimes a bug, in order to drink blood, pierces the body in several places, since it cannot immediately find a nearby vessel.
Bedbugs carry such serious illnesses like tuberculosis, plague, anthrax and smallpox.

What to do?
If bedbugs are found, there are only two options to get rid of them: move to another home for a while or call pest control specialists. You can treat the apartment yourself. But for this you need to get a protective suit and a respirator, gloves and a spray device.

Absolutely all objects, walls and floors need to be treated with the solution. That is, all surfaces and crevices. On square meter upholstered furniture and carpets it takes approximately 100 ml of solution and half as much for floors, walls, and unupholstered wooden furniture. If you treat the room in parts, then the cunning bugs will simply move to the surfaces that have not yet been treated. Therefore, processing should be carried out immediately and everywhere. Must be processed immediately door jambs, ventilation passages.

After disinfestation, all windows should be opened and left for ventilation. During treatment, pets, plants and, of course, people should be removed. After airing it is necessary to wipe wet rag all the places you touch.
Sometimes not all bedbugs die immediately, the drug takes effect after a week or even a month, it all depends on which drug is chosen.

Tick ​​bite

Ticks most often inhabit forests, but they also feel great in meadows. For a walk in nature, you should choose light-colored clothing - it is easier to spot insects on them. While walking, you should carefully examine each other once an hour. It is advisable that the bottom of the trousers be secured with an elastic band or cuff. You can tuck them into your boots.
Most often, ticks lie in wait for their victims, sitting on blades of grass or twigs. They can only crawl up, they cannot crawl down. You can play on this when choosing clothes for a walk. If a tick encounters an obstacle while traveling through your clothes, it will not be able to overcome it.
Returning home from a walk, you need to very carefully review not only your clothes, but also the flowers, twigs or toys brought from the forest.

What to do if he sucks?
1. Do not apply any oils or alcohols to the tick. In such a situation, the insect will try to defend itself by injecting more poison into the body.
2. Tweezers ( as a last resort, with your fingers) take the insect and unscrew it like a screw. This method gives one hundred percent results. Just don’t need to pull it, but rather twist it.
3. After removing the insect, you need to carefully examine the wound to see if the insect’s proboscis remains in it. Then treat with an alcohol preparation.
4. Give the victim an antihistamine.
5. If the region is unfavorable for encephalitis, it is advisable to immediately go to the clinic after a bite.

Bites in children

Children are a tasty target for bites from blood-sucking insects, because their skin is thin and their blood circulation is very active. A child can get a wasp or bee sting by carelessly stepping on an insect with a bare foot or even while eating some sweet and juicy fruit - the insect may also want to eat it.

Even the bite of an ordinary mosquito can cause quite extensive redness, and the swelling can be greater than that of an adult. Usually after a couple of days they gradually begin to fade and go away.
Otherwise, the reaction of a child’s body to the bite of any insect is not very different from the reaction of adults.

First aid for stinging insect bites is as follows:

• remove the sting
• apply ice
• give an antihistamine by mouth,
• lubricate the sore spot fenistil-gel or in more severe cases cream advantan. The first product is based on herbal ingredients, and the second includes hormones.

You should definitely send your child to the hospital if there are several bites, if they are in the mouth, or on the face.
If you are bitten by a mosquito, you can also lubricate the blister. fenistil. If your baby tries to scratch a blister, you should definitely relieve the itching. After all, it’s easy to get an infection through a little scratching.

Methods for relieving itching after mosquito bites:

• dilute soda with water to a paste, treat the blister,
• wipe with ammonia diluted with water in equal parts,
• treat the blister with mint toothpaste.

In nature, a child can be attacked by horse flies. The bite of this insect is very painful, moreover, the wound can subsequently become inflamed and even fester, since the insect can lay its eggs under the skin. These insects are more active on a clear sunny day.

If a child is bitten by a horsefly, the wound should be washed with soap and water as quickly as possible. To relieve itching, the same baking soda. The lotions are applied for 15 minutes, after which they are replaced with new ones. Horseflies are completely safe in the shade and attack exclusively in sunny meadows, closer to water bodies.

Bites during pregnancy

No one is protected from the bites of pesky mosquitoes or vicious wasps. But expectant mothers, unlike everyone else, are practically prohibited from using repellents and most medications.

As a last resort, if you are bitten by an insect and the body’s reaction is strong, you can take an antihistamine tablet ( tavegila, suprastina, fenistila).

But it’s easier to prevent bites than to treat them later:

• don't hold on open places sweet fruits and desserts,
• don't drink from tin cans and bottles that have been standing on the table for some time unattended - a wasp may be hiding in them!
• After eating sweets and fruits, be sure to wipe your lips with a wet napkin.
• avoid wearing too colorful dresses outdoors,
• do not walk barefoot in meadows and flower fields,
• do not use strong-smelling floral scents in summer,
• use mosquito nets at home and in the country,
• treat clothes with repellents,
• use ultrasonic mosquito traps,
• if there are no allergies, resort to essential oils.

Treatment of bites

Treatment should be chosen depending on the symptoms. So, with slight swelling and pain, it will be enough to apply a cold compress or pieces of ice. Some insects, such as mosquitoes, carry germs, so you may also want to wash the affected area with mild soap and water. By all means, you should refrain from scratching the blisters, because this is the first way to infection of the wounds.

Antihistamines can be used successfully to relieve itching ( zyrtec, loratadine, suprastin, fenkarol, tavegil), sold in pharmacies without a prescription.

If you have previously had very severe reactions to insect bites, you should use the contents of an anti-anaphylactic package. This package includes a syringe with adrenaline for injection, an antihistamine and a tourniquet. These medications should be used as prescribed by your doctor. In such cases, it is also prescribed diphenhydramine, as well as drugs from the group cortisone. In the hospital they will teach you how to use an anti-anaphylactic package.

If the wound is infected, oral forms of antibiotics are prescribed. And in the most severe cases, they resort to an oxygen mask and intravenous infusions of drugs. In such patients, cardiac function should be constantly monitored.

Antihistamines are prescribed for a period of three to five days. Duration of steroid use ( cortisone) prescribed by a doctor.

Traditional methods of treatment

1. Treat the bite site with echinacea tincture and drink a few drops internally. According to doctors, echinacea regulates the functioning of the immune system and eliminates allergic manifestations.
2. Crush the activated carbon tablet and add water to make a paste. Place it on the bite site so that it does not dry out quickly, cover the top with film. Coal acts as an antidote, absorbing poison molecules from the wound.
3. Make a lotion from milk or milk ice. Keep for up to 10 minutes.

Ointment for insect bites

All ointments used to eliminate the consequences of insect bites are divided into hormonal and non-hormonal.

Psilo-balm – antiallergic agent. Eliminates itching, redness and swelling of the skin, relieves pain, cools. Indicated for use for insect bites, itchy eczema, chickenpox, allergies. Does not affect the general condition of the body. Treatment is carried out three to four times a day. Use with caution during pregnancy.

Vitaon – balm based on plant components: oils of mint, pine buds, wormwood, yarrow, rose hips, St. John's wort, celandine, marigold, chamomile, fennel, caraway, thyme, camphor. Relieves pain and itching, eliminates inflammation, destroys germs, promotes speedy healing. Used for lotions or treatments of affected areas. Treatments are carried out twice a day, the lotion is applied for 48 hours.

Golden star – ointment based on plant components: oils of mint, cloves, cinnamon, eucalyptus, camphor, menthol. Effective both for repelling insects and for treating bites. Relieves itching and inflammation. Do not apply near eyes, damaged skin or mucous membranes. Rub a small amount of ointment into the affected areas. May cause an intolerance reaction. In this case, you should thoroughly wash the skin area warm water with soap. Not to be used until the age of two years.

Fenistil gel – an antihistamine for local treatments. Recommended for relieving itching from insect bites. The effect of the drug is noticeable within a few minutes after application, and is effective for 1 to 4 hours. Bite sites are treated two to four times a day. If the itching is very severe, it must be combined with an oral antihistamine. It is forbidden to use if the victim is under 1 month of age. During pregnancy, use only after consulting a doctor and on small areas of the body.

Sinaflan – corticosteroid for local treatments. Recommended for treating insect bites, first degree burns, sunburn, itching, eczema, dermatitis, neurodermatitis. The ointment is used only in short courses and for treating small areas of the body, as it causes many side effects. Treat the affected area one to three times a day.

Advantan is a latest generation glucocorticosteroid. Thanks to the special shape active ingredient the drug has virtually no general effect on the body even with long-term use. In case of insect bites, it is recommended only in case of a very pronounced reaction. The drug usually does not cause side effects. Treatment with ointment is carried out once a day, lightly.

Poisonous insect bites

The most dangerous are the bites of scorpions, karakurt, salpuga, scolopendra, and tarantula.

Despite the fact that the vast majority poisonous insects no more dangerous than bees; the reaction to them largely depends on the state of the body. According to statistics, children with weak body defenses most often die from scorpion stings.

Preventing bites from such dangerous insects in the regions where they live involves using repellents, carefully inspecting shoes and clothing before putting them on, and plugging all cracks through which insects can get into your home or tent.

If you are bitten by a poisonous insect, you must immediately administer a special antidote serum ( special for each type of insect), and then support the heart and blood vessels with medications. If it is not possible to immediately deliver the victim to a medical facility, you need to make a strong solution of potassium permanganate, moisten a cloth in it and apply a lotion to the wound. Then give her 100 ml of a weak solution of potassium permanganate to drink, lay her down, wrap her up, and periodically give her water to drink.

Homeopathy for bites

Of all the homeopathic remedies used to relieve the effects of insect bites, the most common are Apis And Ledum. The first is made from the bodies of dead bees and bee venom. The drugs can be taken orally and used to treat wounds. For external use, drops are applied to a bandage and a lotion is made.

Preparation Apis effective against bee stings, if there is severe swelling and redness of the tissues, the bite site hurts sharply, and a blister forms.
Preparation Ledum It is also recommended in cases where after a bite the tissues become cold, turn pale and the pain is relieved with cold compresses.

To prevent a severe allergic reaction, you can take the drug for 4 days at the beginning of the warm period of the year. Apis. For many allergy sufferers, this homeopathic remedy acts almost like a vaccination, nullifying the body’s reaction to insect bites.

When is a doctor needed?

If an insect bite causes not just redness at the site of the bite, but any other general disturbances, even those that do not cause much trouble, you should definitely consult a doctor. After all, when reappearance they can be much more intense and cause anaphylactic shock.

The most common reaction to bites is a rash like urticaria. The spots covering the body do not have the same shape; they are slightly raised above the skin level, swollen and red, and itchy. If no other symptoms are observed, your doctor will prescribe antihistamines.

If germs were introduced into the bite site ( the tissues are hot, the general condition worsens, a bright stripe has formed on the skin) need a doctor's help.
In any case, the victim requires attention from others. You need to monitor his condition and if his general health worsens, contact a specialist.

If it is known that the victim has severe reactions to insect bites, you need to call an ambulance immediately after the incident, even if the victim’s condition seems to be normal.

In addition, you need to call an ambulance if the following signs are observed:

• dyspnea,
• hoarse breathing,
• feeling of heaviness or pain in the chest,
• lethargy or lack of coordination,
• inability to swallow, speak, feeling of throat constriction,
• signs of infection.

As a rule, to make a diagnosis it is enough just to examine the victim. It is also necessary to examine the state of the heart and respiratory tract.

Prevention

1. Take into account the daily activity of insects. Thus, mosquitoes in temperate climates are usually active at dusk. Therefore, people who are allergic to their bites should avoid walking at this time of day.
2. When walking in nature, it is better to dress in light clothes, but with long trousers and sleeves. T-shirts and shirts should be tucked into trousers. It is advisable to wear a Panama hat on your head. That is, there should be as few open areas of the body as possible.
3. Repellents should not be neglected. They can be applied not only directly to the body, but also to clothing ( there's something for that special means ). Products containing permethrin, repel mosquitoes, ticks and other insects. They need to be applied to the fabric, and even after several washes they retain their effect. Moreover, this type of processing is practically harmless to humans. Another active substance used by many repellent manufacturers is DEET. It can be applied both to clothing and directly to the skin. The drug should not contain more than 35% DEET, since a larger amount does not affect the effectiveness in any way, but has an adverse effect on health.
4. Use mosquito nets. Now they are produced not only for windows, but even for cribs and strollers.
5. Instead of fumigator liquid, you can use eucalyptus extract. Mosquitoes hate this smell.
6. Mosquitoes can feel it a mile away increased level cholesterol in the blood and prefer these people to everyone else. Therefore, normalize your cholesterol.

Repellents for children

When choosing a repellent, you must first read the labels on the packaging. Children's preparations should not contain substances as active ingredients diethyltoluamide (DEET). This component is very toxic, so children under six years of age should not even use it on clothing.

The most preferred are bayrepel, and also IR 3535. The balm is very effective and completely harmless " Golden star" You can treat your baby's clothes and skin with vanilla extract, cedar or clove oil, tincture of lemon balm or eucalyptus.
For children, you should not choose products in the form of aerosols, but only creams, ointments or gels.

How to use repellents correctly?

When using mosquito repellents to treat your body, you should remember that poisons that are dangerous to mosquitoes are also dangerous to humans.

How to minimize harm from toxic components?
1. If you plan to be in nature for no longer than an hour and a half, you should choose drugs with low concentrations active substance (up to 10%). But such drugs are not suitable for ticks - they are only afraid of lethal concentrations above 20%.
2. You should not spray with repellent - its increased amount will not affect the effect in any way.
3. To apply cream or gel to your body, it is better to wear a thin medical glove on your hand.
4. Do not use aerosol on your face! But only cream, ointment or gel.
5. Aerosols should not be used in closed rooms.
6. Do not treat areas of skin hidden by clothing.
7. Some repellent components may interact with synthetic fabric fibers. Therefore, it is preferable to wear things made from natural fabrics.
8. Do not use repellent on areas with scratches, wounds, inflammation, lips, or eyelids.
9. After the walk, you need to take a shower and remove any remaining substance from your body.
10. If clothing is treated with repellent, it should be changed as soon as the need for protection is no longer necessary.
11. The manufacturer usually gives recommendations on the frequency of treatments - do not neglect these recommendations.

Plants that repel insects

1. Marigold – Flies and mosquitoes cannot stand their smell.
2. Bergamot – will help avoid bites, as well as relieve inflammation from bites. In this case, it is very effective in combination with lavender.
3. Verbena – repels any insects.
4. Carnation – perfectly repels mosquitoes and flies.
5. Geranium – both in plant form and in oil form, geranium repels insects.
6. Cedar – repels midges and mosquitoes.
7. Cypress – is a strong insecticide.
8. Lavender – effective against moths, mosquitoes, flies. Helps avoid blisters from bites.
9. Laurel – will repel insects and help blisters heal faster.
10. Melissa – remarkably repels insects and also relieves pain from stings.
11. Eucalyptus – perfectly repels insects.
Before use, you should consult a specialist.

An effective ointment for insect bites is designed to alleviate the consequences of attacks by biting or stinging arthropods. However, it is impossible to consider each such remedy as a panacea and a 100% guarantee of getting rid of all unpleasant symptoms: the ointment will only reduce the reaction of the skin and tissues underneath it to foreign biological substances that enter the body during a bite.

For example, some creams have anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and soothing effects, while some other ointments and creams are more focused on preventing the development of an allergic reaction: they prevent swelling from increasing, and also help relieve itching from an insect bite and minimize the appearance of a rash.

Thus, when deciding what to apply to insect bites, you should not count on the fact that any one remedy will be able to completely relieve you of all unpleasant consequences - such medicines simply do not exist.

Note

You should be especially careful when choosing a product if you decide to anoint a child’s insect bite, since many ointments are contraindicated for babies or children with very sensitive skin. In most cases, itching after bites is not dangerous at all, but some ointments that are used to relieve it may well lead to serious side effects.

But for bites of stinging or poisonous insects (bees, wasps, hornets, predators, and spiders, centipedes, leeches), even high-quality ointment, cream or balm for insect bites often has to be used together with other types medicines and drugs to combat symptoms of intoxication. Ointments here, unfortunately, are often only able to mildly relieve the consequences of bites.

As for tick bites, it makes sense to use, first of all, those ointments that have a pronounced antiseptic effect - all other “advantages” of the drugs in this case are secondary (if brilliant green or alcohol is available, it is better to use them). However, even in this case, ointments, alas, are usually unable to protect the victim from borreliosis or encephalitis.

In any case, to achieve the best result, you first need to be able to choose the right ointment, cream or gel for insect bites, which we will talk about in more detail later...

How to choose an ointment?

Preparations used after insect bites are produced in various forms of release, differing in their composition, consistency and packaging containers.

Among such funds, the following three main groups can be distinguished:

• gels - as a rule, these are water-based products containing various pharmaceutical substances and (or) natural medicinal ingredients;
• creams - usually these are preparations based on natural or synthetic fats or oils, also containing certain medicinal additives;
  
• balms – medicinal products, which are usually based on plant extracts and natural resinous substances.
  

Note

A high-quality balm for insect bites primarily promotes rapid tissue regeneration at the site of the bite, and therefore is used mainly after attacks by stinging insects.

It should be noted that there are other types of products used after insect bites: aerosol preparations, pencils, patches, etc.

Creams are considered the most effective form of ointment for insect bites, since they, thanks to their fatty component, ensure rapid transport of medicinal components through the skin.

However, products released in other forms are not far behind in this regard, especially if they have a well-balanced formulation. For example, the following drugs work quite well after insect bites:

• Levomekol;
• Advantan;
• Akriderm;
• Menovazin;
• Hydrocortisone ointment.

Bites different insects sometimes require a specific approach to treatment. In turn, each of the means also has its own specifics and is most effective in a particular case.

So, for example, if you have been bitten by mosquitoes or bed bugs, then the primary task of the ointment is to relieve swelling of the tissues and help the itching disappear as quickly as possible.

At the same time, after stinging insect bites, ointments of a slightly different nature should be used - primarily those that prevent the development of an allergic reaction and help reduce pain.

Note

Ointment with famous name"Rescuer", often used for insect bites, is least suitable for this purpose. The purpose of this drug is to disinfect skin damage and promote rapid healing of wounds, scratches, ulcers and bruises. In case of stinging insect bites, this ointment only allows for faster restoration of tissues affected by inflammation, but is not capable of minimizing all other symptoms.

If the insect bite is very painful, the damaged area can be smeared with Menovazin, which will create a feeling of coolness and significantly reduce the pain. If inflammation or swelling occurs, Levomekol or Advantan should be used.

Levomekol is especially good if you need to smear insect bites on a child who has already scratched them before pustules appear. In this case, Panthenol is also used.

Finally, if an insect bite has caused a severe allergic reaction with rapidly growing swelling and rash, the affected areas of the skin should be lubricated with hydrocortisone ointment. However, this remedy has a sufficient number of contraindications, so it must be used with great caution, and it is best to first consult a doctor.

Perhaps the most universal remedy, used against the bites of a wide variety of insects, is Fenistil gel. You should definitely have it in your first aid kit for going outdoors and definitely take it with you on trips abroad. You can read more about this drug below.

What is important to do before using the ointment

In most cases it turns out in the following order:

• if a bee has bitten, then first of all, the sting is removed from the wound with tweezers (after stings of hornets or wasps, it does not remain, so you don’t even have to look for it);
  
• then the poison is sucked out of the wound as soon as possible (if it enters a person’s oral cavity, it does not cause harm);
• A cold compress is applied to the bite site (stones or damp earth cannot be used for this purpose - they can become a source of infection).
  

In the case of bee stings, part of the poison is neutralized by soap; in wasps and hornets, any organic acid(For example, regular vinegar, a piece of lemon, apple or orange). Only after this can the bite site be anointed with a specialized product.

Fenistil gel and its properties

The versatility of the drug Fenistil against insect bites lies primarily in its ability to perfectly soothe itching. Unfortunately, in case of bee or wasp stings, its use will not prevent the appearance of swelling, however, with a moderately pronounced reaction of the body to the poison, this gel copes well with stopping the allergic reaction, since in general it is classified as an antiallergic drug.

The optimal area of ​​application for Fenistil is bites from mosquitoes, bedbugs, midges and fleas. In these cases, the gel helps relieve itching from bites and quickly minimize other unpleasant symptoms (slight tissue swelling, redness, soreness).

Another important feature of Fenistil gel is the possibility of its use in children older than 1 month. The only thing worth remembering is that this drug should not be applied to large areas of skin or places where there are scratches and bleeding abrasions.

The price of a 30-gram tube of Fenistil gel is approximately 350 rubles.

“A very good ointment for insect bites is Fenistil. We always take it with us to the dacha or barbecue, even if someone is bitten by mosquitoes, they only need to apply it to the skin once, and the bites stop itching after just a few minutes. Several times I had to use it to smear bee stings, it also works well. The bite site swells, but goes away faster, the pain is not felt for long.”

Irina, Tver

Famous Levomekol

Levomekol cannot be called a classic remedy intended specifically for treating insect bites - it is used for the disinfection of wounds and ulcers, antimicrobial and antiviral therapy. The drug is also good for treating burns.

In case of insect bites, Levomekol is usually used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, it makes sense to use it after an unsuccessful “acquaintance” with arthropods such as wasps, hornets, bees, tropical ants, scorpions and spiders. It is their attacks that usually end in significant swelling, edema, hemorrhages, and sometimes even tissue necrosis.

If in these cases you apply Levomekol to the wound, it will ensure accelerated tissue restoration at the site of the bite and relieve inflammation.

The cost of the ointment is also pleasing - only about 100 rubles for a 40 gram tube.

Advantan for insect bites

For insect bites, Advantan ointment is usually used as an antiallergic agent. If you immediately anoint the affected area with it, then sometimes it is quite possible to completely avoid the appearance of severe swelling and hives, even after the bites of insects such as paper wasps and bedbugs. When attacked by larger arthropods, the drug can also help - it helps localize inflammation and prevent the development of an allergic reaction.

It is useful to choose one of the forms of the drug in advance: a fat-based ointment, an emulsion or a water-based gel. Such a variety of release forms allows you to choose exactly the type of product that is most suitable for each specific skin type.

The effect of all three forms of this drug is approximately the same, but on oily skin it is best to anoint the insect bite site with an emulsion, for dry skin choose an ointment, and for normal skin - Advantan gel with a balanced ratio of water and fat.

However, despite everything positive aspects This remedy also has one undeniable disadvantage - hormonal effects. That is why it is not recommended to treat large areas of skin with Advantan - in order to avoid the occurrence of more serious problems.

The price of Advantan is approximately 400 rubles for 20 grams of emulsion or 15 grams of cream.

Akriderm

Akriderm is a remedy for symptomatic treatment. It is usually used when various injuries skin and severe dermatitis.

For insect bites, Akriderm is used as a drug to relieve itching and get rid of rashes at the site of the tumor, so it works best against mosquitoes.

An important advantage of this product is the “delicacy” of its action - Akriderm can be safely used even for children.

The price of the drug fluctuates around 450 rubles per 30 gram tube.

Treatment of insect bites with Menovazin

The drug “Menovazin” is designed primarily to provide an analgesic effect, since the main “working” substance in it is menthol. You can confidently apply this product to the bites of bees, wasps, and large wild bugs, because even after inflammation appears, it will provide a feeling of coolness at the site of the bite, reduce itching and pain.

Menovazin is inexpensive - about 30 rubles for 40 ml.

Panthenol and its properties

Panthenol-based products are produced by many pharmaceutical companies in several dosage forms. Moreover, the buyer often pays for the advertised name, and not for the much cheaper active ingredient.

The Panthenol cream itself costs from 100 rubles for 50 ml, but various combination preparations based on the same active ingredient are offered by pharmacies for completely different money - from 350-500 rubles for the same volume.

For insect bites, it is most rational to use Panthenol in the form of a cream or ointment: in this case, it ensures restoration of the skin in areas of inflammation, relief of itching and rapid healing of wounds.

Hydrocortisone ointment

Hydrocortisone ointment is a hormonal agent, so when using it you need to carefully read the instructions and be sure to take into account any existing contraindications.

When insect bites occur, the ointment blocks the occurrence of an allergic reaction and the release of histamine in the body. This tool can be used to prevent the development of anaphylactic shock from bites of stinging insects, spiders and scorpions.

The price of hydrocortisone ointment is approximately 50 rubles per 5 grams.

Other ointments for treating bites

All of the above remedies for insect bites are sold exclusively in pharmacies and therefore in some cases may not be available. Fortunately, they can easily be replaced with drugs similar in action, available in supermarkets and household chemical stores.

So, drugs are quite widely distributed on sale brands Mosquitall, Gardex, Off, Taiga, among which there are also products for children. For example, Gardex baby cream against insect bites acts very delicately and quickly relieves itching in case of mosquito bites, and Taiga brand products, in addition to getting rid of the symptoms of a bite, also allow you to protect yourself from insect attacks.

In the vast majority of cases, to treat insect bites, you should choose fat-based products that have an additional antiallergic effect. Relieving allergies in a “global” sense is much more important for the body than, for example, relieving itching or getting rid of painful sensations. Ointments designed to combat unpleasant sensations should be used either in cases where there is no allergy itself, or in addition to an antiallergic drug.

And finally, there are numerous products on sale that are designed to repel insects and prevent them from biting at all. They are effective in protecting against attacks by mosquitoes, fleas or bedbugs, but, unfortunately, they are not able to scare away an angry hornet or bee. When choosing such a product, you should look for the names “DEET” or “permethrin” in its composition. If the proposed repellent ointment contains essential oils as the main active ingredient, then there will be practically no expected effect from it.

Summer holidays are looked forward to not only by adults, but also by children. Blood-sucking insects can overshadow the long-awaited event. Children are most susceptible to their bites. It is the little ones who have the strongest reactions to trouble, due to their fragile immune system and individual characteristics of the body.

Parents should know in what cases it is necessary to consult a doctor for help, and what to do at home if their child is bitten. Keep a package of antihistamines and healing ointments in your medicine cabinet. Required set definitely needed in nature.

Why are insect bites dangerous for children?

A mosquito is a two-winged insect. The males of this species are absolutely harmless and feed on plant pollen. Females bite; to procreate, they need protein contained in the blood of a person or animal. The mosquito consumes blood once, after which it lays eggs and dies.

The action itself is almost painless, sometimes a slight tingling sensation is felt. The insect selects delicate areas of the skin where blood vessels are located close to the surface of the epidermis. The mosquito pierces the skin with its nose, injects saliva, which releases special substances that prevent blood clotting. It is impossible to get poisoned; insects have no poison.

Anticoagulants cause redness skin, itching. If you start scratching the bite site, the substances will spread to nearby tissues, and the discomfort will intensify several times. Mosquito bites do not cause much trouble, but some children do not tolerate the unpleasant event well. The situation is aggravated by the fact that children often scratch the bite site and accidentally introduce secondary infections.

In Russia, it is quite difficult to become infected with a serious disease through a mosquito bite; isolated cases have been reported. Residents of countries with hot climates (Africa, South America, islands) are most susceptible to illnesses. Pacific Ocean, India, Afghan countries).

Allergy to insect bites

The worst thing for a child after a mosquito bite is the occurrence of an allergic reaction. Trouble occurs much less frequently than after contact with stinging insects (bees, wasps).

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite in children include:

• increased body temperature;
• swelling, redness of the skin, severe itching at the bite sites;
• nausea, vomiting;
• headache;
• difficulty breathing, Quincke's edema.

In rare cases, rhinitis, lacrimation, and urticaria may occur. A healthy person can withstand up to 500 bites, but for some people, especially children, even a single case can lead to a local or general (even fatal) reaction.

With a local reaction, itching and swelling spread over several hours, redness can subside quickly, and discomfort only after a day. The general reaction is accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure and further loss of consciousness. If a negative reaction occurs, immediately give the baby any antihistamine (Suprastin, Fenistil), and visit a doctor.

Note to parents! If your child is allergic to insect bites, always carry special medications with you, especially when traveling out of town, where it is not possible to quickly visit a doctor.

How to protect your child

Many remedies can help prevent the occurrence of allergies, the very fact of a mosquito bite. Read the whole range, choose the right product.

Special devices:

• repellents. They are special substances that repel insects; they irritate the olfactory nerve endings of mosquitoes. They produce many types of products: sprays, creams, gels, even bracelets. Solutions are used for spraying clothes, tents, and baby strollers. The rest are recommended to be applied to open areas skin without rubbing. The product protects the child for 2–5 hours, this is enough for a walk, but repellents are not able to ensure proper sleep;
• fumigants. They act quite quickly, but are dangerous to the health of very young children. The devices inject chemicals into the air that immediately poison mosquitoes. Homes apply electrical appliances, in open areas - which smoke. Recently, many counterfeits have been produced that negatively affect the health of the baby. Buy devices only in pharmacies and specialized stores;
• ultrasonic devices. Their effectiveness has not yet been proven; some people hear a squeaking sound, which causes discomfort.

Protection for babies up to one year old

Pick up effective remedy mosquito control is quite difficult for infants. Many drugs and products are toxic, harmful to a small organism, and have a high probability of an allergic reaction. Read the instructions before using repellents. Lately, mosquito repellent bracelets have become extremely popular and can be used to protect newborns.

Devices can emit an unpleasant odor and cause headaches. Experimenting on a baby is not recommended. Rely on proven mosquito repellent products. To prevent an unpleasant situation in a baby, use natural medicines, first test their effect on yourself.

Lavender essential oil is perfect for babies. The oil effectively kills insects and is approved for use from the first days of life. Don't forget about mosquito net, there are special devices for sale for cribs with small cells. They allow air to pass through and protect against insects.

For reliability, hang a similar mesh on front door, ventilation in the baby’s room. Regularly lubricate your baby's clothes with lavender oil; you can hang a bag filled with dry herbs over the crib.

Treatment with medications

How to apply mosquito bites to a child? The pharmacological industry produces a lot of drugs in the form of ointments and sprays for children affected by mosquito bites. To heal wounds, use the following medications:

• Fenistil Gel. The remedy for mosquito bites has an antipruritic, antihistamine effect. The product helps reduce discomfort, rashes, and swelling. It is not recommended for use in children under one year of age. average cost one package is 350 rubles;
• Bepanten. Anti-inflammatory, moisturizing cream. The medication quickly relieves itching, is used from birth, and is approved for use by parents and children. The average price of one package is 400 rubles;
• Cream-gel Nizulin. Includes natural ingredients that help repel insects. Herbal components relieve swelling, itching, have a calming, bactericidal effect;
• gel-balm MOSQUITALL « Ambulance after the bites." The composition includes plant components, d-panthenol, an antibacterial complex, silver ions, which provides an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effect. The medicinal product is considered the most effective and safe for babies; a 10 ml tube costs 110 rubles.

Additionally, use Moskitol-gel, Psilo-Balm, Rescuer cream, Zvezdochka balm, Apis and Ledum. All medications are designed to eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Use medications as directed Please read the instructions before applying.

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First aid

Providing first aid to a child for an insect bite:

• wash the bite area under running water with soap;
• treat with an anti-inflammatory agent, for example, Chlorhexidine solution;
• It is strictly forbidden to scratch the wound;
• apply ice to the affected area of ​​the skin, this will help prevent swelling;
• apply antihistamine ointment, for example, Fenistil;
• The baby is given antihistamine pills internally.

In most cases, after such actions, the allergic reaction subsides and the baby forgets about the incident. If the itching increases, swelling is accompanied by difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, you cannot do without medical help. Call the doctors immediately follow their instructions.

Folk remedies and recipes

How to get rid of mosquito bites? Natural products They quickly cope with unpleasant sensations, do not harm the child, and rarely cause allergic reactions. Recipes:

• medicinal collection. Mint leaves, oak bark, and St. John's wort have an anti-inflammatory effect and a mild analgesic effect. To prepare the medicine, mix all ingredients in equal parts, take a tablespoon of the resulting mixture, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour. Cool the resulting product, strain, moisten gauze, and apply to the affected area of ​​the skin;
• soda. The substance is used not only in cooking, but also to eliminate the consequences of mosquito bites. Dissolve a teaspoon of soda in a glass of water, stir thoroughly, soak the gauze in medicinal product, apply crumbs to the damaged epidermis;
• A weak solution of alcohol in a ratio of 1:5 copes well with itching. The product can be replaced with vinegar. This drug is allowed to be used for children over three years of age;
• Tomato bushes or fresh ones left on the windowsill will help protect the room from annoying insects. tomato juice. Mosquitoes cannot stand the smell of tomatoes;
• It is allowed to lubricate exposed skin with fish oil. The unpleasant aroma repels insects, moisturizes children's skin, promotes the healing of existing wounds and bite marks;
• mosquitoes hate the smell of anise, cedar, eucalyptus, and cloves. All you need to do is buy one of these essential oils, apply to the crib crumbs, open areas of the body. Most oils have a beneficial effect on baby's sleep and are excellent at repelling mosquitoes. These products are suitable for protecting parents, have a fairly pungent odor, and remain effective for up to 12 hours;
• leaves of juniper, valerian, walnut. It is enough to lay out the medicine on the windowsill; you can put it or hang it over the child’s crib. A calm and quiet sleep without bites is guaranteed for your child.

Insect bites are a common occurrence among children and cause a lot of trouble for young parents. Getting rid of the consequences of contact with insects is quite simple if the baby does not have allergies. If unpleasant symptoms occur, consult a doctor, give your baby antihistamines, and use first aid tips.