The midge belongs to the order of blood-sucking insects. Feature is small sizes and very poisonous saliva, which they use to lubricate the bite. They are classified as horse flies, mosquitoes and mosquitoes. On average, there are 1,800 species in wildlife.
The habitat of these insects is everywhere, with the only exception being Antarctica. Living where there are bodies of water: lakes, rivers, swamps. The larvae are transparent in color, quite small, and very difficult to notice in the water.
Their life span is quite short - about a month. Males consume flower nectar, while females drink blood from all mammals; they need this for the development of their offspring.
Blood-sucking insects are active in the morning and on warm days. They are located on tall grasses, where they await their victims. When attacking people, they initially focus on the smell of sweat. Raids occur en masse. After which the person often needs help.
Another article on the site presents.
Why are midge bites dangerous?
To the main danger of damage skin These insects include irritation caused by toxic saliva. Its composition is quite harmful; it contains an anesthetic substance. Therefore, at first the bite is imperceptible.
This insect pinches off a piece of skin, sucks blood from it, and then treats it with saliva.
Saliva is very dangerous and subsequently causes the following symptoms:
- Edema.
- Pain.
- Inflammation.
- Allergy.
Very often there is a feeling of severe itching at the site of injury. This discomfort can last quite a long time: from several days to a couple of weeks. This condition can be provoked by constant scratching of damaged areas, especially in young children. In such places, purulent discharge may appear both on the surface and subcutaneous places.
The midge is not a carrier of dangerous viruses and cannot infect humans with serious illnesses. The exception is insects living in Africa and Asian countries. It is there that they can carry the cholera and anthrax viruses.
Allergy to bite
After a person has been bitten by a midge, he may experience an allergic reaction of a different nature.
It depends on the following:
- From the type of insect that caused the damage.
- Volume of bites.
- From the immune system - in weakened people the manifestations are much stronger.
- Tendency to allergies in general.
- From reactions to saliva toxicity.
- Infections caused by scratching.
Some of the most common symptoms include the following:
- Swelling of the injury site.
- Severe itching.
- Redness.
- The appearance of a rash, with various manifestations.
- In children, a reaction of the lymph nodes occurs.
- Fever.
- Nausea.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
TO general symptoms applies:
- low blood pressure;
- cardiopalmus.
Eye damage
If the bite occurs in the eye area, this can lead to irreversible consequences. If treated incorrectly, complications can arise that can even lead to loss of vision. In any case, you should immediately seek help from an ophthalmologist, who will examine the site of the injury and prescribe appropriate treatment.
First aid after a bite is as follows:
- Rinse eyes with clean running water.
- The eyelids must be lubricated with anti-allergenic ointment. These include “Hydrocortisone”, “Fenistil gel”, but avoid contact with eyes.
- Apply a cold compress to the affected area.
If a midge has bitten a child, treatment is carried out in the same way as for adults: washing, disinfection, treatment with ointments or gels.
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How to avoid midge bites?
It is impossible to completely avoid midge infestations, but there are some tips that can help minimize damage from blackflies:
- It is necessary to hide vulnerable areas (arms, legs, neck area) with clothing.
- You can wear a mosquito net over your face.
- Process open spaces skin with special preparations that repel insects.
- You can use the folk method: lubricate the skin with unrefined vegetable oil.
- Decoctions of various herbs have an excellent effect: wheatgrass, cloves, eucalyptus. Products must be applied to the skin.
- If midges are found in apartments and houses, solutions should be prepared essential oils(lemon, citronella, eucalyptus) and sprinkle throughout the living space.
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We use a lamp More than a month. We forgot about flying insects and often find ourselves in the evenings outdoors. We are very pleased with the result. I recommend to everyone."
Treatment of midge bites
The consequences of the bites of these insects are pain, itching, and allergic reactions. Itching leads to the fact that a person constantly scratches the damaged area, as a result of which an infection gets into the wound and inflammation occurs.
It is for these reasons that you should try to prevent the occurrence of these symptoms, namely:
- Rinse the wound clean cold water.
- Treat with a napkin.
- Use a piece of ice to cool the damaged area.
- In case of swelling, apply a tight bandage.
- Treat with an antiseptic.
- Take a pain reliever.
- After the occurrence of various rashes, treat soda lotion(for 200 grams of water, take 1 teaspoon of sodium).
Creams that have properties against allergies are applied:
- "Gyoksizon".
- "Fenistil".
- "Prednisolone."
- "Cynovitis."
Babies need to be treated with non-hormonal drugs: “Zvezdochka”, “Fenistil”.
IN advanced cases Antibiotics are prescribed, wounds are treated with hydrogen peroxide (3%), rinses are performed with antiseptics, and bandages with antibacterial ointments are applied (for example, Levomekol). In rare cases, surgical intervention is resorted to.
Effective remedies for bites
As already noted, insect attacks lead to quite negative consequences: itching, swelling, allergies. Therefore, damaged areas must be treated by various means using both folk and traditional medicine.
Ointments
Sold in pharmacies great amount medications that relieve itching and restore damaged areas.
One of the most inexpensive, but very effective drugs are the following:
- Balm “Rescuer”- perfectly removes itching, prevents the occurrence of various infections, and promotes speedy healing. It can be used to treat children.
- "Fenistil" is one of the most the best drugs to treat the consequences of an attack.
- "Aspirin" It helps to get rid of itching and swelling very well. You need to dissolve the tablet in water and treat the damaged area.
In addition, in pharmacies you can purchase drugs that quickly and effectively help get rid of the consequences:
- Levomekol.
- Menovazin.
- Akriderm.
- Hydrocortisone ointment and many others.
Folk remedies
As a rule, attacks by blood-sucking insects occur in nature, so they use folk remedies; a person does not always have a first aid kit with him.
These include:
- Lotions are made from saturated saline solution(for 200 ml of water take 1 tsp of salt).
- Dandelion, lemon balm, and plantain leaves are applied to the bite site.
- Wipe the bite area with soap for several minutes.
- Vinegar compresses are applied.
- In addition, compresses made from vegetable oil with the addition of ether are used.
- You can get rid of severe itching by using any toothpaste containing menthol or balm.
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How to relieve swelling after a bite?
If swelling occurs, all measures must be taken to remove it.
To do this, you can use the following tips:
- Apply an ice compress, which must be wrapped in a piece of cloth.
- Wipe the damaged area with alcohol or high-quality vodka. This will relieve pain and have a hemostatic effect.
- To relieve itching, wipe with a solution of vinegar or sodium bicarbonate.
- Whenever allergic reactions take the Suprastin tablet. You can drink it without causing any symptoms - it will help get rid of itching and swelling.
- Allergy sufferers are advised to treat the damaged area with Fenistil.
- If blisters appear on the skin that do not go away, you should seek help from a medical facility.
What to do if a midge bites you in the eye?
If you are bitten in the eye area, treatment must begin immediately, as tearing, swelling and redness may occur. People prone to allergies may experience shortness of breath, dizziness, headache and even intense pain in the chest area.
To avoid unpleasant consequences, you must:
- If you refrain from scratching, as this may damage the mucous membrane of the eye. To prevent this from happening, take any antihistamine and lubricate the eyelid with anti-inflammatory cream.
- You need to drink more fluid.
- Place a piece on the damaged area raw potatoes, this will relieve swelling and inflammation. You can also use blurred bird cherry leaves.
- Apply a piece of ice wrapped in a rag. Be sure to take allergy medication.
What should you not do if you are bitten?
Every person should know what is prohibited from doing in such cases:
- Scratch the wound.
- Treat with drugs household chemicals(except laundry soap).
- Apply any products to an open wound, only to the skin around it.
- Do not use on a wound that is healing alcohol tinctures(water based only).
- Take medications without a doctor's prescription.
Conclusion
No one is immune from insect bites, so you need to protect yourself and small children yourself. Try not to come close to bodies of water in the evening and morning, as midges live near them in huge quantities.
While at the dacha or garden plot, it won’t hurt to get rid of tall weeds. After all, it is on such vegetation that these bloodsuckers like to be.
If after an attack there are concerns that the symptoms will not go away, you should immediately seek help from a medical facility.
IN It is especially necessary to monitor the condition of children, because their immune system is weakened, and the consequences can be unpredictable. spring-summer period
insect life is activated. In most cases, their coexistence with humans is not considered something bad. However, it is worth distinguishing between absolutely harmless individuals and those that may pose a danger to human health. Today, science knows about the existence of more than 5 million species of insects. The most common on the globe are considered to be Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, which include beetles and butterflies, as well as Hymenoptera - ants, wasps, mosquitoes and bees. It is insects from the order Hymenoptera that are most often responsible for the appearance of tumors, redness and swelling on the human body, which are the result of their bites.
Many are sure that the only thing a victim can remember about an insect bite is a tumor. However, the realities tell a completely different story: the mortality rate from Hymenoptera bites is more than 3 times higher than the mortality rate from poisonous snake bites. The reason for these indicators is that 80% of the world's population is allergic to proteins that enter the human body along with the saliva or venom of Hymenoptera.
How else can insect bites be dangerous? Firstly, these creatures are often carriers of various microorganisms that can cause severe diseases in the bitten person, such as typhus, West Nile fever and leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness and dysentery, Lyme disease and encephalitis. This is far from full list diseases that can be transmitted by blood-sucking insects, which include fleas, lice, mosquitoes and mosquitoes.
Signs of complications
Natural reaction human body an insect bite results in swelling and redness of the skin. Approximately 80% of people who are bitten experience itching, burning or even pain where the venom or saliva enters the body. In 45% of cases, an allergy to insect bites may develop, which is manifested by the following symptoms:
- redness and itching of the skin far from the bite site;
- rashes on the body, urticaria;
- dizziness;
- confusion;
- difficulty breathing;
- swelling of the soft tissues of the nasal cavity, pharynx and mouth;
- loss of consciousness;
- feverish conditions;
- increase in body temperature to low-grade levels;
- pain or tightness in the chest.
The appearance of any of the above symptoms should be a signal to immediately contact an ambulance medical care, because with further aggravation of the symptomatic manifestations of an allergic reaction, a person may experience anaphylactic shock.
In addition, a seemingly ordinary tumor after an insect bite can develop into a purulent inflammation of the subcutaneous fatty tissue, to prevent which it is enough to treat the wound with a disinfectant.
How to treat insect bites
At home, there are several fairly effective ways and means to quickly and effectively relieve swelling from an insect bite. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface of the skin around the wound using regular soap and warm water. This will remove the chitinous particles of the insect itself remaining on the body or inside, as well as the remnants of saliva or poison injected by it. Remember: never scratch the bite site, even if the itching is unbearable!
For such a phenomenon as insect bites, treatment consists of eliminating painful symptoms: itching, burning and swelling. This can be done using external medicines, using oral medications and traditional methods. Let's look at each technique in more detail.
External remedies for insect bites
For minor swelling and mild redness, it is enough to apply a piece of ice to the bite site, but in other cases it is necessary to use ointments, creams or gels after insect bites. Before choosing a particular one dosage form, you need to understand how they differ from each other. The composition of almost all antihistamine or anti-inflammatory ointments that are used to eliminate symptoms after an insect bite includes the same active ingredients. The only difference is how quickly the product is absorbed into the skin. Ointment is absorbed the slowest, cream is a little faster, and gels are absorbed in just a couple of minutes.
For moderate hyperemia and swelling, severe itching, you should use antihistamines, which are available without a doctor's prescription. With their help, you can quickly get rid of these symptoms. Antihistamine ointment for insect bites should be applied directly to the wound. The situation is somewhat different with ointments and gels for itching, which contain menthol. They should be applied only to the skin around the wound. Such remedies do not treat insect bites, swelling and itching, they only have a distracting effect.
The following external medications are considered the most popular:
- gel "Fenistil";
- gel "Psilo-balm";
- cream or ointment "Bepanten";
- cream or ointment "Afloderm";
- calamine lotion;
- cream "Elidel"
Insect bites. Treatment with tablets
Gels and ointments may not always be sufficiently effective. If multiple insect bites appear on the body, treatment with external agents can be supplemented by taking oral medications, which include the steroid drugs Diphenhydramine, Benadryl and others. In addition, for inflammation of bite sites, it is necessary to use antimicrobial tablets. Acute reactions require the use of Epinephrine injections.
Traditional methods of treating insect bites
Allergy to insect bites other than use pharmaceutical drugs, can be eliminated with folk remedies. The most famous and effective plants Plantain, elderberry, dandelion, Veronica officinalis and many others are considered to help relieve swelling, itching and inflammation. In addition, in the last two decades, to eliminate the symptoms of allergy to Hymenoptera bites, food products such as soda and acetic acid have often begun to be used.
Use folk remedies should be used with caution, since many of them are themselves allergens that can worsen the condition of already affected skin. To protect the victim from complications by providing assistance with insect bites traditional methods, we suggest you familiarize yourself with the cooking recipes healing compounds and rules for their use.
We treat with garlic
Garlic is one of the most available funds to eliminate redness and swelling that result from damage to the skin by the tiny jaws or stings of winged inhabitants of nature. The first thing that stands out about an insect bite is the swelling (photo above). You can get rid of it with the help of a water infusion of garlic. To prepare it, you need to finely chop or pass a couple of heads of garlic through a press and pour a glass of boiled, cooled water over the resulting mass. A sterile bandage or piece of cloth is moistened with the infusion and applied to the bite site. This remedy will be beneficial in the treatment of bites of blood-sucking insects: mosquitoes, horseflies and midges.
In addition to the infusion, you can also use a paste of one clove of garlic, applying it on a bandage to the skin. This remedy is more effective against stinging insects - wasps and bees. If suppuration appears in the wound, you can mix the mass of garlic with honey in equal proportions. It is important to remember that this method requires careful use by people with hypersensitive skin, as garlic juice can cause serious burns.
Cabbage as a remedy for insect bites
Most effective means Cabbage leaves are popularly used to reduce swelling from insect bites. They are used as follows: take a thin part of the sheet and lower it into hot water to soften it a little. After this, apply it to the area of skin exposed to insects, cover it with a film and secure it with a cloth. This compress will allow you to get rid of severe swelling and pain from stinging insect bites in just one night.
Cabbage ointment also has a good effect against insect bites with suppuration. To prepare it you will need a quarter of a head of cabbage (fresh), a bunch of parsley and about 50 g of pork fat. The cabbage should be chopped to a puree, the parsley should be chopped and the juice should be squeezed out of it. Mix the resulting ingredients with the fat and mix well. It is better to store this product in the refrigerator. You need to apply the ointment twice a day to the insect bite, the swelling will subside in about a day, and the itching or pain will go away even faster.
Soda and vinegar
Bites of blood-sucking insects that cause severe itching can be treated with a paste of baking soda. In order to cook remedy, you need to dilute the soda with a small amount of water so that you get a thick enough mass from which you can form a cake. The paste is applied directly to the disturbing insect bite, securing it with a piece of bandage and a medical plaster. In addition, washing with water and soda (1 teaspoon per glass of water) is useful. This method is more suitable for cases where there are multiple bites and it is not possible to apply the soda paste to a large surface of the skin.
3% table vinegar, preferably apple cider vinegar, is also used as an external medicinal product. A bandage or clean cloth moistened with it is applied to the redness and swelling resulting from the bite of blood-sucking insects for 20-30 minutes. During use this tool It is necessary to ensure that vinegar does not get into the comb, as this can cause a burn. It is also unacceptable to use undiluted vinegar or essence.
Spices
If an insect bite appears on the body, the tumor can be removed using herbs, which any housewife can find. Basil and mint are most often used for these purposes. Basil decoction (boil 2 tablespoons of dried herbs for 5 minutes in 0.5 liters of water, cool) drink 1/2 cup 3 times a day for severe itching, which often threatens severe scratching. Mint is used both in fresh, applying the juice of crushed leaves to the bitten area, and in the form of a poultice: tightly tie a large pinch of fresh herb in gauze and lower it into boiling water for 5 minutes, then remove it and cool slightly. Apply a gauze bag with mint to the bite at least 3 times a day for 20-30 minutes. A decoction of this herb can be used to rub the skin to reduce itching and swelling.
Soap and other hygiene products
Often as healing agent To eliminate itching, redness and swelling from bites, products such as dark laundry soap and toothpaste. To reduce swelling, it is enough to thickly soap the affected areas of the skin twice a day, and in case of severe itching traditional healers It is recommended to apply a small amount of mint toothpaste to the bites.
In conclusion, I would like to remind you that insect bites that cause severe discomfort (pain, itching, swelling or suppuration) should be shown to a doctor, since these symptoms may indicate an allergy or infection of the wound.
Insect bites do not always pass without traces and consequences. When you are bitten by a midge and your leg is swollen, what should you do in such a situation?
Everything needs to be taken into account right away possible subtleties and mechanisms of damage. Bites can cause exacerbations and even death. Therefore, when a certain place on the body is swollen, you need to correctly determine the situation and take timely measures.
Bites combine traumatic, allergic injuries and toxic reactions that are caused by skin lesions different insects and exposure to foreign elements on the body. The prevalence and diversity of biting animals and insects means that a bite can occur anywhere and at any time.
Mosquitoes pose a health risk because they can sometimes carry fever, malaria, or helminthiasis. Mosquito bites can cause a person to have a fever, a hot flash and profuse sweating. In this case, you need to call a doctor.
A scratched wound can become a source of infection, leading to purulent inflammation of the skin. If the bite site is very itchy, you can take ammonia and moisten the affected area. You can also moisten the wound with a solution of water and soda. And then apply a protective spray or mosquito repellent cream.
Consequences for children mosquito bite may last several months as children have very thin and sensitive skin. Therefore, immediately after a bite, the wound should be treated with brilliant green or a special lotion should be applied, which can relieve irritation and dry the affected area.
When bitten by a midge, you need to disinfect the wound with ammonia as quickly as possible and cool it with ice. If possible, take antiallergic medication. To avoid these unpleasant moments in nature, you should always have special protective equipment insect control and first aid kit.
Bee, wasp and hornet stings can cause a severe allergic reaction. And on softer and more sensitive skin tissues, the reaction can be even stronger. Poisonous Bite The hornet can cause serious burns to the skin, make breathing difficult and cause pulmonary edema. If you are bitten by a wasp or any other stinging insect, you must remove the sting immediately. Then treat the wound with a solution of water and ammonia in a ratio of 5:1. Milky dandelion juice will help prevent swelling and relieve pain. Those who are prone to allergies need to take a special drug. The victim needs to be given a hot drink and provided with peace.
An allergic reaction from a horsefly bite occurs very rarely. However, its bite may be accompanied by swelling, redness and itching, deterioration of health and fever. In this case, the affected area should not be combed - this can lead to the development of dermatitis.
Hormonal medications to eliminate swelling and itching should only be taken with a doctor's prescription.
Elimination of skin puffiness
To heal the skin after a gadfly bite, you need to disinfect the wound, relieve swelling and eliminate pain.
How to relieve swelling from an insect bite?
- Press the affected area to prevent the insect venom from spreading.
- Use a piece of ice or other cold object to cool the bite area, thereby beginning to eliminate the swelling.
- Rinse the affected area with cool water running water with soap.
- Treat the wound with any antiseptic or hydrogen peroxide and cauterize with alcohol or iodine. The alcohol will numb the wounded area and stop the bleeding.
If you try not to scratch the bitten area, the healing period can significantly speed up. The legs are the most vulnerable area of the body to a midge bite. Swelling in the legs can last for several weeks, which can lead to poor circulation and vascular disease.
If allergies occur, it is good to have the drug Suprastin with you. When stung by a wasp, it will be able to reduce the red spots and burning sensation of the skin.
A good remedy used even for small children is baby cream with vanilla sugar or vanilla. It copes well with a wound after a midge bite.
If blisters or strange spots appear on the body, then you need to call a doctor.
Normal body reaction to a bite
Some people complain that their leg is swollen after an insect bite. This is a common phenomenon that can occur even when attacked by small and harmless insects. And after being bitten by a gadfly, a bee or a bumblebee, a tumor forms in almost everyone, sometimes reaching a significant size. 
A tumor is a signal from the body to allow foreign biologically active enzymes and toxins to enter it. During inflammatory processes in soft tissues lymph accumulates, causing an increase in volume.
When a part of the body is swollen from a bite, there is no need to immediately panic and worry about a “terrible allergy”.
The bottom line is that the poison from a wasp or bumblebee bite destroys some cells of the human body, entering the intercellular space and small blood vessels. The body responds by attacking these substances.
How to relieve swelling and swelling from a bite? They'll handle it like modern people medical methods, and folk remedies:
- In the fight against edema and swelling, toothpaste with menthol and mouthwash will help. With its cooling effect, menthol can relieve swelling and pain.
- The red spot of the bite can be removed laundry soap. All you have to do is lather cotton pad soap and treat the sore spot.
- Dandelion and plantain have a wound-healing effect. The leaf of the plant must be crushed in your hands and, after it releases the juice, apply it to the affected area and secure with a bandage.
- After a midge bite, you can apply a small amount of chopped onion to the wound.
- A cold compress, such as ice wrapped in a cloth, can relieve discomfort and swelling.
- Tea bags will help remove swelling of the skin. Tea contains tannin, which can absorb all the remaining liquid.
- When bitten by a wasp, sour cream or kefir can help.
- If allergy symptoms appear when you are bitten by a bumblebee or a wasp, be sure to take medications and ointments.
No person is immune from insects getting on their skin, so every adult should know how to avoid the consequences and act in such situations, especially if the problem occurs in a child.
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After an insect bite, swelling appears, which can cause quite a lot of trouble. It is especially difficult for humans to tolerate contact with midges. It's small, but dangerous pests. Their bite is very painful and is always accompanied by severe swelling. Therefore, after its detection, it is necessary to take all measures to eliminate the disturbing symptoms.
Why is a midge bite dangerous?
Swelling from an insect bite is not the worst thing that can appear after contact with it. In some cases, a person develops a severe allergic reaction, which is associated with the penetration of foreign substances into the bloodstream. Many insects are carriers of dangerous viruses and infections. They can penetrate the human body and lead to the development of serious diseases.
We should not forget that midge bites are completely painless. A person may not notice it until swelling appears. This is due to the fact that the insect injects a special anesthetic under the skin that relieves pain. After this, it bites through the epidermis, leaving a deep wound.
Injured skin not only causes a lot of pain, but is also a place through which infection can enter. That is why after an insect bite it is very important to properly handle the problem area. This must be done especially carefully if a child has been injured.
Children suffer insect bites more severely than adults.
Symptoms
After an insect bite, the following symptoms may appear: 
- the skin changes color and becomes red;
- pronounced swelling appears;
- the swelling site is very itchy and may burn;
- body temperature rises;
- the size of the lymph nodes increases;
- tachycardia develops;
- indicators blood pressure are decreasing.
The list of developing symptoms after an insect bite depends on individual characteristics the human body and the number of bites. In some cases, only local reactions on the skin are observed, while in others, signs of intoxication appear.
First aid
Swelling from a mosquito or midge bite is eliminated immediately after contact with the insect is detected. The sooner you take certain measures, the less likely it is to develop all the unpleasant symptoms. In particular, swelling from a midge bite will appear to a lesser extent if you do the following:
What is strictly forbidden to do
How can you relieve swelling from a midge bite immediately after it is detected? There are many recommendations on this matter. Following simple rules will help prevent the development of an allergic reaction:
- It is strictly forbidden to rub the bite area. This will lead to the distribution of substances that have entered the skin from the insect over a large area.
- Redness caused by midges cannot be treated with any household chemicals. This may lead to an even worse allergic reaction.
- Do not comb problem areas skin, because this can cause the wound to become infected, which over time begins to fester and is difficult to heal.
- If the doctor prescribed hormonal ointments, they should be applied to the skin around the wound. If you treat the bite site itself with these agents, a burning sensation appears and the healing process slows down significantly.
- If any complications develop, do not neglect taking antibiotics. antihistamines or any other drugs. IN in this case You should not self-medicate, as this can lead to worse consequences. Only a doctor should prescribe medications.
Folk remedies for relieving swelling
How to relieve swelling from an insect bite, especially if a lot of time has passed after contact with it? Redness, swelling, itching and other unpleasant symptoms will completely disappear if you use one of the following remedies:
What to do if you are bitten in the eye
How to relieve swelling from midge bites in the area near the eye? In this case, not only does redness and swelling appear on the skin, but intense lacrimation also develops. The following recommendations will help eliminate all unpleasant symptoms:
Prevention of bites
To prevent insect bites, you must follow these simple rules:
- For those who live in a private house, it is advisable to get rid of excess vegetation on the site.
- Mosquito nets must be installed on windows.
- If you are planning a hike in the forest or any open area, you should use special sprays and creams to protect against insects.
- If you plan to walk through an area with dense vegetation, it is advisable to wear long sleeves. Legs should also be as closed as possible.
- You should avoid walking in the late evening, when insect activity is highest.
In summer, both people and animals are exposed to bites from blood-sucking insects. Among all the other dipterous fauna, small midges are worth highlighting. These hymenoptera, several millimeters in size, can cause a lot of trouble to humans.
What are the characteristics of midges and how to avoid them dangerous consequences their bites? What to do if a midge bites your eye and it swells? What measures should be taken to treat damage caused by midges?
What kind of insect is a midge?
According to the zoological classification, midges belong to the same order as ordinary flies yes mosquitoes. The peculiarity of midges lies in their small size and saliva, which is poisonous to humans, with which they lubricate the bite site. These small blood-sucking insects are midges along with horse flies, mosquitoes and mosquitoes. In total, there are about 1,800 species of midges in nature, and they live on all continents globe
with the exception of Antarctica. Midges live in areas where there are bodies of water with running water - rivers, streams. The larvae are very small and transparent, almost invisible in the water. They move around aquatic plants
, feeding on microscopic representatives of the animal world. Then the larvae pupate, and after some time an adult is born. Midges live for about a month. Like mosquitoes, male midges feed on plant nectar, while females drink the blood of mammals and birds - they need this for the development of future offspring.
Small bloodsuckers are active in summer on hot days and in the morning. They wait for their prey on tall stems of grass. When attacking a person, insects are guided by the smell of sweat. Attacks are carried out en masse, so often when a midge bites the victim needs help.
Why is a midge bite dangerous? The main feature of a midge bite is severe irritation of human skin with saliva, which contains substances of varying toxicity. Midges bite differently than mosquitoes. With their jaws they pinch off small piece
top layer of skin and immediately lubricate the wound with saliva containing an anesthetic substance. Therefore, initially the midge bite is almost painless. Then the insect licks the blood and lymph protruding on the surface of the wound.
skin irritation
After some time, severe itching occurs at the site of the bite. It lasts for several days and even weeks, which provokes scratching and skin damage, especially in children. When the wound becomes infected, purulent inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue develops, requiring long-term treatment. What to apply to midge bites depends on the stage of damage to the skin.
Midges do not carry any diseases dangerous to humans. The exception is insects living in Asia and Africa. They can serve vector-borne vectors(with blood) onchocerciasis or mechanically transmit pathogens of cholera, tularemia, anthrax.
How to treat midge bites
So, when a midge damages the skin, itching, swelling and pain occur. Itching is the most common complaint of victims, as it is very intrusive and leads to scratching of the skin, which can become infected and inflamed, and this is a completely different picture of the disease. Swelling can also become a serious problem if it is quite extensive or the bite site is in the area of the face, neck, or fingers.
Immediately after receiving midge bites, you should try to prevent the development of a strong reaction to the toxins. What to do if a midge bites, for example, on the lip or other delicate parts of the body? The following procedures need to be carried out:
- rinse the wound with clean cold water, blot with a napkin;
- cool the skin at the site of the bite with pieces of ice;
- apply pressure to the bite site for several minutes with your fingers or apply a pressure bandage (in case of extensive swelling);
- blot with a swab dipped in any alcohol-based antiseptic - ethyl alcohol solution, furatsilin;
- if necessary, take painkillers and antihistamines - paracetamol, Claritin, Diazolin, Imet.
A few hours after the bite, rashes of various types appear on the skin. They can be treated with lotions made from soda solution (one teaspoon per glass of water) or ammonia. Creams, gels and ointments with antiallergic effects are applied to damaged areas:
How can you lubricate midge bites in children? For children under one year of age, the use of hormonal drugs is not recommended. Fenistil gel and distractions such as Zvezdochka balm are suitable for them.
A wet-dry bandage with a 0.5% solution of novocaine or alcohol solution. The condition is alleviated by lightly stroking the skin with fingertips, applying Menovazin solution and other menthol-containing drugs to the swelling.
In advanced cases, midge bites progress to the stage of wounds, which are inflammatory processes in the skin. Their treatment may take some time. long term- it all depends on the depth of tissue damage, infection with putrefactive bacteria and the timeliness of starting treatment measures. They consist of the following daily actions:
In some cases it is necessary to resort to surgical treatment wounds - removal of scab, pus, dead tissue.
After the wound was cleared of inflammation products, it acquired pink color, new skin begins to appear, daily dressings are done with aqueous solutions antiseptic agents and apply healing ointments:
Allergy to midge bites
After a massive midge attack on a child or adult, various allergic reactions are possible. Their manifestation depends on:
- on the number of bites and type of midge;
- state of the human immune system;
- general tendency to allergic manifestations;
- individual reactions to insect saliva;
- infection of wounds when scratching.
As a general rule, the more painful the bite feels, the higher the likelihood of allergic reactions.
The most typical symptoms of a midge bite allergy are:
Common reactions also include possible increased heart rate and a drop in blood pressure.
Allergy treatment
If an allergic reaction develops, local antihistamines and ointments with corticosteroids are used (before applying them, the bite site must be treated as described above). Recommended ointments and gels for midge bites:
If you are bitten by a midge, how to quickly get rid of the tumor? In case of severe swelling, take the tablet "Suprastin", "Diphenhydramine", and other antihistamines ("Zyrtec", "Claritin"). To reduce pain symptoms, use Paracetamol or Acetaminophen.
The development of serious allergic reactions, such as anaphylactic shock or the development of angioedema, to midge bites is extremely rare. In any case, if you feel worse, have a fever or other signs of general intoxication, you should consult a doctor.
Eye damage
An unpleasant feature of a midge bite is that, given the small size of the insect, it can penetrate the ears, nasal cavity, and often bites the lip or eye. The latter cases are especially dangerous to health - if not treated correctly, damage to the eye membranes can lead to loss of vision. Therefore, it is necessary to contact a specialized doctor (ophthalmologist), who will prescribe the necessary medications. Pre-medical first aid measures consist of the following actions.
What to do if a child is bitten by a midge and his eye is swollen? If the bite is in the eye area - eyelid, eyebrow, cheekbone, then the bite is treated in the same way as in other cases: washed, cooled, disinfected and lubricated with anti-inflammatory cream.
Folk remedies for midge bites
Since attacks by blood-sucking insects occur mainly in nature, you often have to use improvised means, because a tourist does not always have a first aid kit in his arsenal. In such cases, the following folk remedies for midge bites come to the rescue.
- Lotions made from a saturated salt solution (a teaspoon per glass of water).
- Crushed leaves of dandelion, parsley, plantain, wormwood, yarrow, white cabbage, mint and lemon balm.
lotions
How else can midge bites be treated at home? You can remove swelling in one of the following ways:
- Wipe the bite area with a bar of soap for several minutes;
- make lotions from diluted in equal ratios with vinegar water;
- compresses from vegetable oil with the addition of essential oils of mint and lemon (5 drops per tablespoon).
And any balms or toothpastes with menthol and mint will help relieve the itching from a midge bite.
What not to do if you are bitten by a midge
If you are bitten by insects, you should not:
As a preventive measure against midge bites, vulnerable areas (hands and face), which are usually exposed in summer, are hidden. They need to be protected with clothing and use a mosquito net during rest. Leather can be treated by special means- attractants that repel insects.
If you do receive a midge bite, you can use people's councils How to relieve swelling - apply a paste of leaves, make a lotion from soda or saline solution. If allergic reactions occur, use antihistamine ointments and tablets. In severe cases, you should consult a doctor.