There are various types of insects that bite and sting. Most of them are harmless and only cause temporary discomfort and irritation. In contrast, there are some that can be detrimental to your health and lead to conditions like Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Getting bit by an insect can be frightening, especially if you don’t know what’s the tiny creature that left the throbbing, red bump on your skin. However, bite or sting symptoms provide clues to the cause and severity. This is why learning to identify an insect bite is crucial to determine whether you need to seek medical help or you can treat it yourself.
Mosquito Bites
A mosquito bite is an itchy, round, pink bump on the skin. Sometimes, mosquitoes can spread the West Nile virus, but this only happens in less than 1% of the cases. Despite that, it’s essential to recognise its symptoms.
Symptoms of the West Nile virus typically appear 2 to 14 days after the bite. They include headaches, fever, body aches, skin rashes, vomiting, and diarrhea. The most recent data available reveals that a total of 958 cases of the West Nile virus were reported across the United States in 2019. In more severe cases of the illness, people may also develop encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, causing disorientation, high fever, stiffness in the neck, and convulsions.
Besides the West Nile virus, mosquitos can also transmit the Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, Dengue fever, and yellow fever. For most people, Zika causes a brief, flu-like illness. However, newborns infected with Zika have an alarming rate of microcephaly congenital disabilities.
A parasite-infected mosquito bite can also cause malaria, which is a serious but preventable and treatable illness if the infected seek medical care on time. However, it’s a rare occurrence and mostly happens only to people who recently travelled to parts of the world where malaria transmission is common.
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bug bites leave small, clustered bite marks on the skin that are red. They can appear anywhere on the body but, in most cases, are on exposed skin areas like the face, neck, arms and hands. Although they don’t hurt, some people can develop allergic reactions to the saliva of these insects. The reaction presents itself as inflamed, red itchy skin bumps. This usually happens between one and three days after the bite. The discomfort caused by a bed bug’s bite can last from several days to two weeks.
Most insect bites are transmitted directly from the specimen and occur outdoors, but bed bug ones can spread through contact with an infected person, a comb, or clothing. Although they are common, they don’t carry disease.
Tick Bites
Usually, ticks bites aren’t dangerous, but some can carry Lyme disease. Besides that, dog ticks can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Tick bites that carry Lyme disease typically leave a rash in the pattern of expanding rings that appear up to a month after the bite. The infected may also experience fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint aches and irregular heart rhythms. However, symptoms such as swollen or painful joints, memory loss, or other autoimmune responses similar to those of other diseases may only present themselves when the disease is in its advanced stages. A diagnosis may remain elusive because many doctors won’t initially associate them with Lyme disease.
Tick bites that carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever begin as a rash of pinpoint red spots on the ankles after a few days of the fever. Later, the rash spreads to the rest of the body. Although this infection can be severe and even fatal, it’s preventable and can be successfully treated with prompt medical care.
Spider Bites
Most spider bites aren’t usually dangerous. They only cause temporary discomfort and are similar to bee stings, which cause swelling, red skin and pain in the affected area. However, if the bitten person is allergic, they may experience tightness in the chest, swelling of the face, difficulty swallowing, and even difficulty breathing.
Unfortunately, some spiders are poisonous and can cause a medical emergency. For example, the bite of the black widow spider can cause severe reactions. Its bite appears as two puncture marks and may or may not be painful at first. However, 30 to 40 minutes later, it results in painful swelling. It may begin almost immediately after the bite, and in less than eight hours, the victim may experience rigidity, muscle and stomach pain, breathing difficulties and nausea. When untreated, these bites may even lead to death.
Another poisonous spider is the brown recluse which can be found in various areas around the world. It usually lives in dark and unused spaces. If bitten by it, you may feel a slight sting followed by a sharp pain several hours later. Within one day, the bite may become extremely painful and begin to look like a blister or a bruise with a distinctive purple-blue tone surrounding the bite area. Later, it becomes crusty and turns dark. Symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite occur within a few hours and include fever, chills, itching, nausea, and sweating. Some people can have a severe reaction leading to kidney failure, seizure, and coma.
Make sure to promptly seek medical help in case a poisonous spider has bitten you. Keep in mind that spider bites can also get infected with tetanus, so it’s recommended that you get all the required booster shots.
Flea Bites
Getting bitten by a flea leaves an itchy welt on the skin and can lead to a slight reddish skin rash, hives and swelling. The rash caused by flea bites turns white when pressed and can spread over a larger skin area with time. They tend to be in groups of 4 to 6 and typically occur on the ankles, armpits, knees, elbows and waist. Scratching a flea bite rash can lead to a skin infection and may need further medical attention.
Fleas can be infected with plague bacteria in extremely rare cases. It usually spreads from wild rodents to pets and people. The symptoms include headache, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and chills that appear from 1 to 6 days after the bite.
Bee Stings
Bee stings are one of the most painful injuries caused by insects. The initial sharp pain lasts for several minutes and then fades to an aching, dull feeling. The bitten area may feel sore for a few days afterward. In most cases, bee stings cause red skin bumps that itch and feel hot to the touch.
If you’ve been previously stung by a bee, your body may have developed an immune response to the venom, which can result in a swelling of the bump or an entire area of your body. This type of allergic response is called anaphylaxis and a medical emergency needing immediate treatment. The symptoms of a severe allergy to a bee sting include hives, swelling, trouble breathing, dizziness, cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and even cardiac arrest.
How to Prevent Insect Bites
A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that diseases from mosquito, tick and flea bites in the United States have significantly increased in recent years. To prevent insect bites:
- Use an insect repellent that’s been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Consult your doctor about what shots or medicines you may need and any precautions you can take, especially if you’re travelling or have any known allergies to insect bites.
- Wear clothing that covers your skin well.
Final Words
If you have problems with any of these insects on your property, consider hiring a pest control service that can take care of the infestation safely and effectively.
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