Insect bites: what to do?
In Quebec, summer means sun, heat, barbecues, swimming, cottages, vacations and… mosquitoes! In town and country, mosquitoes bite without warning. While most bites are trivial, others can cause more discomfort or create an allergic reaction. And let’s not forget the insects responsible for transmitting disease. As some bites can cause more serious reactions, they require immediate medical attention. Find out when to seek medical attention.
Normal reaction
When an insect bites the skin, it injects a venom that can cause pain, redness, swelling and itching at the site of the bite, to a greater or lesser degree. These reactions are short-lived and disappear on their own within a few days.
Allergic reaction
Some people will develop an allergic reaction to insect venom, or by too many stings, especially bees and wasps, and may suffer symptoms such as :
- swelling of the tongue, lips or face;
- breathing difficulties;
- generalized skin eruptions;
- abdominal pain;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- drop in blood pressure;
- accelerated heart rate.
Viruses transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks
Some insects, such as mosquitoes, can transmit infectious diseases to humans. West Nile virus (WNV ), the malaria and the Zika virus. Others, such as ticks, found in woods and forests, are responsible for Lyme disease. Symptoms can appear between 3 and 30 days after a tick bite, in the form of a broad, target-shaped rash. In general, after an insect bite, beware of fever flare-ups, severe headaches, rashes and muscle and joint pain if you’ve just returned from a trip.
In the event of a severe allergic reaction to an insect bite, if you think you may have been infected by an insect, or if you have symptoms such as those described above, medical advice is required. Contact us and the medical team at LeBlanc+Savaria will assess your situation.
