Insect Bites & Stings

Whether it’s the park on a warm summer day or a cold winter day at home, an insect bite can put a damper on a child’s day. Treating an insect bite requires identifying the biter and the bitten location.

With smaller children, often an insect bite can be very traumatizing for the child and parent particularly because smaller children and infants cannot articulate what’s troubling them. If you have a younger child or baby and you suspect they have suffered an insect bite, try to stay calm and find out where the bite has occurred. It is possible that your child suffered an insect sting and knowing the difference is critical to the type of treatment your child should receive for a bite versus a sting.

There are far more insect types than can be addressed now. Suffice it to say, the majority of bites and stings are received from ants, spiders, bees and mosquitoes. Different insects create different reactions to their bite or sting. This is very important because some stings are poisonous and can even be fatal if multiple stings occur.

Try to determine if the wound is a bite or sting. Mosquito bites usually do not leave a mark until they have been scratched. Mosquitoes can be very deadly however, if they have been infected with the West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes tend to breed around water collections and are nasty about biting as night fall approaches. There are many over-the-counter treatments for before and after a mosquito bite. OFF brand makes insect repellent specifically for children in a spray and cream. If you have to be out at night with your child, invest in an insect repellent and be sure to follow the directions on how long to wait before going outside after application.

Although there are many over-the-counter anti-itch products, a natural way to stop a mosquito bite from itching is to slice open a fresh lemon and rub it on the wound. The itching will stop and for younger children, there’s no worry about accidentally ingesting the chemicals in the anti-itch product.

Bees and wasps sting and leave a venom-filled stinger behind. This is very painful for a child. Look for the wound site and check to see if the stinger is still in, if so, remove and try to treat the area immediately with hydrogen peroxide. If you suspect that your child is allergic to such stings, go straight to the hospital immediately for professional help.

Ants and spiders bite similar to mosquitoes. Their main offense is the itching caused by the bite. Ant and spider bites can be treated in the same manner as mosquito bites. Watch for any irritation such as swelling, hives or fever; all of which suggest an allergic reaction and should be treated by a physician immediately.