Bug Bites and Stings: What Parents Need to Know
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Most kids love to play outdoors, making bug bites and stings a common yet sometimes frightening occurrence. Bug bites and stings can range from mildly annoying to painful and dangerous.
While most bug bites and stings are minor nuisances, it’s important for parents to have the knowledge and confidence to handle their child’s inevitable encounters with mosquitoes, spiders, ticks, bees, wasps, and other creepy crawlies – and to know when to seek medical help.
We’ll also share prevention strategies and ways to comfort and reassure children who are afraid of getting bitten or stung, so everyone can have a safe and fun time playing outdoors.
A Typical Bite or Sting Reaction vs. A Severe Allergic Reaction
Anyone can get bitten or stung, but children are at greater risk of having more severe reactions. Thankfully, most bug bites and stings are mild and can be treated at home. Your child might not even see the bug in question or realize they were bitten or stung until one or more of the following symptoms emerge:
Redness or rash
Swelling
Itching
Heat on or around the affected area
Pain in the affected area
Numbness or tingling in the affected area
However, certain bites and stings can cause a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Seek medical treatment immediately if your child experiences any of the following symptoms after a bug bite or sting:
Difficulty breathing
Swelling of the lips, face, eyelids, or throat
Rapid heart rate
Muscle spasms
Hives
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Dizziness or confusion
Loss of consciousness
Many bugs, including mosquitoes and ticks, can also carry and spread diseases. If your child begins to feel ill or experience flu-like symptoms in the days after a bite or sting (such as fever, chills, headache, or muscle pain), visit your pediatrician to rule out or treat any infections.
Identifying and Treating Common Types of Bites and Stings
Bug bites and stings come in many shapes and forms. Here are some tips to help you identify certain types of bites and stings and alleviate your child’s symptoms.
Mosquito bites
Mosquito bites are rarely serious but often cause itching, swelling, and redness. Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream can help relieve these symptoms. (Antihistamines may also help, but consult your pediatrician first.)
Mosquito bites should heal in less than a week, and itching usually peaks within 24-48 hours after the bite. Encourage your child not to scratch the bite, even though they’ll want to. Scratching a mosquito bite can make it itch and swell even more and prolong the healing process.
Scratching can also break the skin, which can lead to infection. Signs of mosquito bite infection include:
Yellowish drainage from the bite
Crusting over the bite
Feeling warm to the touch
Fever
Muscle weakness
If your child has any of these signs, contact your pediatrician.
Extra tip: Covering mosquito bites with a bandage can help prevent excess scratching.
Bee stings
Keep in mind that bees are not responsible for every type of sting. Wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and other flying insects with stingers can produce the same unpleasant result.
If your child gets stung, they will likely experience pain, itching, swelling, and redness at the site. These symptoms usually last for a few days. It’s not unusual for signs of irritation to spread across a wider area as well – for instance, a sting near your child’s ankle can lead to swelling up their leg.
Here’s what to do after an insect sting:
Can you see the stinger? Remove it from your child’s skin right away. The longer the stinger stays in, the more venom gets released.
Wash the sting area to reduce the risk of infection.
Apply ice to minimize pain and swelling.
Use calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching.
An over-the-counter pain reliever may help if your child’s symptoms persist. If the swelling continues, ask your pediatrician about antihistamines.
Extra tip: To remove the stinger, scrape it off with a credit card, the back of a knife, or another straight-edged object. Never use tweezers, which can squeeze the venom sac and release more venom.
Spider bites
Aside from black widow, brown recluse, and other venomous spider bites, most spider bites are harmless and don’t require special treatment.
A spider bite usually appears as a red, inflamed bump on the skin. You may see two small puncture wounds or splotchy red marks as well.
Spider bites are often tender to the touch and may cause a painful burning or stinging sensation. You can apply an ice pack to numb the bite area, and an over-the-counter pain reliever may help as well.
Bites from certain spiders, such as the aforementioned black widow or brown recluse, will likely require extra care. Contact your pediatrician right away if your child has any of the following symptoms after a spider bite:
Swelling
Increasing pain
Stiffness
Fever
Chills
Fluid-filled blisters
Allergic reactions to spider bites are rare but require immediate medical attention.
Extra tip: If the spider bite is on your child’s arm or leg, elevate it quickly to help reduce swelling.
Tick bites
Ticks thrive in grassy or wooded areas, such as lawns, gardens, meadows, and forests. They are commonly found in shady, moist areas near the ground (such as low shrubs or leaves) or clinging to tall grasses. A tick can easily latch onto your child’s skin if they brush past one while playing or exploring outside.
Ticks wander on the body for several hours before they find a place to feed, usually opting for warm, moist areas like armpits or other skin crevasses. Ticks can hide on your child’s hairline, behind their ears, around their groin, between their toes, and many other places.
If you find a tick on your child, remove it immediately using fine-tipped tweezers. Pull upwards with steady and even pressure – never twist or jerk the tick, which can leave it partially embedded in your child’s skin. Removing the entire tick is essential, as any parts left behind (especially the tick’s head) can cause Lyme disease.
After removing the tick, clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol. You can apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to help reduce itching.
Be sure to watch your child closely for any signs of Lyme disease, which include:
A large red circular rash around the tick bite
Fever
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle aches
Swollen lymph nodes
If your child has any of these symptoms after a tick bite, seek medical help immediately. Getting antibiotic treatment in the early stages of Lyme disease can help prevent the infection from spreading to your child’s joints, heart, and nervous system.
Extra tip: Save the removed tick in a sealed plastic bag for potential testing in case your child develops Lyme disease symptoms.
Avoiding Bug Bites and Stings
While the risk for bug bites and stings is always there, especially if your child spends a lot of time outdoors, there are some ways you can help avoid them.
Dress your child in clothing that covers their arms and legs
Check your child’s body and clothing carefully for ticks
Got pets? Check their fur for ticks, too
Bathe or shower immediately after being outdoors
Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting
Tell your child to never swat at buzzing insects
Hire professionals to remove any hives or nests near your home
Walk on clear paths
Avoid tall grass and wooded areas
Stay inside after dusk if possible
Is Your Child Afraid of Bugs? How to Comfort Them
Being afraid of bugs is normal – just ask any grown adult who shrieks and runs away at the first sight of one. (Trust us, there are many.)
It’s important to reassure your child that their fears are totally normal. You can also follow these steps to show that bugs aren’t out to hurt them:
Control your own reactions around bugs. If you’re afraid, your child will be too. Stay calm when bugs are near you.
Interact with bugs from a distance. Pick up books about bugs from your local library, look at the pictures, and learn about them together. Take photos in your home or yard to show your child what bugs live nearby.
Play with plastic bugs. Your child can explore their curiosity without worrying about biting or stinging.
Visit a nature center or museum. Many have displays that allow your child to see and learn about bugs up close.
Watch animated movies that feature bugs. A movie can help your child connect with once-scary bugs like bees or spiders in a fun, entertaining way.
Practice removing bugs from your home. Using a clear cup and a piece of cardboard, show your child how to safely remove a bug from your home.
TrustCare Kids Treats Bug Bites and Stings
There’s no need to bug out – TrustCare Kids can examine and treat your child’s bite or sting and help them Feel Better Faster®.
TrustCare Kids offers urgent care services seven days a week on a walk-in basis and pediatric primary care by appointment. Contact us today!