Bug bites and stings usually are just nuisances. They bring
momentary alarm, temporary discomfort and pain, but no serious or
lasting health problems. But on occasion, they can cause infections
that require treatment and allergic reactions that can be serious,
even fatal.
Parents should know the signs of an infection or allergic
reaction, and when to get medical attention. Inform all caregivers
if a child has any history of complications so they know what to do
in the event of a bug bite or sting.
What to Do About:
Bee and Wasp Stings
- A bee will leave behind a stinger attached to a venom sac.
Try to remove it as quickly as possible. (Wasps don't leave
their stingers in the skin after stinging, which means they can
sting more than once.)
- Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to
three times a day until the skin is healed.
- Apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or a cold, wet washcloth
for a few minutes.
- Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
- For pain and itching, give an over-the-counter oral
antihistamine if your child's doctor says it's OK; follow
dosage instructions for your child's age and weight. You
could also apply a corticosteroid cream or calamine lotion to the
sting area.
- A sting anywhere in the mouth warrants immediate medical
attention because stings in oral mucous membranes can quickly
cause severe swelling that may block airways.
- Seek medical care if you notice a large skin rash or
swelling around the sting site, or if swelling or pain persists
for more than 3 days, which could indicate an infection.
- Get medical help right away if you notice any of the
following signs, which may indicate a serious or potentially
life-threatening allergic reaction:
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- tightness in throat or chest
- swelling of the lips, tongue, or face
- dizziness or fainting
- nausea or vomiting
Spider Bites
- Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to
three times a day until skin is healed.
- Apply cool compresses.
- Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
- To protect against infection, apply an antibiotic ointment
and keep the child's hands washed. If you have any reason to
suspect a bite by a black widow or brown recluse spider, apply
ice to the bite site and take your child to the emergency room.
Even if a child doesn't show any symptoms, get medical
attention right away.
Most spiders found in the United States are harmless, with the
exception of the black widow and the brown recluse spider. The
brown recluse spider - a tiny oval brown spider with a small
shape like a violin on its back - is found mostly in midwestern
and southern parts of the United States. The bites usually
don't hurt at first, and a child might not even be aware of
the bite, but in some cases they cause swelling and changes in
skin color and a blister.
The black widow spider, which is found all over North America,
has a shiny black body and an orange hourglass shape on its
underbelly. The venom (poison) in a black widow bite can cause
painful cramps that show up within a few hours of the bite. The
cramps can start in the muscles around the bite and then spread.
The bite may also lead to nausea, vomiting, chills, fever,
and muscle aches. If your child has any of these symptoms - or
you know that he or she has been bitten - go to the emergency
room right away.
In the southwest United States, an unidentified bite may be
caused by a scorpion. Take your child to the emergency room
immediately.
Tick Bites
Check kids and pets for ticks carefully after you've been in
or around a wooded area. Common types of ticks include dog ticks
and deer ticks (deer ticks may be carriers of Lyme disease).
If you find a tick on your child:
- Call your doctor, who may want you to save the tick after
removal (you can put it in a jar of alcohol to kill it).
- Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth,
next to the skin.
- Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go, then
swab the bite site with alcohol.
- Don't use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill and
remove a tick.
Reviewed by:
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: September 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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