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Bites, bugs and stings

In summer weather especially there are many biting insects around. There are some things you can do to help avoid your children being bitten but in spite of this, bites often happen and you need to be prepared. We have a range of bite and sting treatments for the milder, sometimes painful and irritating kind here.

This information is borrowed from the Parenting and Child Health web site – Bites, bugs and stings.

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Everything you could possibly want to know about bites, bugs and stings and when you’ve read that…hundreds of other family health topics. Do finish shopping with us before you leave for this site, it could be some time before you get back!
Most insect bites and stings are not poisonous but the bites of some insects such as wasps, bees and some spiders can be harmful. If a child is bitten and it is possible to save the insect, this may help with treatment if it is poisonous.

What are bites and stings?

Stings are used by some insects such as bees and wasps to protect themselves. They inject a painful poison into a person's skin through their stinger. When bees sting they leave the stinger with the poison pouch attached in the skin of the person who has been stung, so more poison can keep going into the skin until it is all gone or the stinger is removed.
Some insects feed on blood from animals or people. Bites from these insects are usually not poisonous, eg mosquitoes, fleas, lice, bed bugs.
Some biting insects can spread some diseases such as Ross River Virus, encephalitis and malaria.
Note: HIV/AIDS has not been transmitted by biting insects.

Alert!

When the reaction to any bite or sting affects other parts of the body, not just where the bite was, causing redness, swelling, hives, swallowing problems, breathing problems or fainting, you need urgent medical help. This reaction will usually happen within an hour or two of the bite or sting.

Take the child to the nearest emergency medical centre immediately or call the emergency service number. This severe allergic reaction to a sting, such as a bee or wasp sting, is called anaphylaxis. It is not common but it has caused some people to die.

Important Note: Check that your child's tetanus immunisation is up to date if she is bitten or stung.

Symptoms of insect bites and stings

Poisonous stings and bites mostly cause pain where the bite is. There is a red and swollen area around the bite. They can also cause allergic symptoms or symptoms caused by the venom (poison) such as 'hives' (a red, raised, itchy, blotchy rash), and breathing and blood pressure problems in some sensitive people.
Non poisonous bites usually only cause pain and swelling around the bite at first, followed later by itching. They do not usually cause reactions away from the area of the bite unless the bite becomes infected by scratching.
Severe allergic reactions can be caused by insects (bees, wasps and jumper ants). Common symptoms include hives, itching, stomach cramps, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and fainting. The most dangerous symptoms are breathing difficulties or drop in blood pressure (shock). Either of these can be fatal. Anaphylaxis is rare, but is preventable and treatable.