Bites of ticks, mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects, first aid and prevention

With the onset of warm spring days, various insects become active. Some of them, when confronted with a person, bite him for the purpose of self-defense or in search of food (blood-sucking insects), so preventive

, carefully examine
the bite site
, monitor the body’s reaction and be able to provide
first aid for bites
.
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Reaction to a bite

depends on the type of insect and the sensitivity
of the person
. Flea, tick and mosquito bites usually cause itching. Insect stings almost always cause severe pain. Depending on the type of insect, the body's reaction to its bite can range from mild irritation to serious illness.

At the site of the bite

Infection may develop in the form of redness, thickening of the skin, local increase in temperature, and discharge of pus from the wound. Scratching the bite site can also lead to skin infection. This is especially common in children who scratch the wound without thinking about the consequences.

Insect bites

usually cause a small itchy lump on the skin. Sometimes the bite itself may be visible as a tiny dot. Sometimes inflammation develops around the bite area.

Insect bites

They usually go away on their own without medical help within a few days. Unlike stings, an allergic reaction rarely develops.

But if you suddenly feel very severe itching, difficulty breathing and wheezing, chest pain, weakness or dizziness, rapid heartbeat, a rash appears on your body and begins to spread quickly, swelling appears, including of the tongue and lips, then you should immediately seek medical attention. medical assistance. When a severe allergic reaction develops, minutes count.

If you are repeatedly bitten by an insect that previously caused an allergy, a more severe reaction may develop due to increased sensitivity to the saliva of this type of insect.

With prolonged contact with insects, for example during a multi-day backpacking trip, most people become immune to insect saliva and tolerate their bites much more easily.

Most often in our area we encounter mosquitoes, flies (horseflies), midges, and ticks. Next, we will talk in detail about the bites of each of the listed insects.

How do bed bugs bite?

A man was bitten by a bug
A child was bitten by bedbugs

All photos of bedbug bites can be viewed here

1. Small inconspicuous insects that prefer to go hunting at night, while the potential victim sleeps peacefully. They live in mattresses, cracks in floors or walls, pillows and furniture.
2. The bug is equipped with two proboscis, one of which pierces the skin, making its way to small vessels, and the second simultaneously injects an anesthetic liquid so that the “food” does not feel anything.
3. The “predator” drinks 1.5 ml of blood from the puncture and moves a few centimeters forward to try another area.
4. The bug makes about 5 - 6 bites per night, which resemble a kind of path.
5. If mosquitoes bite through thin fabric, then “bed predators” prefer open areas of the body: face, legs, neck, arms. Sometimes they decide to travel in their pajamas, and then their back and stomach suffer, and more often their lower part.
6. The bites resemble small red pimples, which are accompanied by unbearable itching and sometimes additional rashes. Bedbugs are characterized by “paths” of blisters, of which there may be several or many, depending on the number of insects.

Bed bug bite

Bed bugs parasitize with the same activity regardless of the time of year, since they live in a person’s home. Comfortable temperature for normal life of bedbugs is 20-28 degrees Celsius. Parasites feed exclusively on human blood, so they form nests in the room where a person sleeps.

Nutritional Features

An adult female feeds once every 10 days. Larvae of different generations almost every other day. Bed bugs tend to bite periodically due to their feeding habits. However, if the premises are heavily infested, signs of an attack appear almost every day.

Bedbug bite

Appearance

It is almost impossible to distinguish between a mosquito bite and a bedbug bite externally. Swelling, redness, a small dark spot in the center of dried blood. However, the itching is much stronger, and the location of the bites has a certain sequence.

The female drinks about 7 ml of blood during one meal; the meal lasts about 20 minutes. During this time, the insect bites several times, at a short distance. Characteristic traces remain in the form of a path, and the blisters themselves are placed in pairs. This is the main sign of how to recognize the presence of bed bugs in the house.

Another difference is that bedbug bites are much more painful, heal more slowly, and the itching lasts for several days. The final restoration of the skin, without the addition of a secondary infection and the development of severe allergies, occurs within a week.

Tick ​​bite

Tick ​​bite
Ticks are active in the warm season, spending most of their time in the grass, trees, and bushes. When it comes into contact with a person’s body, it looks for places with thin skin. Tick ​​bites are found in the groin area, armpits, stomach, chest, neck, head, ears, and lower back.

During the normal reaction of the body to an insect attack, a slight swelling, redness, and a dark dot in the center appears at the puncture site. The bite differs from a mosquito bite by a larger area of ​​redness and less swelling. Itching does not always occur. In the place where discomfort is felt, you can find a protruding abdomen of the insect. It is necessary to carefully remove the tick with tweezers, thread, or seek help from a medical facility.

Differences between bedbug bites and bites of other insects (fleas, mosquitoes, lice)

Bedbug bite

In most cases, bedbug bites are misdiagnosed as scabies or an allergy to something. But there are significant differences between a bedbug bite and an allergic reaction.

• The redness from the bite is not continuous, it is located in a path.
• The allergic rash is spread over the entire surface of the body, and not in any individual open areas.
• The bite mark, as a rule, does not change over time; the size, color and shape of the allergy rash can change quite quickly.
• Other family members did not notice anything suspicious on their skin, unlike the victim.

If you carefully compare the photo of a bug bite and an allergic reaction that occurred for another reason, you can find significant differences. When bitten, the redness is not continuous, it is located in a path or islands. The skin rash is different in that it does not have such pronounced swelling as is caused by bug bites, but the skin turns red at the site of the rash in a continuous manner.

It is important to remember that sometimes allergies manifest themselves to the bites of house bugs themselves. Mosquito bite

Mosquito bite

How to distinguish bedbug bites from fleas?

Fleas are not direct parasites of humans, but can attack them in the absence of animals that serve as a source of food for them. Infected animals bring insects into the room.

There is also a type of bed flea that lives in soft, linty coverings and attacks humans in sleeping areas. During one feeding, the flea bites a person 2-3 times. The main signs of flea bites:

1. they are located on the lower part of the human body, during sleep - on the arms and neck (in places where the skin is especially delicate and thin). Bedbug bites are located all over the body;
2. visually resemble a raised spot, the puncture mark in the center is hardly noticeable, located in small groups in contrast to the multiple, pronounced, swollen tubercles from punctures of bed bloodsuckers, formed into characteristic paths;
3. Due to the lack of specific anesthetic enzymes in the saliva of fleas, their attacks are extremely painful and very itchy. A bug bite is not felt directly, but a flea bite resembles an injection.
4. the bites of these parasites can cause severe allergic reactions.

Who can become a victim of bedbugs

House bugs feed exclusively on human blood. They cannot pierce the skin of pets; birds are a rare exception. Parasites essentially don’t care whose blood they feed on. They are not picky about a person’s gender, status, or age. But if they are given a choice of whom to bite, then bedbugs choose the skin of women and children. Since it is thinner in comparison with the male one and the capillaries are located closely. Parasites attack men less readily; it’s just that the body of the stronger sex is not so susceptible to their bites. Therefore, there is often an opinion that bedbugs do not bite all people.

When family members sleep in different rooms, it may seem that one of the family members has gained special love from bedbugs due to the fact that only he is subject to attack by bloodsuckers. There is only one explanation for this selectivity. The sleeping place where the “pet” spends the night is infected with parasites, and they simply have not reached the rest of the rooms. But if you do not take measures to exterminate domestic bedbugs, then in a short time they will spread throughout the entire apartment.

Bites on the body

It is also a mistaken belief that bedbugs have a preference for a certain blood type. According to statistics, the number of people with blood groups 1 and 2 prevails over those with rare groups, so it may seem that parasites are selective about their blood group.

How do bedbugs bite?

It is known that the activity of these parasites is concentrated at night and early morning hours, i.e. in the dark, when a person sleeps especially soundly. People notice the bites themselves only in the morning.

If your living space is heavily infested with bedbugs, hungry insects can bite not only at night, but also during the day, although this is not typical for them. Therefore, the faster you get rid of bed bugs, the faster you can be calm in your apartment.

The sensation of bed bug bites is often subjective and individual. For example, women and children most often complain about bites. Their skin is thinner and softer, therefore, the blood vessels are located closer, which attracts the bug.

Adult men are less sensitive to bites, and sometimes they may not notice them at all. Rumors that bedbugs bite people selectively, and especially those who are carriers of certain blood groups, are erroneous. Bedbugs bite everyone, but the reaction to a bite varies from person to person. So, there is no connection between the frequency of bedbug bites and a person’s blood type.

Any blood-sucking insect has its own feeding habits. Bed bugs are no exception. There are many specific details in how bedbugs bite. The oral apparatus of bedbugs is of the piercing-sucking type, has the appearance of a segmented proboscis on the top of the head and is adapted to sucking out liquid substances. For example, mosquitoes simply stick their proboscis into the skin, while bedbugs have two pairs of jaws, thanks to which they feed.

But let's return to how the bug bites. As mentioned above, there are two channels in the bug’s proboscis that allow it to feed and even remain unpunished for some time. One channel is for sucking the victim’s blood, the second is for introducing saliva into the bite, which contains a substance that plays the role of an anesthetic.

Thus, the bug leaves 3-5 bites on the body, during which it sucks up to 7 µl of blood. Usually such a meal lasts a bug for 7-10 days. But a lot depends on the number of these insects in the room. If an area is densely populated by these parasites, then in the morning a person can count up to 500 bites on his body!

What should I do if bitten by a tick?

(c) Pixabay

It is better to pull it out immediately, because the longer the tick is in your body under the skin, the higher the risks. You cannot pour oil or gasoline on the tick - firstly, it is pointless, and secondly, it can regurgitate blood and the contents of the salivary glands, which only increases the risk of infection.

You need to unscrew the tick with smooth and careful movements, grabbing it as close to the skin as possible. For this purpose, pharmacies sell special kits that facilitate the process. It is important to remove the tick completely, not to leave its head in the skin! For laboratory analysis you need a live insect; it cannot be alcoholized or put in the refrigerator.

After removing the tick, the bite site should be disinfected and go to the nearest emergency room, where laboratory diagnostics will be performed. The main purpose of the examination is to determine whether the insect is a carrier of infections.

Early prevention of tick-borne infections

After assessing the duration of contact with the tick in the emergency room, the doctor may suggest the administration of immunoglobulin to prevent the risk of tick-borne encephalitis. This remedy is also used to treat an already diagnosed infection. However, foreign doctors do not share this practice and find it controversial.

However, the most reliable method of preventing tick-borne encephalitis is vaccination. However, it must be carried out 1.5-2 months before the start of the “tick season”, which begins in April and continues until November in the warm regions of the Russian Federation.

To prevent Lyme disease, antibiotics from the tetracycline group can be prescribed, but only if contact with the insect lasted no more than a day and there are no contraindications.

Why are bites dangerous?

Couch bugs only attack people. There is no relationship between parasite attacks and a person’s gender or age. Insects equally readily feed on the blood of men, women, children, and the elderly. Children's and women's skin is thinner, so bites appear more noticeable on it. This gives the impression that parasites prefer to bite women and children. The consequences of bed bug bites are associated with the action of their saliva and damage to the skin. Parasites do not carry any infectious diseases. Their saliva contains substances that cause angioedema or anaphylactic shock in such a person.

Common negative consequences of bedbug bites on the body include:

• aesthetic defect;
• itching, pain;
• skin infection due to constant scratching.

severe itching from the bite

With multiple bed bug infestations, the temperature rises and body aches appear. If insects frequently bite children or elderly people, they develop anemia due to blood loss.

Another characteristic sign is a change in psycho-emotional state. The very fact of the presence of bedbugs in the apartment causes irritation. Constant insect attacks, persistent itching, red spots on the skin - all this makes a person nervous and restless. Sleep is disturbed - people are afraid to fall asleep, expecting another bedbug attack. Performance suffers, children perform worse at school.

Do other species bite?

Bedbug bites are similar to those from other blood-sucking insects, including members of the bedbug family. They can bite:

• water scorpions - do not feed on blood, bite for protective purposes;
• smoothies also live in water and bite in defense;
• triatomas - cause a dangerous disease, but live only in the tropics.

The marks from their attacks are single, painful, and look like a blister with swelling around it. When bitten by domestic bed bugs, the marks are multiple and arranged in a chain.

When does allergy in the form of mosquito bites occur?

Skin is one of the most sensitive anatomical structures of the human body. The appearance of an itchy rash on its surface, reminiscent of the consequences of contact with insects, suggests the presence of blisters. This is an element that does not have a cavity; it is swelling of the papillary layer of the connective tissue part of the skin. It is characterized by such symptoms as:

• existence for a short period of time (on average up to a day);
• combination with itching, burning;
• pink, in some cases – porcelain shade;
• round or irregular shape;
• tendency to merge.

The blisters disappear without transforming into secondary elements of the rash (cracks, erosions, ulcers, scars). Only in the case of intense scratching, scratches and wounds remain in the area of ​​the affected areas - the consequences of active mechanical action, which heal within a few days and can serve as an “entry gate” for infection.

An allergy in the form of a mosquito bite is usually urticaria.

Before making a final diagnosis, other etiological (causal) factors not related to individual sensitivity, such as infection, must be considered. Some types of bacterial, viral, and fungal agents can cause redness, swelling, and rashes. In addition, insect bites (bugs, ticks) that were not noticed by the patient are quite likely.

Getting rid of and treating bedbug bites

In most cases, treatment for bedbug bites is not required. Any symptoms of the bite disappear within 1-2 days. If the bite site hurts and itches, you can treat it with antibacterial soap or alcohol.

Also, folk methods of getting rid of bites include:

• Ice. Relieves swelling well.
• Alcohol. Treat the bite site with a piece of cotton wool or bandage soaked in alcohol.
• Aloe juice or plantain leaves.
• A decoction of chamomile and St. John's wort.
• Baking soda solution. Wipe the bite with a highly concentrated solution.
• Grated garlic. It should be applied to the wound for a while.
• Pink lotion. It will help dry the bite area well.
• Potato. Apply to the bite.

You can also use any soothing ointment: Afloderm, Psilo-balm, Menovazin, etc. Tsindol helps well - it is a healing suspension that is effective for skin damage.

Consequences

In principle, a bug bite in itself does not pose any particular health hazard. There is currently no evidence that these insects carry infections. However, the consequences can be quite serious: • Individual reactions of the body. In some people, allergic reactions to bedbugs can be severe, which is manifested by the formation of significant swelling, the appearance of a rash, runny nose and other symptoms.

• Possible infection. The results of the “night hunt” of bedbugs cause an itching sensation, which provokes scratching with damage to the skin, and scratches on the skin favor infection. In this case, a serious inflammatory reaction may develop, requiring long-term treatment.

• Psychological trauma. The awareness that insects crawl on your body at night drinking blood does not contribute to restful sleep.

Treatment of allergic urticaria

The action of the allergen that caused the reaction ceases. In addition, the patient should switch to an elimination diet that excludes foods with a large number of allergens (chicken, citrus fruits, nuts, eggs, strawberries, spices, foods with a high content of dyes).

In acute cases of urticaria, antihistamines are prescribed.

In the case of the development of a severe form of the disease, infusion antihistamines, corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone), calcium preparations that reduce sensitivity to allergens (calcium chloride or gluconate) are used; when the allergen is taken orally, gastric lavage is performed, and activated carbon and other sorbents are also used.

Preventive measures

People who experience attacks of allergic urticaria are also prone to developing urticaria in response to other external factors: light, heat, cold, pressure, mechanical damage to the skin.

To ensure that allergies similar to mosquito bites bother you as little as possible, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Avoid stress; on the recommendation of a doctor, it is possible to take mild herbal-based sedatives.
• Avoid allergenic factors to which the patient is hypersensitive.
• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Be exposed to direct sunlight as little as possible (sunbathing is contraindicated). Also avoid prolonged exposure to high and low temperatures, use creams that protect from ultraviolet radiation and heat, and from cold.
• Take a shower, wash your face and wash your hands only with warm water, using soaps with skin-softening and moisturizing additives, and dry with soft towels.
• Do not take aspirin, codeine, ACE inhibitors.
• Do not use wardrobe items that put excessive pressure on the skin (tight clothing, belts, suspenders). Give preference to cotton clothes.
• Hypoallergenic diet, healthy eating.
• Treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, infections in a timely manner.
• Maintaining a daily routine, alternating work and rest.

All this will prevent the occurrence of an attack of hives, which will make life much easier for allergy sufferers.

Prevention

Having discovered signs of bites on the body, you need to try to determine which insects caused their appearance. Photos depicting the characteristic symptoms of bites will help with this. Once it becomes clear that bed bugs are the cause of the damage, you must immediately take measures to completely exterminate them. There is no other way to avoid new bites.

How can you exterminate bedbugs in your home? There are two ways:

• Use the services of exterminators; • Treat the premises with aerosols yourself. The first option should be chosen if the room is heavily contaminated. Professionals use the most effective means to kill bedbugs, which are prohibited for use in everyday life. But if there is no opportunity to turn to professionals, or the contamination of the premises is minor, then you can deal with the problem yourself. To do this, you will need to purchase a chemical product (it is better to choose a specialized one, created specifically to combat bedbugs) and carry out the treatment in accordance with the instructions given in the instructions.

Prevention and useful tips

To avoid recurrence of urticaria, you must:

1. Avoid contact with triggers.
2. Stick to a hypoallergenic diet.
3. Take a course of treatment.

People who are aware of a tendency to sensitivity reactions should carry antihistamine tablets (for example, Cetrin). You should choose drugs without a sedative (calming) effect - otherwise drowsiness and decreased ability to concentrate are possible.

If a child suffers from urticaria, you need to warn the adults around him about the diagnosis. These are older relatives (grandparents, etc.), a kindergarten teacher, a school teacher, and a teacher in a club or sports section. It is better if your son or daughter always has with him the medications recommended by the doctor to relieve the symptoms of urticaria, as well as a card indicating the diagnosis and the contact number of the family.

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Bedbug bite

Bed bugs function equally actively, regardless of the seasonal period. They settle close to humans - the main source of food. The optimal conditions for their life are temperature within 20-30 °C. They form nests mainly near a sleeping person - in sofas, beds, armchairs.

Bloodsuckers crawl out to hunt at night - from 3 to 7 am. They follow the scent of a sleeping victim, focusing on calm breathing. Since when they bite they release an anesthetic substance, the person does not immediately feel anything.

An adult female parasite feeds once every 7-9 days, larvae - daily. Due to this feature, bites on the body appear periodically. This makes it difficult to timely detect pests indoors. But with mass infection, bloodsuckers begin to feed more often. An adult spends about 20 minutes to satiate, nymphs get drunk in 2-3 minutes.

In one go, the mosquito needs to drink up to 7 ml of fresh blood. Since this does not succeed at first, the parasite crawls away and makes a second attempt. There can be up to 25 such injections, at a distance of 1-4 cm. Therefore, the trail looks like a chain. Since parasites go out hunting in groups, a person can get up to 500 bites per night.

The bug is equipped with a special proboscis with a sharp tip. When punctured, the anesthetic is released with saliva. While the victim does not feel anything, he sucks the blood. The result is a bulge with a red dot in the middle. For allergy sufferers, such attacks can cause serious consequences: urticaria, Quincke's edema and even anaphylactic shock.

The resulting severe itching cannot be relieved by anything. Sometimes you have to resort to pharmaceuticals.

Treatment

Treatment for urticaria is carried out both at home and in a hospital department - it depends on the patient’s condition, the severity of symptoms and the presence of life-threatening signs. We must not forget that blisters on the skin can be a harbinger of anaphylactic shock - a reaction manifested by a sharp drop in blood pressure (collapse) and, like angioedema in the larynx, requiring emergency care.

Stopping contact with the trigger

It forms the basis of the treatment of any variant of urticaria and implies the absence of contact with the substance or physical factor that causes the reaction. Experts call this method elimination; it includes:

1. Regular wet cleaning (elimination of dust and mites).
2. Refusal to keep pets (relevant if you are sensitive to hair and secretions - saliva, urine).
3. Excluding allergenic foods from the menu (in case of food intolerance).
4. Selection of cosmetics that do not contain trigger components.
5. Avoid using medications that cause reactions.

Elimination measures are observed throughout life. In children, sensitivity may disappear as they grow older, so control may be weakened - but only if you are sure that the immune system does not respond to contact with the provocateur.

Hypoallergenic diet

Must be strictly observed during the period of acute manifestations of the reaction (that is, when a rash or itching occurs); after the condition improves, the list of permitted products expands.

• bran bread;
• dull fruits and vegetables in heat-treated form;
• dryers, crackers;
• lean meat, fish;
• dairy products;
• cereals

Drinks allowed are still water, dyes, weak tea, and compote. You shouldn't eat:

• citrus;
• strawberries;
• chocolate;
• whole milk;
• mushrooms;
• red meat;
• canned food;
• tomatoes;
• radish;
• processed cheese;
• spicy seasonings.

You need to eat dishes prepared by boiling, stewing or baking in the oven. A great way is steam treatment. Excess sweets, semolina and legumes should be avoided. Oatmeal, offal (liver, kidneys) are limited.

Drug therapy

Various medications may be used to treat hives:

For children from 6 months old, you can use Zyrtec, Desloratadine, and if the child is younger, with the permission of the doctor, a short course of treatment with Dimetindene is allowed.

What do bedbug bites look like?

Bed bug bites are similar in appearance to mosquito bites. If bloodsuckers leave a lot of marks, they can be confused with chickenpox, scabies or allergic dermatitis. Especially if bedbug bites are found in children. However, damage to the skin by bloodsuckers has some specific signs. What do bedbug bites look like on humans:

1. The mark left after house bugs bite is a swelling with a protruding bump and a clear outline.
2. Characteristic tracks of red bumps appear on the body. As a rule, the bloodsucker does not get by with one puncture, but bites through the skin in several places. Usually a trail of 3-5 bites remains on the body, the interval between swellings is 2-4 centimeters. Since bloodsuckers feed collectively, up to several dozen tracks can be found on the body.
3. Traces appear after waking up; during sleep, a person does not feel how the harmful bug is sucking out blood.
4. There may be blood spots on the bed. These traces remain when insects sucking blood are crushed during turning over.
5. Bloodsuckers are nocturnal; during the day they hide in warm and secluded places. The only reason that can force insects to go hunting during daylight hours is prolonged hunger.
6. The places where the bloodsucker left its mark begin to itch, and a burning sensation is felt along with the itching. The skin's reaction directly depends on the thickness and proximity of the capillary network. Therefore, more distinct spots remain on the face and neck and cause more concern than in other places.

We figured out what bedbug bites look like, but besides these bloodsuckers, other pests can also bite in bed.

How to find out which insect bit you: a bug or a mosquito

Features of bites:

• Externally, if it is summer time, then it is quite difficult to distinguish the bites of these bloodsuckers. Especially if there are a large number of flying insects in the house or you accidentally fell asleep in nature. In this case, a decent number of red, raised spots will appear on the body, which are characteristic of a mosquito bite. But if you notice such bites in the winter, you should think about it, because there is a very small chance that in winter it will be mosquitoes flying in your room, and not bedbugs.
• As for mosquito bites, these bloodsuckers usually bite in places not covered by clothing, that is, bare. Bedbugs are much more agile; they can bite places that are under clothing. Because they do not fly, but crawl, and can crawl anywhere, including under clothing, even if it fits quite tightly to the body. Accordingly, if you wake up in the morning and find red spots that are under thick clothing, most likely you were bitten by bedbugs, not mosquitoes.
• Another distinctive feature of bedbug infestation is the presence of severe itching. When they bite, they break through the skin. To ensure that the victim does not feel the bite and cannot throw off the parasite, they secrete a special anesthetic that causes a very severe allergy. Therefore, 20-30 minutes after the bite, severe itching begins. The area may become swollen.
• Very often, young children scratch such lesions, thereby introducing a secondary infection, staphylococcal or streptococcal. Thus, a combined infection is obtained, which contains traces of allergies, as well as bacterial damage. Please note that mosquitoes, especially females, can be quite aggressive, so they buzz a lot and can land several times on the place from which they are driven away.
• In addition, bedbugs never bite into the skin with their jaws just once. To get enough, they need about 7 ml of blood. To obtain this amount of liquid, it is necessary to pierce the skin several times in different places. This creates a kind of trail of bites and red spots. In addition, such spots, unlike mosquito bites, have a pronounced apex, because the bug has massive and pronounced jaws that pierce the skin quite strongly. This leaves a blood clot on top, called a red spot, which usually resembles a wound after the skin is damaged by baking the blood.

Patterns of bites of various insects

How to protect yourself from bites

There is no effective bed bug repellent, so avoidance is your best defense. If there are already bedbugs in your bed, start a mortal battle with them. In the meantime, the outcome of the battle is not yet decided, you can use odors to prevent bedbug bites.

You can protect yourself from bloodsucker bites by applying clove or lavender essential oil diluted with either coconut oil or olive oil to your skin, focusing on your arms, legs, and neck. Although there is no guarantee that essential oil will provide you with 100 percent protection from bedbugs and their bites, it will still be some kind of attempt to repel them.

Mosquitoes

Why is a bite dangerous?

Mosquito bites are an unpleasant thing. But, in addition to causing unpleasant itching, they can also cause serious illnesses. So, a Ukrainian mosquito can “give” you dirofilariasis. This disease manifests itself in the form of a subcutaneous lump similar to a lipoma. It can migrate throughout the body and even appear in the eyeball. If the problem is not resolved in time, inflammation in the soft tissues may develop, and an abscess may form. In addition, if a mosquito in front of you drank blood from a dog that has toxocariasis, it can easily transmit this disease to you. Toxocara are worms. They can settle in the lungs and cause a painful cough.

How to protect yourself from bites

Don't give mosquitoes a chance to enter your home. There must be a mosquito net on the windows. If they do fly into your apartment and you forgot to buy an anti-mosquito device, set a trap for them. Place a piece of yeast in a bottle half filled with water. Having fermented, they will begin to release carbon dioxide, and mosquitoes will flock to it and drown.

Before a walk, it is better to treat your skin with repellents that contain DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control recommend using DEET-based repellents (DETT or diethyltoluamide) at a concentration of 10-30% for babies over two months of age. DEET is quite old (it was discovered back in 1944) and therefore a well-studied repellent, which is considered the safest for children. It doesn't kill insects, but it does a good job of repelling them from exposed skin.

Children from two years of age are allowed to use products with picaridin at a concentration of 5-10% and IR35335 (here you need to carefully read the age restrictions on the packaging). These repellents are similar in effect to DEET, but repel insects and protect against bites for a longer time.

Repellents that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-methane-diol (PMD) are strictly not suitable for children under three years of age.

The smell of essential oils also repels mosquitoes. For example, citronella, soybean and peppermint. But before you apply them to your skin, you need to check whether they will cause allergies in you or your child. To do this, you need to apply a drop of oil to your wrist and observe what the reaction will be.

What to do if you are bitten by mosquitoes?

Soda solution lotions will help relieve itching. Mix baking soda with water to make a thick paste, and use a cotton swab to apply it to the bite area. You can wipe it with ammonia. This is in case there is no special gel or ointment in the first aid kit. If the bitten area is very swollen, you need to take an antihistamine.

How dangerous are bedbug bites?

As a rule, apart from itching and a constant desire to scratch the skin, bedbug bites do not pose any particular danger. Bed bugs, with the exception of tropical bedbugs, do not transmit diseases. However, for some particularly sensitive people they cause a lot of trouble.

The individual characteristics of the person who is bitten also influence health.

Some people develop serious reactions from bed bug bites.

Serious symptoms that require medical attention include:

• labored breathing
• fever
• feeling nauseous or flu
• swollen tongue
• arrhythmia

Living with bed bugs can cause additional health complications:

1. Increased chance of infection: due to damage to the surface of the skin.
2. Sleep deprivation: Waiting for bed bugs at night can be extremely stressful. Some people, out of fear, try to stay awake all night or get only superficial and restless sleep.
3. Decreased health. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with feelings of depression, anxiety, general fatigue and decreased immune function. Misconceptions about bed bugs, especially misconceptions of bed bugs and lack of cleanliness, can add to depression and low self-esteem.

Bedbug bites in children

Bedbug bites on a child’s body deserve special attention; the skin instantly reacts to damage. Numerous redness, blisters, spots and itching appear. The photo shows what it looks like.

Danger of bites for children

There is an opinion that if a child does not have a strong allergic reaction to mosquitoes, then bedbugs will not cause much harm.

Redness is observed even on undamaged areas of the skin. In the center there is a compaction with a blood spot. An approximate picture in the photo.

Iron-deficiency anemia

With constant and numerous bites, a child loses blood. Thanks to the penetration of saliva and the analgesic substance of insects, the composition of the blood changes. This subsequently leads to anemia.

Anaphylactic shock

This reaction may occur in a child predisposed to allergies. There is severe swelling, loss of consciousness, and disruption of the functioning of internal organs.

Infection of bite sites

Bedbugs are not spreaders of infection. But from constant scratching of itchy places, open wounds and scratches appear. The infection penetrates through them. Treatment of a child for bedbug bites follows the same schedule as for adults. However, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the skin. If no improvement is observed, then do not postpone your visit to the doctor.

Symptoms in adults

Urticaria is classified as:

• acute (episodes of rash observed over a period of time lasting less than 6 weeks);
• chronic (repeated for more than 2 months);
• localized (rash occurs in separate areas of the skin);
• systemic (blisters cover the entire body).

Urticaria is a disease in which not only the skin is involved in the pathological process. There are likely additional signs that determine the severity of the sensitivity reaction.

Dermatological manifestations

The dominant group of symptoms, characterized by damage to the skin. Observed:

Blisters due to urticaria can be localized on absolutely any part of the body. Location on the scalp, palms and soles is not excluded. They itch very much.

If the rash occurs on the face, it practically does not rise above the skin level. The elements start out pink and soon become porcelain. This occurs due to compression of blood vessels as a result of increasing edema. Then, as the swelling decreases, the blisters turn red again and then disappear from the surface of the skin.

Quincke's edema

This form of reaction can be classified as a dermatological manifestation, but it is worth considering it separately. According to statistics, more than half of the episodes of urticaria are accompanied by angioedema; it is a dense swelling affecting the subcutaneous tissue. There is no intense itching. Changes can be localized in areas such as:

• face (lips, cheeks, eyelids, ears);
• external genitalia;
• oral cavity, nasopharynx;
• mucous membranes of the digestive and urinary organs.

The most dangerous is Quincke's edema in the larynx - it causes a narrowing of the airway and can lead to asphyxia (suffocation).

Additional manifestations

Allergies that look like mosquito bites can be characterized by the following symptoms:

1. General weakness.
2. Increased body temperature.
3. Runny nose.
4. Watery eyes, swelling of the eyelids.
5. Pain in muscles and joints without specific localization.

Sometimes patients are bothered by a cough; symptoms of damage to the digestive tract are likely - lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting, as well as diarrhea in combination with flatulence and abdominal pain. These signs can be associated either directly with urticaria or with Quincke's edema.

An allergy sufferer may complain of fatigue, poor sleep, becomes irritable due to itching, and is unable to concentrate on everyday tasks.

The difference between a bug bite and a mosquito bite

After waking up in the morning and discovering atypical red spots on yourself, it comes to mind that you have been bitten by mosquitoes. This is not surprising, since in appearance the marks resemble the consequences of mosquito attacks: red swellings that itch very much. It's just amazing how crowded they are.

The main differences between bedbug bites and mosquito bites include several characteristics:

Bedbugs prefer delicate and thin skin, so young women and children are at greater risk of being bitten. Men and older people are less susceptible to parasitic attacks. They attack in the room where they nest. When changing their place of sleep, they lose sight of the victim for several nights. But the respite does not last long. When a new location of the power source is discovered, they migrate next.

If there are no owners in the apartment for a long period, the parasites go into hibernation, which can last a year or more. As soon as they feel the spirit of a person, they come to life and begin to function with the same activity.

How mosquitoes bite

In mosquitoes, only females fly out to hunt, since their need for food increases after fertilization - feeding is necessary for the full development of eggs.
During the night, a mosquito is able to attack up to 20 times, if it has unhindered access to the victim. The female strives to get fully drunk in one go, which is twice her weight - 5 ml. Mosquitoes attack places that are not covered by anything: legs, arms, shoulders, neck, back. Even the scalp will not become an obstacle for them. The peak of activity occurs at dusk, but can also bite during the day. The marks remain on the body in a chaotic manner.

The mosquito pierces the skin, then injects a substance with saliva that prevents blood clotting. This makes the saturation process easier. A person feels a harmful attack instantly, due to the appearance of acute pain and burning. Literally after a couple of seconds a blister and redness appear, followed by itching.

The body reacts differently to a mosquito bite, but in most cases the signs are as follows:

• swellings, up to 5 mm in diameter;
• presence of swelling during the first 2 hours;
• disappearance of itching after alcohol treatment of the affected area;
• unpleasant symptoms disappear within a day on their own;
• the epidermis is quickly restored.

In people with a predisposition to allergies, symptoms are more pronounced and severe. Sometimes even medical intervention is required.

There is no systematic pattern in mosquito attacks - they can bite at night and retreat through an open window during the day. Bedbugs are a nuisance every day.

How to distinguish bedbug bites from allergies?

A characteristic feature of the parasite’s bites are tubercles with a puncture in the center, arranged in a chain. With severe lesions, bite marks may merge, forming red spots.

Skin manifestations of allergies are defined by red spots of a small rash with severe itching. They can be located in various places throughout the body. The rash is usually accompanied by additional manifestations of irritation of the mucous membrane - rhinitis, lacrimation, sore throat, swelling of the face.

The situation can be complicated by a person’s individual reaction to a bedbug attack - the anesthetic enzyme they secrete is a powerful allergen, to which the human body responds with a characteristic reaction:

• intolerable itching at the bite sites, their swelling and enlargement;
• redness of the skin, manifestations of urticaria;
• swelling of the mucous membranes, lacrimation, rhinitis;
• shortness of breath due to bronchospasm;
• Quincke's edema in especially severe cases;
• manifestations of anaphylactic shock.

With strong sensitivity, a strong reaction, especially in children, can be caused by single attacks, inhalation of traces of insect activity - excrement, chitinous powder.

Allergy symptoms

Urticaria, or urticaria, is characteristic of an immediate allergic reaction, and therefore occurs within a few minutes after contact with the allergen.

Photo: characteristic appearance of allergic urticaria

The symptomatic manifestations of urticaria are similar to those caused by a nettle sting or an insect bite. It is due to the identity of the type of rash that allergies are similar to mosquito bites. Below are the main symptoms indicating an allergy.

• With this condition, blisters appear on the skin throughout the body - small, dense, swollen, raised elements of a round or irregular shape that can merge with each other. Please note that the rash in this case also occurs in areas covered by clothing
• The blisters are pale pink in color, and the surrounding skin is normal or reddened. The rash is accompanied by severe itching.
• Unlike a bite mark, which can remain unchanged for a long time, the rash disappears without a trace after the cessation of exposure to the allergen.
• The allergic reaction disappears quite quickly or becomes symptomatic when taking antihistamines
• People around you do not have any symptoms of the rash.

Actually, allergic reactions also occur to mosquito bites and other insects (especially in children) and there are few of them that can be confused with.

Familiarize yourself with the characteristics and treatment of this allergy, as well as photographs of allergic reactions to mosquitoes and other midges.

How do bedbugs bite?

First define:

• Which area of ​​the body is affected (Under clothing or not, in what place near clothing.)
• Type and intensity of symptoms? (Bite size, redness, swelling, itching, pain, allergic reactions, shortness of breath?)
• Is it one bite or are there several or even many?
• Where did the attack take place? (outside or inside, summer or winter, day or night?)

Bedbug bites may initially be mistaken for bites from mosquitoes, midges, ticks or fleas. But in fact, they have a number of features that prevent them from being confused with other insect marks.

1. Bed bugs love to make their own personal paths on the skin. Their traces are arranged in a certain order. Bed bug bites may form a line or appear in a zigzag pattern. They follow each other. As they are sometimes called: breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner.
2. Bed bugs can bite anywhere on the body where there is skin. Typically in areas exposed during sleep, such as:

Almost all bed bug bites cause some degree of discomfort, usually itching and inflammation.

Other signs and symptoms of bedbug bites include:

1. burning painful sensation
2. raised, itchy bump with a distinct bite center
3. red itchy bump with a dark center and a lighter swollen surrounding area
4. small red bumps arranged in a zigzag or line pattern
5. small red bumps surrounded by blisters
6. papular rashes or areas of skin with raised or flat patches that may be inflamed

How to tell if a tick is biting you.

Mites are another pest that may end up in your home. Ticks are carriers of dangerous diseases.

Ticks belong to the class of arachnids. Ticks, like bedbugs, are parasites; they feed on the blood of birds and mammals.

There are three main families of ticks: Ixodid ticks, Argas ticks and Nuttalliellidae.

There are more than 700 species of ixodid ticks.

There are about 200 species of argasid mites. These ticks generally prefer to feed on bird blood rather than human blood.

Nuttalliellidae ticks have only one species, found in southern Africa.

Bedbugs and ticks both feed on blood, but that's where their similarities end.

Bed bugs are smaller in size, and ticks are larger in size. The red bite has a rounded spot on the surface of the skin, the shape is rarely oval or with jagged edges

Reaction to an insect bite

1. Ants Red ants are the worst of the worst. It’s not for nothing that they are called fiery, because their bite is equivalent to a fire burn. At the time of the bite, such an ant injects poison into the wound with a toxin that can cause a severe allergic reaction. Fortunately, this type of ant is not found in our latitudes, but it is worth knowing about the peculiarities of the bite of this exotic insect.

   We are more familiar with the red ant, whose bite resembles a mosquito bite. It also causes itching, redness and discomfort. The bite of one insect is not dangerous, but multiple bites can provoke an allergic reaction.

2. Fleas The cause of close contact between people and fleas is pets. Fleas are parasites that carry many diseases that are dangerous to humans. Flea bites can easily be confused with an allergic reaction or a mosquito bite. But if you are careful, you will notice that the flea leaves only one puncture at the site of the bite. The affected area swells, turns red and itches unbearably. Within a few days, the bite site may turn into a festering wound as the victim constantly scratches the affected area.
3. Ticks A tick bite is not accompanied by pain. Having attached itself to the human body, the tick is able to remain unnoticed for a long time. A round redness appears at the site of the bite. General symptoms after a tick bite appear only after a few hours. Headache, chills occur, body temperature rises, weakness and photophobia appear. If the parasite is detected in a timely manner, you need to get rid of it as soon as possible. If a tick remains unnoticed for a long time, you should immediately consult a doctor. Remember, ticks are parasites that carry infections dangerous to humans! The most common of them is tick-borne encephalitis.
4. Bees Bees do not tend to bite a person just like that, because the bite takes their life. However, no one is safe from an accidental bee sting. An insect attack is accompanied by sharp pain and burning. A tumor almost instantly appears at the site of the lesion, from which a bee’s sting protrudes.

   The skin turns red and a rash may develop around the affected area. In extreme cases, an allergic reaction to insect venom may occur, which is accompanied by swelling of the respiratory tract, convulsions and can even lead to death of the victim.

5. Hornets Hornets are true predators of the insect world; they are extremely dangerous to humans. When biting a person, the hornet is capable of inflicting several attacks in a row, while the sting remains with the insect. Unlike bees, hornets are not so wasteful with their venom, because they use it for hunting. The bite is accompanied by sharp pain, burning, redness and swelling. Bite areas in the face area swell the most. If medical care is not provided promptly, an allergic reaction can be fatal. A bite committed simultaneously by a large number of individuals is also dangerous to human life.
6. Mosquitoes A mosquito bite is not at all difficult to recognize, because it is often accompanied by an obsessive buzzing insect. It seems that in the summer you simply cannot escape from small pests! A mosquito bite causes minor itching and quickly disappearing inflammation. Just try to control yourself and not scratch the affected areas.
7. Spiders All spiders are poisonous to some extent, because poison is a weapon that helps them get food. So how can you tell a simple scratch from an arthropod bite? Most often the bite is painless, but sometimes a tingling sensation is felt. A white spot with reddened edges forms at the site of damage. After a few minutes, symptoms may increase, pain, cramps, and swelling occur. Sharp pain in the appendix area may indicate a karakurt bite. But, fortunately, in our latitudes there are no particularly dangerous species of arthropods.
8. Bedbugs Bedbugs greatly poison the lives of many, disrupting sleep patterns, thereby reducing productivity. If after waking up you notice multiple bites on your body, most likely there are bedbugs in your house. The main difference is the massive, densely spaced bites. The bite mark usually remains for a long time, which distinguishes a bug bite from an allergic reaction.

As you can see, poisonous insect bites are a common occurrence even in our latitudes. So it’s worth thinking about safe outdoor recreation today!

Mosquito and midge bites

These insects are distributed everywhere: within the city, in forests, and swampy areas and the banks of reservoirs are their favorite habitat.

It is no secret that mosquitoes and midges “eat” some people and practically do not touch others. This behavior has given rise to theories that mosquitoes are attracted to or repelled by certain odors. Actually this is not true.

The strong smell of sweat can to some extent repel insects, but they find the “victim” according to a different principle - by body temperature. The more it contrasts against the general background, the greater the likelihood of bites. So mosquitoes do not like “smelling” ones, but “warm-blooded” ones.

The theory that mosquitoes and midges prefer people suffering from hypertension, as well as with anatomical features of the location of blood vessels, has not found any scientific confirmation. The theory that mosquitoes love a certain blood type was also not confirmed.

The only theory that has practical significance, and even that is not always confirmed, is that the smell of nicotine repels mosquitoes. Many smokers really avoid insects, but there are always exceptions to the rules.

There is no scientific evidence on how mosquitoes select prey or whether they can be selective in their choice.

Symptoms and possible consequences of mosquito bites

Swelling and itching appear after the bite of any insect, and based on the characteristics of these symptoms, you can even figure out the culprit. If the swelling is localized, accompanied by redness and itching, then you can blame midges and mosquitoes.

The most likely consequences include the formation of infiltrates. The fact is that the components of the saliva of some insects are persistent, and the body cannot eliminate them. Such consequences are often formed after the bite of mosquitoes, midges, horse flies and some types of flies.

The cause of the appearance of infiltrates - compactions on the skin - can be scratching. Damage to the skin due to vigorous scratching of itchy areas opens the “gate of entry” for infection. Therefore, you need to try very hard not to itch after a mosquito bite. Sometimes treatment with an antiseptic helps, and antihistamines that relieve itching also have a good effect.

How to protect yourself from mosquito and midge bites: repellents

Repellents are popular means of protecting against insects. They often contain pyrethrins/pyrethroids, a group of natural insecticides that come from flowers in the Asteraceae family. But recently, synthetic analogues of natural components, which have a greater degree of protection, are increasingly being used.

Pyrethroids are synthetic analogues that are merciless to insects, but safe for humans. Our protection systems easily cope with their removal. The following types of pyrethroids may be included in the composition:

• Prallethrin: non-toxic, non-irritating to the skin.
• Allethrin is safe only if the rules of use are followed. May be toxic if inhaled and overdosed.
• Transflythrin is non-toxic.
• DEET is safe when used according to instructions.

Repellents disrupt the nerve conduction of the insect, and depending on the concentration of the active substance, the effects can extend to humans. Therefore, if the package says to apply to outerwear, this recommendation should be strictly followed! When used correctly, repellents are safe and effective. By the way, some products protect not only from mosquitoes and midges, but even from ticks.

Alternative to repellents

In addition to pharmaceutical products, folk remedies, for example, essential oils, will help protect against mosquitoes and midges. Insects are repelled by strong odors. Among all the remedies, the most effective ones can be identified: essential oils of mint, tea tree, basil, eucalyptus and anise. These oils can be added to skincare products and applied to the skin, or used as aromatherapy medallions.

To create protective agents against mosquitoes, you can also use herbal remedies:

• Catnip.
• Elderberry.
• Tomato leaves.
• Garlic and basil.

These plants need to be ground and added to skincare products. However, think about how your skin will smell if your cream smells like garlic and you, for example, are getting ready for work or on a date.

Stinging insect bites

Being stung by a wasp, bee or hornet is a common problem that accompanies summer holidays anywhere in the world. You can meet them at the dacha, picnic, in the forest, in a clearing or forest edge... In response to the introduction of insect venom, the body launches a chain of sequential reactions and releases inflammatory mediators, for example, histamine.

This explains the pronounced swelling, redness, pain and other characteristic symptoms. For allergy sufferers, bee stings are dangerous and can lead to serious allergic reactions, such as angioedema or even anaphylaxis. If first aid is not provided, the consequences can be fatal.

(c) Pixabay

IT IS IMPORTANT!

Anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis) is an immediate allergic reaction and a condition that threatens the patient’s life when minutes count.

The reaction develops immediately after an allergen, that is, insect venom, enters the body. First symptoms:

• Restlessness, anxiety.
• Headache, tinnitus.
• Dizziness.
• General weakness.
• Compression in the chest.
• Labored breathing.
• Shortness of breath, turning into suffocation.

All of these symptoms develop within seconds and progress rapidly. In the absence of timely assistance, heart failure develops, tachycardia appears, and blood pressure decreases. As a result, the person loses consciousness, convulsions may form and death may occur.

First aid:

1.
Remove the sting and stop the action of the allergen.
2.
Lay the person down so that the legs are higher than the head.
3.
Constantly monitor pulse, blood pressure, breathing.
4.
Inject a 0.1% solution of adrenaline - 0.13-0.3 ml - into the bite site.
Every 15 minutes, administer additionally at the rate of 0.01 ml/kg body weight. 5.
Provide oxygen access.
6.
Hospitalize the patient after minimal stabilization of his condition on site, with subsequent treatment.

How to avoid encounters with stinging insects?

It is impossible to completely eliminate contact with stinging insects. But following these rules will reduce this likelihood:

• Avoid brightly colored clothing that attracts insects.
• Do not use perfumes or deodorants with a strong smell, especially floral ones.
• Use caution in areas where fruit grows.
• Be careful on picnics, especially when eating.
• Install mosquito nets on windows and use fumigators.
• Remove flowering plants from balconies and windows as they may attract the attention of bees and wasps.
• When walking in parks and on picnics, do not take off your shoes.
• People who are allergic to insect bites should always have a first aid kit with them.

How to cope with symptoms?

You can relieve itching, irritation and pain with the help of pharmaceutical products. Home remedies that are available to everyone are good for relieving symptoms and stopping inflammation:

• Cold, or better yet ice, applied to the bite site.
• Compress with vinegar, lemon juice.
• Baking soda diluted with water in a ratio of 3 to 1.
• Parsley juice (you can simply chew the leaves and apply to the bite site).
• Essential oil of lavender and tea tree.