Insects

What are different home remedies for insect bites – a summer problem? Part 2

Common bites and stings
- Most bites and stings will heal on their own without a visit to a doctor.
- The insect bites range from a normal mosquito to spider or a bee sting.
- The severity depends on the insect.
- Some insect bites might not be dangerous and mild.
- Some can lead to severe swelling and may need doctor’s help upon the prolonged swelling of the bite.
- Depending on which part the insect has bitten, the precautions can be taken.
- For example, if it eyes or inside the nose or ear, doctor’s help is required at the earliest.
- Redness, Itching, Irritation, Inflammation etc., are some symptoms of the bite.
- There are several things you can do to relieve pain and itching and prevent infection from a bite or sting.

Mosquito Bites
- For mosquito bites, apply lime juice diluted with water over the bite.
- Apply calamine lotion for mosquito bites.
- Apply a salt water solution or paste over the bite, this helps in relieving the itching problem.
- Mix one teaspoon baking soda in one glass of water and rub the solution with a cloth over the bite for 15 to 20 minutes.
- You can apply an antihistamine cream which relieves the itchiness from the bite.
- Applying rubbing alcohol over the bite helps to soothe the itch.
- Apply fresh damp mud on the bite. This can be used for bites similar to this like bug bites, chigger bites and others.
- Take an oat meal bath this will help to reduce the swelling and itchy feeling.
- Rub dry soap over the mosquito bite. It reduces the itchy feeling and the swelling.
- You can also use a banana peel which is to be used inside out. This provides relief from the bites.
- A mixture of pure olive oil and vinegar also helps in relieving the mosquito bite problem.

Chigger Bites
- Apply clear nail polish on the bites, it provides you quick relief.
- You can rub bacon grease on the affected area as this provides quick relief.
- Vicks Vapor Rub is another way to cure this problem.
- Petroleum chokes the chigger and methanol helps in relieving the itch.
- The mixture of camphor and phenol in mineral spirits also helps in shedding this problem.
- A hot water bath is an excellent way of dealing with this problem.
- Rubbing the affected area with Listerine also helps in alleviating this problem.

Wasp Bite
- First thing first, the bitten area should be cleaned with soap and water solution.
- You can apply a poultice of meat tenderizer or salt over the sting as soon as possible.
- You can use half a teaspoon of any of the products with water and leave it over the bite for 30 minutes.
- You can use this remedy for wasp itch or fire ant bite. Household ammonia can be use as it helps to minimize the sting produced due to the bite.

Other Bites
- You can use make a paste by mixing water with cornstarch. Apply this paste if you have been bitten by any poisonous insect like a spider. The paste helps in drawing out the poison from your body.

- You can wash the area with mild soap and water to remove the germs and other allergy provoking substances. This can be done for most of the bites like bug bites.

- A paste of baking soda and water works great for most bites.

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What are different initial home treatment available for insect bites – a summer problem? Part 1

Common bites and stings
- Most bites and stings will heal on their own without a visit to a doctor.
- The insect bites range from a normal mosquito to spider or a bee sting.
- The severity depends on the insect.
- Some insect bites might not be dangerous and mild.
- Some can lead to severe swelling and may need doctor’s help upon the prolonged swelling of the bite.
- Depending on which part the insect has bitten, the precautions can be taken.
- For example, if it eyes or inside the nose or ear, doctor’s help is required at the earliest.
- Redness, Itching, Irritation, Inflammation etc., are some symptoms of the bite.
- There are several things you can do to relieve pain and itching and prevent infection from a bite or sting.

Insect or spider bites or stings or contact with caterpillars
- Move away from the stinging or biting insect. Bees will alert other bees, making them more likely to sting.
- Remain as calm and quiet as possible. Movement increases the spread of venom in the bloodstream.
- If you have been stung by a bee and the stinger is still in the skin, remove the stinger as quickly as possible.

If you have been stung on the arm or leg, do the following:
- Lower the limb at the time of the sting to slow the spread of venom.
- You can elevate the limb to help reduce swelling.
- Remove broken-off spines by placing cellophane tape or commercial facial peel over the area of the contact.
- Then pull it off.

Relieve pain, itching, and swelling
- Apply an ice pack to a bite or sting for 15 to 20 minutes once an hour for the first 6 hours.
- When not using ice, keep a cool, wet cloth on the bite or sting for up to 6 hours.
- Always keep a cloth between your skin and the ice pack.
- Do not apply ice for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
- Do not fall asleep with the ice on your skin.
- Elevate the area of the bite or sting to decrease swelling.
- Try a nonprescription medicine for the relief of itching, redness, and swelling.

Be sure to follow the nonprescription medicine precautions like:
- An antihistamine taken by mouth, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton, may help relieve itching, redness, and swelling.
- Don’t give antihistamines to your child.
- A spray of local anesthetic containing benzocaine, such as Solarcaine, may help relieve pain.
- If your skin reacts to the spray, stop using it.
- Hydrocortisone 1% cream or calamine lotion applied to the skin may help relieve itching and redness.

Other precautions :
- Remove the stinger with tweezers.
- Scrape out the stinger, moving parallel to the skin surface.
- This will help to reduce the chance of pumping more venom.
- Bathe the stung area with a solution of baking soda and water.
- Immediately apply ice packs to reduce swelling (lining the pack with cloth or a thin towel).
- Do this frequently for 5 minutes at a time.
- A swollen muzzle often indicates a bee sting.
- Stings and bites can cause severe reactions.