Summer’s here, which means kids are spending more time outside soaking up the sunshine, running through sprinklers, and staying active well into the evening. But all that extra time outdoors also brings an unavoidable part of the season: bug bites. Before long, the itching, scratching, and irritated skin start to follow. The pediatricians at The Baton Rouge Clinic and Affinity Health understand the ins and outs of bug bites and can help you navigate how to soothe irritated skin, prevent bites from happening in the first place, and guide you on when to take your little one to the doctor after an insect sting or reaction.
Common Bugs, Bites, and Stings
In the South, bugs are your closest neighbors and don’t mind making themselves right at home in your yard. Here are the most common bugs that cause bites and stings to watch out for:
- Mosquitos – Mosquitoes tend to thrive when the weather is hot, humid, and rainy, which is why you often notice more of them during muggy summer stretches. Only female mosquitoes bite because they need the protein in blood to help produce eggs. When a mosquito bites, it uses a tiny, needle-like mouthpart to pierce the skin and feeds while leaving behind a small amount of saliva. Your body recognizes that saliva as something foreign and responds by sending histamine to the area to fight it off. That reaction is what causes the itching, redness, and swelling so many people experience and, for some, the reaction can be even stronger because of a mild mosquito allergy.
- Fire Ants – Fire ants are small but mighty little pests that hurt like fire when they bite (hence the name). When a fire ant bites, it attaches its mandibles to the skin. Then, it curves back and sticks its stinger into the skin, injecting venom. A fire ant can sting multiple times at once, moving in a circular direction and sometimes delivering seven or eight stings at a time. These fierce little bugs won’t stop until you kill them or remove them from your skin, and usually more than one attacks at once, especially if their ant bed home is stepped on. The venom typically causes itchy, pus-filled welts, but some people can experience much more serious reactions that may become life-threatening.
- Bees and Other Flying Insects – Bees are especially active during the summer months because warm weather increases their activity levels. Bees, along with yellowjackets, wasps, and hornets, use their stingers to protect themselves and their nests. When they sting, the puncture wound and venom can cause immediate pain, swelling, and irritation. Unlike honeybees, many wasps and similar insects can sting multiple times. Although severe reactions are not common, bee and wasp stings can become life-threatening for people with sting allergies.
- Spiders – Spider bites are uncommon, but they can happen if a spider feels trapped or threatened. Spiders bite using sharp fangs that inject venom into the skin, which can lead to pain, swelling, and irritation around the area. While all spiders produce venom, very few have venom that is dangerous to humans. The main exceptions are the black widow, brown recluse, and hobo spider. Bites from these spiders can cause more serious symptoms than bites from common household spiders and, in some cases, may become severe or even life-threatening for certain individuals.
How to Treat Bites and Stings
Most bites and stings can be treated similarly. First, always remove the stinger (if stung by a bee) or remove the bug from your child’s skin. Then make sure the wound is clean by washing it with soap and water. After that, apply a cold compress to the skin to reduce any swelling that may occur. You can also provide your child with over-the-counter medicines like NSAIDs (e.g. Advil or Motrin) to ease any discomfort. Applying topical medications such as antihistamine, hydrocortisone, or aloe vera can also help with itching, burning, or pain as well. Try to encourage your child not to scratch the bite, as scratching opens the skin and can lead to infection.
Prevention Strategies
Unfortunately, bug bites cannot be entirely prevented, but there are some prevention strategies you can employ to protect your child from most bug bites:
- Use bug spray – Look for an EPA-registered insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites. Active ingredients that are child-safe include DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or 2-undecanone.
- Dress your child in protective clothing – The more of your child’s skin you can cover, the better. This prevents mosquitoes from biting exposed skin and can prevent other crawling bugs from biting as well. Use light, UV-protective materials when possible.
- Avoid peak mosquito times – Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Try to avoid sending your child out to play during those times. Additionally, make sure to avoid having any buckets or containers with standing water (these are hotbeds for mosquito breeding especially after a summer shower).
- Teach yard awareness – Ensure your child understands the importance of looking down and around them when they walk. This habit will help them avoid a lot of running into ant beds, spider webs, or bee hives.
- Encourage a healthy respect for bugs – Teach your child about each of the bugs that they may encounter on their outdoor excursions and encourage them to respect the bug’s space. After all, most bugs won’t bite or sting when left along (except for those pesky mosquitoes!).
When to See Your Child’s Pediatrician
Some bug bites can be serious. Reach out to your child’s pediatrician immediately if any of the following situations occur:
- Your child received multiple bee or wasp stings
- A bite or sting occurred close to their eye
- They have severe itching or swelling
- They have open wounds due to itching
- Their symptoms get worse or don’t start to go away after a few days
- They have signs of a skin infection, which include a reddish streak that extends from the affected area, blisters, and pus drainage.
- Any symptoms of an insect-borne illness like chills, body aches, fevers, rashes, or swollen lymph nodes
- If they experience any signs of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of the face or lips
Bug bites are generally harmless, but if you’re concerned about a bug bite your child has received, the expert pediatricians at The Baton Rouge Clinic and Affinity Health are here to provide your little one with compassionate care. Give us a call today at (225) 246-9290 or request an appointment with us online. No matter what the bite, we are ready to treat it and help your child get back to enjoying the great outdoors.