What is Insect Bite

Insect bite can make your skin red, itchy, and swollen. Some insects can spread disease to people with a bite. However, most insect bites do not lead to disease, and most are not serious.

Follow these instructions at home:

Bite area care

• Do not scratch the bite area.
• Keep the bite area clean and dry.
• Wash the bite area every day with soap and water as told by your doctor.
• Check the bite area every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus.

Managing pain, itching, and swelling

• You may put any of these on the bite area as told by your doctor:
  • A baking soda paste.
  • Cortisone cream.
  • Calamine lotion.
• If directed, put ice on the bite area.
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.

Medicines

• Take medicines or put medicines on your skin only as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, use it as told by your doctor. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if your condition improves.

General instructions

• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

How is this prevented?

To help you have a lower risk of insect bites:

• When you are outside, wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Use insect repellent. The best insect repellents have:
  • An active ingredient of DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or IR3535.
  • Higher amounts of DEET or another active ingredient than other repellents have.
• If your home windows do not have screens, think about putting some in.

Contact a doctor if:

• You have more redness, swelling, or pain in the bite area.
• You have fluid, blood, or pus coming from the bite area.
• The bite area feels warm.
• You have a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You have joint pain.
• You have a rash.
• You have shortness of breath.
• You feel more tired or sleepy than you normally do.
• You have neck pain.
• You have a headache.
• You feel weaker than you normally do.
• You have chest pain.
• You have pain in your belly.
• You feel sick to your stomach (nauseous) or you throw up (vomit).

Summary

• An insect bite can make your skin red, itchy, and swollen.
• Do not scratch the bite area, and keep it clean and dry.
• Ice can help with pain and itching from the bite.