Bug Bites and Stings
Warm weather makes it easier to
spend more time outdoors, but it also brings out the bugs. Ticks are usually
harmless. But a tick bite can lead to Lyme disease, which is caused by the
bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria are transmitted to people by the
black-legged deer tick, which is about the size of a pinhead and usually lives
on deer. Infected ticks can also cause other diseases, such as Rocky Mountain
spotted fever.
Another insect-borne illness, West Nile virus, is transmitted by infected
mosquitoes and usually produces mild symptoms in healthy people. But the illness
can be serious for older people and those with compromised immune systems.
Most reactions to bees and other stinging insects are mild, but severe
allergic reactions can be deadly. An allergic reaction can occur even if a
person has been stung before with no complications.
Here are tips for preventing and treating bites and stings.
What can I do to keep insects away?
- Use structural barriers such as window screens and netting.
- Avoid wooded, brushy, and grassy areas when possible.
- Don't wear heavily scented soaps and perfumes.
- Use caution eating outside and drinking; don't leave drinks and garbage cans uncovered.
- Don't wear bright colors, which attract bees.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants when possible.
- Tuck pant legs into socks or shoes.
- Wear a hat for extra protection.
- Get rid of containers with standing water that give mosquitoes a breeding ground. Examples
include water in flowerpots and outdoor pet dishes.
- Use insect repellent if nonchemical methods are ineffective and you spend time in tall grass and woody
areas.
- Treat camping gear, clothes, and shoes with permethrin, which repels and
kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects. Clothing that is pre-treated with
permethrin is also commercially available.
What's the proper way to use insect repellent?
It's okay to use insect
repellent and sunscreen at the same time. The general recommendation is to apply
sunscreen first, followed by repellent. There are also some combination products
that contain both insect repellent and sunscreen. FDA regulates sunscreen as an
over-the-counter (OTC) drug. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates
insect repellent products.
- Use insect repellent that contains active ingredients that have been
registered with EPA. An EPA registration number on the product label means the
product has been evaluated by EPA to ensure that it will not pose unreasonable
harmful effects on people and the environment.
- Spray insect repellent on clothes
or skin, but not on the face.
- Don't use insect repellent on babies. Repellent
used on older children should contain no more than 10 percent DEET. Oil of
eucalyptus products should not be used in children under 3 years.
- Don't use insect repellent that's meant for people on your pets.
- Use insect repellent according to the labeled instructions.
- Avoid applying it to children's hands,
around the eyes, or to areas where there are cuts and irritated skin.
- Store insect repellent out of children's reach.
- Wash the repellent off with soap and
water and contact a Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) if you (or your
child) experience a reaction to insect repellent.
- After returning indoors, wash
skin with soap and water to remove repellent.
Next: What's the best way to remove a bee stinger? »
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Black Eye »
Black eye introduction
A black eye often results from
injury to the face or the head, and is caused
when blood and other fluids collect in the space around the eye. Swelling and
dark discoloration result in a "black eye" – sometimes called a "shiner."
Most black eyes are relatively minor injuries. Many heal on their own in a
few days, but they may signify a more serious injury.
Despite the name, "black eye," the eye itself is not
usually injured. The tissues around the eye may be significantly discolored and
swollen without any injury to the eye itself, like a
bruise (ecchymosis) around the eye.
The skin around the eye is very loose, with mostly fat underneath it and fluid
accumulates easily in this area. The skin around the eye is one of the first
places to swell when the facial area is injured. Depending on the location and
type of injury, one or both eyes may be affected. Injuries to the eye brow and
forehead area...
Read the Black Eye article »
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