How to Treat Insect Bites

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Most insect bites and stings clear up on their own within few hours or in 2 or three days without having to consult a general practitioner.

You might want to visit an emergency section of a hospital if you are experiencing one of the following symptoms

  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • dizziness or fainting
  • an increased heart rate
  • Rapid and severe swelling of the mouth face or throat.

HERE are things you can do to treat it yourself if you suffer from less severe form.

  • Remove the sting if you can see it
  • Wash it with soap and water
  • Apply ice pack to the affected area and make sure there is a cloth in between

PAIN RELIEF

For pain relief taking Paracetamol or Ibuprofen is sufficient

SWELLING AND ITCHING

Applying  benadryl antihistamine cream does the trick. Calamine lotion is also effective.

HOW TO REMOVE STINGS OR CATERPILLAR HAIRS

Stings

Brush or scrape the sting with something with a hard edge like a fingernail or a bankcard.

Refrain from using a tweezer or pulling it out cause doing so will spread the venom.

Sting usually come out by itself and are not harmful if you cant remove it.

Caterpillar hairs

Use a tweezer or a pen to lift the caterpillar away and sticky tape to remove caterpillar hairs.

Try not to use the hands or brush the caterpillar away as it will release more hairs. Hairs are the subsance causing irritation.

Washing your clothes with highest water temperature will remove any hairs sticked to the clothing.

 

HERE are some home remedies that can prove effective when treating minor insect stings.

ONION

Cut the onion in half and rub the juicy part to the affected area. Onions can easily reduce ain and swelling caused by wasp, bees, ants, spiders and mosquitos.

VINEGAR

Mix equal parts of Apple Cider vinegar with water. Dab it onto the affected area as much as possible. THe antiseptic properties of vinegar will easily remove bacteria and protect the wound from infection.

TEA TREE OIL

Add few drops of Tea tree oil to a tbsp of olive and rub it on the sting or bite.

MINT

Peppermint essential oil also does wonders in reducing inflammation and swelling associated with the bites because of the soothing properties of mint. You can also make a paste of raw mint in mortar and pestle and apply it onto the troublesome area.

LEMON

When life gives you Lemons, apply it to the insect bites (LOL). THE acidic pH of Lemon is highly beneficial in eradicating the bacteria associated with infection all the while reducing inflammation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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