Infected Insect Bite or Sting

When an insect stings you, it injects venom. When an insect bites you, it does not. Stings and bites may cause a local reaction or they may cause a reaction that affects your whole body. Bites and stings may become infected. Signs of infection include redness, warmth, pain, drainage of pus, and swelling. Infections will need treatment with antibiotics and should get better over the next 10 days.

Home care

The following will help you care for your bite or sting at home:

• If a stinger is still in your skin, it will need to be removed. Do not use tweezers. Gently scrape the stinger from the side with a firm object such as the side of a credit card. This will loosen it and remove it from your skin.

• If itching is a problem, applying ice packs to the sting area will help.

• Wash the area with soap and water at least 3 times a day. Apply a topical antibiotic cream or ointment.

• You can use an over-the counter antihistamine unless your doctor has given you a prescription antihistamine. You may use antihistamines to reduce itching if large areas of the skin are involved. Use lower doses during the daytime and higher doses at bedtime since the drug may make you sleepy. Do not use an antihistamine if you have glaucoma or if you are a man with trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate. Some antihistamines, such as Claritin (Loratadine), cause less drowsiness and are a good choice for daytime use.

• If oral antibiotics have been prescribed, be sure to take them as directed until they are all finished.

• You may use over-the-counter pain medicine to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. Talk with your doctor before using Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) if you have chronic liver or kidney disease. Also talk with your doctor if you have ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised if you do not get better over the next 2 days or if your symptoms get worse.