Diagnosis
The diagnosis of an inflammation at the insect bite is a gaze diagnosis. As a rule, the patient makes the diagnosis himself by observing the signs of inflammation and, if necessary, remembering an insect bite at the appropriate spot. This is more difficult if the patient cannot remember an insect bite or the symptoms do not fit the insect bite at first glance.
For example, an unnoticed insect bite may have served as an entry point for bacteria and thus have caused a pronounced infection of the skin, subcutaneous tissue or lymphatic system. In such cases, a doctor should be consulted who can make the diagnosis by examining and palpating the area in question. Furthermore, in this case blood tests often supplement the diagnosis. As a rule, an inflammation caused by a bacterial infection usually results in increased inflammation values in the blood. If there is a suspicion of a tick-borne disease caused by bacteria, the so-called Lyme disease, then, in addition to the examination of the puncture site and its surroundings, the collection of certain blood values is usually also necessary.
Therapy
Depending on how disturbing the symptoms after an insect bite are perceived, little or no supportive measures need to be taken. The treatment of an uncomplicated insect bite is symptomatic. Cooling the bite site with ice or curd wraps is particularly suitable.
Gels containing so-called antihistamines can also be applied locally to provide support. These reduce the inflammatory symptoms by reducing or preventing the effect of histamine, which is a major contributor to the inflammatory reaction. As a rule, these measures are completely sufficient for the symptomatic treatment of an insect bite.
In special cases and with pronounced inflammatory reactions, antihistamines in tablet form or drugs containing cortisone may also be used under certain circumstances. However, the doctor should decide on the use of these drugs. Inflammation must continue to be treated by a doctor if it involves bacteria that have entered the skin after the insect bite.
Then it may be necessary to administer antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading and to contain the inflammation. Antibiotics are also used in cases of suspected tick-borne Lyme disease to prevent dreaded long-term complications. An infection and inflammation of an insect bite can occur when bacteria infect the wound.
In order to fight such an inflammation, antibiotics should be taken which either fight the bacteria directly or prevent them from multiplying. It should be remembered that only a small proportion of insect bites are secondarily infected by bacteria. Inflammations that can only be attributed to the body’s own reaction to the bite cannot be successfully treated by taking antibiotics.
Even an allergic reaction can sometimes simulate an infection, but requires a different therapy than a bacterial infection. Very severe redness, an open wound, pain, fever, as well as pus formation are indications that it is a bacterial infection. In this case a doctor should be consulted, who can confirm the suspicion and prescribe the right antibiotic for the purpose.
After starting antibiotic therapy, the symptoms of the bacterial inflammation should improve significantly within 2 days. If there is no improvement after 48 hours or the symptoms get even worse, a doctor should be consulted again. To prevent the inflammation from flaring up again and to prevent the development of resistant bacteria, antibiotics should always be taken until the end of the anticipated therapy.Ibuprofen is a drug that has both pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.
However, taking ibuprofen in the case of an inflamed insect bite is usually not recommended. The inflammation of the skin after an insect bite is a local reaction of the body. Therefore local therapies are usually sufficient to treat the symptoms of the insect bite.
Since the intake of ibuprofen can be accompanied by some side effects and ibuprofen has no causal effect on the bite, systemic administration should not be used. Ibuprofen should only be taken if the bite causes severe pain. If these symptoms occur, a doctor should nevertheless be consulted as soon as possible to rule out an allergic reaction and infection or, if necessary, to initiate suitable therapy.
The main symptoms of an inflamed insect bite are usually itching, swelling and redness. They are caused by histamine, a messenger substance of the immune system, released by the body around the bite site. Ointments containing antihistamines are therefore suitable for treating these complaints.
Furthermore, cooling helps to alleviate the symptoms, as the puncture site is often overheated due to the inflammation. Some ointments against insect bites therefore contain a combination of several ingredients that have both an anti-inflammatory effect against the increased histamine release and a cooling effect. There are a number of different household remedies that promise relief from the symptoms of an insect bite.
It should be noted, however, that inflammation caused by a bacterial infection always requires medical attention and should be treated with antibiotics. The symptoms of the inflammation, which are the body’s own reaction to the bite, can be alleviated with the help of some remedies. In order to treat the swelling and overheating of the affected area, cooling with ice packs or similar is recommended.
In many cases, cooling the sting can already lead to a significant improvement of the symptoms. Often a sliced onion is also recommended as a household remedy for insect bites. This can cool the area and therefore also promise relief.
However, a therapeutic effect of the onion is not to be expected. Since the ingredients can irritate the skin and in the worst case even cause an infection, this household remedy should be replaced by a cool and moist compress. This also applies to all oils and creams used as household remedies against the inflammatory reaction of insect bites.
In addition to classical orthodox medical therapies against inflamed insect bites, the use of homeopathic remedies is available as an alternative therapy method. Depending on the literature, different remedies are recommended here, which should provide relief from insect bites. However, it should be noted that an allergic reaction to an insect bite, or if the bite affects the respiratory tract, is a medical emergency that requires conventional medical treatment.
This also applies if the bite is bacterially infected. In this case, taking antibiotics helps to fight the bacteria. Some practicing physicians offer both conventional and homeopathic therapies and assess individually whether a homeopathic therapy is recommended in each case.
All articles in this series:
