Synonym
Insect Bite
Definition
The term “insect bite” refers to a defensive action of an insect with a poison sting. The insect bite (mosquito bite) causes an injury or an interruption of the integrity of the skin surface. In this way, the insect injects the enemy with the sting a poisonous secretion under the skin.
Introduction
An insect bite is very unpleasant and can hardly be prevented. In general, it can be assumed that every person suffers an insect bite at least once in their life. Although an insect bite is in most cases a defensive reaction of the insects, two forms must be distinguished.
So-called non-blood-sucking insects break through the skin surface of the victim exclusively for self-defense. These insect genera inject a poisonous secretion under the skin surface through their sting. This leads to a local skin reaction in most people without affecting the organism.
Most insect bites lead to more or less painful redness, even in non-allergic persons, which can be accompanied by pronounced itching. In addition, local swellings are among the typical side effects of an insect bite. In some cases, however, an insect bite can lead to pronounced immune reactions (allergic reaction).
Blood-sucking insects, on the other hand, break through the surface of the victim’s skin to extract proteins from his blood. These proteins are essential for the development of the eggs after mating. Bloodsucking insects Non-bloodsucking insects Bees Wasps Hornets Ants This may also be of interest to you: Hornet stings – How dangerous they are Non-blood-sucking insects This may also be of interest to you: Hornet stings – How dangerous they are
- Fleas
- Lice
- Bugs
- Mosquitoes
- Brakes
- A few butterfly species
- Bees
- Wasps
- Hornets
- Ants
Physical reactions to an insect bite
Not everyone affected reacts equally strongly to an insect bite. While most people only have slightly pronounced skin symptoms after an insect bite, other people react with strong defensive reactions. In addition, the intensity of the physical reaction to an insect bite depends largely on the strength of the insect venom.
Immediately after the insect bite, those affected typically experience skin reactions that are limited to the bite site. The first symptom of an insect bite is a pronounced, sharp pain that already occurs during the penetration of the insect sting. Depending on the location of the insect sting, the pain may even last for several days.
In addition, there is a local swelling in the area of the sting. This swelling can last up to six days, depending on the strength of the insect venom. The appearance of redness, which can be accompanied by severe itching, is also a typical symptom of an insect bite.
The extent of the direct bite reaction depends largely on the strength of the insect venom. The venom of bees, wasps, hornets or bumblebees usually has a particularly strong effect on the human body. It is assumed that several hundred stings of these insects can be fatal even for non-allergic persons.
In these cases, a so-called rhabdomyolysis occurs shortly after the insect bite. This means that the affected person suffers from a dissolution of striated muscle fibers, for example the skeletal muscles, the heart muscles and/or the cardiac muscle. In addition, the venom of these insects has a negative effect on the blood count after the bite.
Already a short time after the insect bites, the red blood cells (erythrocytes) may possibly dissolve. As a result, sufficient oxygen transport and thus the oxygen supply to the organs can no longer be maintained. In addition, blood coagulation disorders and the so-called platelet deficiency (specialist term: thrombocytopenia) are among the most frequent consequences of multiple insect bites.
While in non-allergic patients, therefore, only hundreds of insect bites from insects with enormous poisonous strength can lead to a threatening situation, for allergy sufferers, on the other hand, even a single insect bite can lead to life-threatening reactions.Especially people who frequently suffer insect bites tend to develop an allergic reaction to further bites (insect venom allergy). For those affected, even the venom of a single insect bite can lead to a life-threatening situation. Depending on the severity of the insect venom allergy, the symptoms range from localized skin reactions, such as redness, swelling or wheals, to general symptoms with nausea, headaches and extensive skin reactions, to shortness of breath and a life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
The typical signs of an allergy to insect bites can occur very quickly under certain circumstances. For this reason, quick action is necessary in the case of a known allergy sufferer. As a rule, an allergic reaction to an insect bite is announced within 10 minutes to 5 hours by a typical symptomatology. If the following symptoms occur after an insect bite, a doctor must be consulted immediately:
- Elevated body temperature or fever
- Increasing swelling and/or rash
- Headaches
- Vertigo
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Pain in the chest area
- Tightness in the chest
- Breathing difficulties
