Prognosis

Since the inflammation in an insect bite is a normal reaction of the body to the bite and is usually localized, the signs of inflammation usually regress within a short time without complications. Scarring is possible, especially when the skin is injured by scratching. In the case of bacterial infections of the insect bite, rapid medical treatment is necessary.

The administration of antibiotics may be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading to surrounding tissue and the entire body. The aim is to heal the pronounced inflammation caused by the bacteria. If treated in time, this situation also has a good prognosis. The same applies to the treatment of Lyme disease.

Duration

If an insect bite becomes inflamed, the time until the inflammation is completely healed may vary from person to person. The time until healing depends on the cause of the underlying inflammation and the therapy.If it is the body’s own inflammatory reaction, which occurs after every insect bite, and not a bacterial infection of the bite, the inflammation usually subsides after a few days and the area heals without consequences. The situation is different with an inflammation caused by a pathogen.

In this case, a quickly initiated therapy can greatly shorten the duration of the inflammation. Even if most insect bites heal by themselves without medical therapy, it may be necessary and useful in some cases to consult a doctor for clarification and therapy recommendation. This is especially the case if the insect bite causes an allergic reaction.

A doctor should also be consulted if the bite affects the respiratory tract. Inflammations that are accompanied by severe pain and/or fever and/or extensive redness or pus formation indicate a bacterial infection that should be treated with antibiotics. A doctor can confirm the diagnosis and recommend the appropriate medication. If an insect bite causes worse symptoms after 2 days, a visit to a doctor is recommended.

Prophylaxis

The prevention of the inflammation in the case of an insect bite consists mainly in avoiding the trigger, namely the bite itself. Depending on the type of insect, different measures can be useful. Fly screens, mosquito nets or similar can prevent insect bites in the domestic environment.

Sprays and lotions are also available to keep insects away from the body. To reduce the inflammatory reaction, the bite should be cooled as quickly as possible. Care must be taken, however, not to let severe cold act directly on the bare skin to avoid icing.

Everyone knows how tormenting itching can be. It is therefore understandable that it can be very difficult to resist the relief of scratching. Nevertheless, with itchy insect bites, it is very important to avoid scratching completely if possible.

Scratching creates small wounds which can then serve as an entry point for bacteria from the surrounding skin or the external environment. In addition, scratching can cause cosmetically disturbing scars. In order to alleviate itching and prevent the associated scratching, antihistamines in the form of gels can also be applied. These are available in pharmacies without prescription. Nevertheless, self-discipline is probably also a decisive contribution to avoiding complications of insect bites.