The accompanying symptoms | Blood poisoning after insect bite

The accompanying symptoms

A blood poisoning after an insect bite can be accompanied by various symptoms. In the foreground are symptoms such as high fever, nausea, vomiting and circulatory problems. Disturbances of consciousness are also very typical for blood poisoning.

In addition, depending on the pathogen, different regions of the body can be affected, resulting in specific symptoms. These are for example diarrhoea, problems with urination up to the failure of kidney function, flank pain or severe headaches. Increased swelling and redness may be seen at the injection site.

Swelling at the bite site is not necessarily a sign of blood poisoning after an insect bite. Local swelling after insect bites is very common as part of the body’s normal defensive reactions. They may be more pronounced in the case of an allergic reaction or if the bite is constantly scratched.

A local inflammation of the lymph vessels, a so-called lymphangitis, can also be accompanied by a swelling of the puncture site. It usually helps to cool the puncture site. However, swelling can also occur with blood poisoning.

Typical accompanying symptoms are decisive for suspecting blood poisoning, so that the mere presence of a swelling is not initially a cause for concern. Insect bites can lead to allergic reactions in some people. Not only bees and wasps, but also other insect bites, such as mosquito bites, can cause allergic reactions.

It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish blood poisoning from an allergic reaction. However, the allergic reaction is much more common than blood poisoning after an insect bite. Possible signs are very severe swelling at the bite site, fever, general malaise and circulatory problems.

Breathing difficulties are very typical for an allergic reaction. Furthermore, palpitations and a tightness in the chest can be strong indications of an allergic reaction. A rapid and sudden occurrence of the symptoms is also typical.

You can find more information on this topic under: Anaphylactic shock. Red lines that spread from the insect bite towards the middle of the body (for example, from the hand or forearm towards the upper arm and shoulder) can be an indication of blood poisoning after an insect bite. Typically, the strokes move from the site of the insect bite back towards the heart with the blood flow and lymph drainage.

This indicates that the pathogens also spread from there. They often lead to an inflammation of the lymph vessels, a so-called lymphangitis. These vessels are located on the surface, which is why the spread of the pathogens is visible as a red line.

. In most cases, the spread is haematogenous, i.e. via the blood, so that the germs can be quickly sown throughout the body. This is called blood poisoning. Once the pathogen has spread throughout the body, serious complications of blood poisoning with organ failure can occur.