Therapy
It is not always necessary to see a doctor after an insect bite. In most cases, the symptoms caused by the insect bite can be effectively alleviated with simple household remedies. However, if one suffers a large number of insect bites in a short time, a doctor should be consulted.
This rule also applies if particularly pronounced symptoms, such as extensive wheals, are observed after the insect bite. A specialist should also be consulted immediately if an allergic reaction is suspected. The typical complaints that can be caused by an insect bite can often be alleviated by simple first aid measures.
People who frequently suffer insect bites should therefore carry a special vacuum pump as a preventive measure. With the help of this pump the sting of the insect can be sucked out of the skin surface after an insect bite. If the sting is removed early enough, in many cases it can be avoided that the insect bite swells at all.
Another aid against insect bites are the so-called bite healers. This is an approximately hand-sized device that heats up to about 50 degrees Celsius at a certain point. The heated area of the device can be placed on the insect bite.
The heat derived from the bite healer can destroy the proteins of the insect venom. Furthermore, the bite healer inhibits the release of histamine. For this reason, an excessive immune reaction after the insect bite is often absent.
The discomfort associated with a fresh insect bite can also be effectively reduced by immobilising the affected part of the body. The reason for this is the fact that the insect venom can spread less quickly in the organism if movement is reduced. Furthermore, an insect bite should be cooled if possible.
In this way, especially the local swelling and severe itching, which are considered typical symptoms of an insect bite, can be relieved. If an allergic reaction occurs after an insect bite, ointments containing cortisone can be used. Despite the use of such an ointment, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Immediately after the insect bite, the sting of the insect should be removed with the help of a fingernail or tweezers. However, care must be taken that the sting is pulled and not squeezed out. Attempting to squeeze a sting out of the skin after an insect bite may promote the distribution of the insect venom into the circulation.
By using special syringes, the insect venom can be reliably sucked out. Appropriate syringes can be purchased in pharmacies or drugstores. When sucking off the insect venom, the syringe should be placed directly above the insect bite and the plunger should be pulled upwards.
In this way, the poison can be sucked out of the skin by negative pressure. Alternatively, the poison can also be sucked out by mouth. In this context, however, it must be noted that the poison must not be swallowed with the saliva afterwards.Another popular household remedy against insect bites is the cold wash of the bite site with water and pH skin neutral soap.
The amount of poison can be diluted by the washing under certain circumstances and the symptoms can thus be alleviated. The effectiveness of this household remedy can be additionally increased if the insect bite is cooled with an ice cube after washing. Another household remedy can be used to inhibit the inflammatory processes.
Tea tree oil in particular is particularly well suited to curb the inflammation-related skin reactions. Lemon peel can also be used to relieve the swelling and itching associated with the insect bite. With regular use of this household remedy, the local swellings disappear within a few hours.
In addition, lavender oil is considered a particularly effective household remedy for alleviating the itchiness typical of an insect bite. Envelopes with cold curd cheese, placed on the affected skin surface several times a day, can also help to alleviate skin reactions. Typical symptoms occur shortly after an insect bite in many of those affected.
In addition to a local redness, swelling is often observed. Both redness and swelling of the affected skin area represent a direct reaction of the organism to the insect venom. The transfer of the insect venom into the human body leads directly to an increase in blood circulation.
For this reason, a more or less pronounced redness appears on the skin surface. In addition, the poison increases the permeability of the smallest skin vessels. In this way, fluid can escape into the surrounding tissue and cause local swelling.
Furthermore, even the penetration of the toxin during the insect bite causes a slight swelling. In recent years, it has also been observed that insect bites cause much more extensive swelling and redness. This is not necessarily an indication of an allergic reaction.
It can be assumed that the strength of the poison of many insects has increased in recent years. Furthermore, pain is one of the typical symptoms of an insect bite. The pain usually occurs during the penetration of the sting into the skin surface and is described by those affected as sharp and biting.
Pain of this quality usually subsides within a few minutes. However, due to the local effect of the insect venom, burning pain may occur afterwards. Excessive pain that does not subside even hours after the insect bite, on the other hand, may indicate an allergic reaction.
Those affected should therefore urgently consult a doctor if there are any further signs of allergy. After the insect bite, the proteins that enter the organism via the insect’s saliva cause local inhibition of blood clotting. As a result, the body begins to activate defense mechanisms and release the hormone histamine.
It is precisely this hormone that is responsible for the development of the sometimes severe itching. Under certain circumstances, this itching can persist even days after the insect bite and can be very stressful for the person affected. However, simple tricks that should be used immediately after the insect bite can help to effectively relieve the itching.
Especially by cooling the affected body part, both the spreading of the insect venom and the release of histamine can be inhibited. As a result, the affected persons experience significantly less pronounced itching. Also redness and swelling can be inhibited in this way.
