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Insect Bites

Itchy Insect Bites: Bites of mosquitoes, chiggers (harvest mites), fleas, and bedbugs usually cause itchy, red bumps.
Painful Insect Bites: Bites of horseflies, black flies, deer flies, gnats, harvester ants, blister beetles, and centipedes usually cause a painful, red bump. Within a few hours, fire ant bites can change to blisters or pimples.

General Information

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is the medical term for a severe life-threatening allergic reaction.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include: feeling faint or passing out, difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue, hives, wheezing and/or cough. Onset of symptoms is sometimes within seconds and usually within 20 minutes.
Individuals who have had severe reactions to previous stings should have an anaphylaxis kit (e.g. Ana-Kit, Epi-Pen) and keep it nearby if there is any risk of a sting.
Anaphylaxis can occur following fire ant stings, but rarely with other insects. It mainly occurs with bee, yellow jacket or wasp stings.

FIRST AID Advice for Anaphylaxis

Give epinephrine injection if you have an anaphylactic kit. Inject it into the muscle of the upper outer thigh.

Prevention

Avoid being outside when the insect is most active. Many insects that cause itchy bites are mmost active at sunrise or sunset (such as Chiggers, No-See-Ums, Mosquitoes).