Insect bites
The sunny season is characterized by special insect activity. Useful ones like bees and wasps, but often also annoying ones like gels, horseflies or ticks come into contact with humans occasionally.
An insect bite can be an unpleasant experience for some. The stings of bees, wasps, bumblebees or hornets regularly show painful and itchy swellings at the puncture site. "Scratching" the puncture site can cause bacterial infection, which makes antibiotic treatment necessary. Insects can also transmit various diseases such as TBE and Lyme disease. Borreliosis is mainly transmitted by ticks and leads to a "wandering red spot" at the puncture site on the skin (consult a doctor immediately!).
People with insect venom allergy can also experience life-threatening reactions that require emergency medical treatment. The course of such an insect venom allergy can be fatal. People with an insect venom allergy must be informed in detail by the doctor about prophylactic measures and first aid measures.
TOXIC REACTION
The poison injected by the insect causes the release of histamine locally at the puncture site. Depending on the sensitivity of the stung and the type and amount of poison, swelling with reddening occurs, at the same time itching or pain occurs. This “normal poison reaction” can be of particular importance in the area of the mucous membranes (e.g. mouth and throat); wasp stings caused by drinking from an open beverage can are widely described. The local reaction of the insect venom alone can lead to swelling of the mucous membrane with - in extreme cases - Obstruction of the airways can occur; in addition, such a direct pain stimulus can trigger circulatory reactions. Immediate help from the patient himself is cooling the puncture site (ice cubes) and measures to stabilize the circulation. Itching-relieving medication, such as local antihisatminics, can then be used.
ALLERGIC REACTION
The risk of an insect venom allergy is often underestimated. General defense reactions, also called anaphylactic reactions, are caused by the complex poison of the insects and can trigger allergies.
Insect allergy sufferers can develop severe nettle rashes, anaphylactic circulatory collapse or shortness of breath within minutes after the bite.
The swelling of mucous membranes or allergic shock can be life-threatening.
FIRST AID MEASURES
The first thing you should do after an insect bite is to remove the stinger . Especially with bees, the sting with the attached poisonous bubble can get stuck in the skin. Careful removal prevents accidentally expressing the poisonous bladder.
The insect venom allergic person takes his rescue medication immediately after the bite as instructed by his doctor.
The emergency equipment consists of at least one cortisone preparation and one
Antihistamine, both in tablet form or as an effervescent tablet. In some cases, an inhaler is also prescribed. These drugs have anti-inflammatory or anti- allergic and decongestant effects, but are by no means sufficient to fight a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
The hormone adrenaline is therefore also required, which has to be injected into the muscle and stabilizes the circulation in a matter of minutes.
It should be administered by the patient himself or by his companion at the first signs of a severe reaction, such as narrowing of the throat or dizziness, or turning black in front of the eyes as a sign of a drop in blood pressure . The first warning signals are an itchy hives and swelling of the lips / eyes / face or the palms of the hands, as well as red eyes, runny nose and / or asthmatic complaints, nausea, vomiting, sweating, palpitations and, in full expression, allergic shock with a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness .
It is important that people allergic to insect venom inform their fellow human beings about the emergency measures they need to take in the event of an insect bite.
Tips from the pharmacist:
PREVENTING INSECT BITES :
â–ª Certain fragrances from cosmetics can attract insects, so low-fragrance deodorants or hairsprays should be used in particular.
â–ª Be careful when consuming desserts or ice cream outdoors
â–ª Be careful when preparing food outdoors (grilling, etc.)
â–ª do not drink from open cans or beverage containers
â–ª Avoid walking barefoot
â–ª Exercise caution when gardening, especially when harvesting fruit (plums and
Grapes) and flower picking
â–ª Cover your body if possible when staying outdoors (long-sleeved
Shirts and long pants)
â–ª avoid the vicinity of waste bins and garbage cans
â–ª Do not knock away flying insects
â–ª take a shower after exercising outdoors (sweat attracts insects)
â–ª Avoid clothing with confusing patterns and bright colors
â–ª Attaching insect screens to apartment windows and doors
â–ª Before driving the car, inspect the interior of the car for insects
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IF THE INSECTS HAVE BEEN STRIKING :
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â–ª do not scratch , get cooling and antipruritic agents from the pharmacy .
â–ª Help with insect bites is promised by a battery-operated device that generates heat at certain points. This warmth - around 50 degrees - changes the structure of the protein compound of the insecticide, and there is no itching. However, it should really be used immediately after the bite. The old home remedy of pressing a cup of hot liquid to the puncture site serves the same purpose.
â–ª There are also a number of other tried and tested home remedies that can relieve itching. Put on a sliced onion or potato: they are basic, remove toxins and prevent increased swelling and itching.
â–ª In the wild, crushed ribwort is the drug of choice. You have to work it with your fingers and fingernails so well that its sap escapes.
â–ª Acetic acid clay, rubbing alcohol as well as anti-inflammatory and antipruritic gels, ointments or pens from the pharmacy bring quick help and should therefore not be missing in any medicine cabinet.
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Source: Austria. Chamber of Pharmacists