If You’re Bitten by One of these Bugs, It Could Spell Big Trouble
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Bug bites and stings are, for the most part, no more unpleasant than a something bit the bottom of my foot hurts for no reason assignment — kind of annoying but basically harmless. Occasionally, though, an insect bite or sting can cause serious problems. So you should know when a simple ice pack can bring some relief and when a visit to the local hospital is in order. For most people, being stung by a bee is a minor nuisance. The affected area may get a little red or swollen and it may be slightly painful, but that's about it.
Bee and wasp stings can cause real problems for people who are allergic, though. A person can get a localized allergic reaction swelling, heat, or itching of the skin around the sting area or a systemic allergic reaction, meaning that the venom causes a reaction throughout the body.
In the case of a systemic reactionthe person may break out in hives. Other symptoms can include wheezing; shortness of breath; rapid heartbeat; faintness; and swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue. If a person has these symptoms, call immediately.
It hardly ever happens, but severe allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings can be fatal if the person doesn't get medical help. Fleas can be lumped into the irritating-but-not-serious category as well. They are often found on Fido or Fluffy, but they can also be attracted to you. Flea bites can cause something bit the bottom of my foot hurts for no reason or a rash. Depending on where you live, ticks could ruin a good camping trip.
One variety known as deer ticks is known to carry Lyme diseaseso the trick is to get them off your body fast. In the United States, the northeastern and upper midwestern states are most affected by the threat of Lyme disease. But there have been cases in most states in the U. Different types of ticks found throughout the United States can carry other diseases, too, such as tularemia or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Ticks are often found in wooded or grassy areas. Mosquitoes hang out anywhere people, food, or pools of still water are found. Generally they aren't anything to worry about: They bite, you itch, end of story.
But sometimes, infected mosquitoes can give people diseases. You may have heard about West Nile virus, which is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The good news is that most people, especially healthy people under 50, who get West Nile virus do not have any symptoms from it. And although the virus can put people at risk for developing a serious infection called encephalitis, in reality this hardly ever happens. Mosquitoes in other parts of the world can carry other diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever.
Most spider bites are minor, although they can cause mild swelling or allergic reactions. But a small percentage of teens become ill after being bitten by brown recluse or black widow spiders. Although not everyone will have a reaction, you should see a doctor and get treatment quickly if you think you've been bitten by one of these spiders. The brown recluse is brown big surprise with a small shape of a violin in a darker brown area on its back. They are found mostly in midwestern and southern parts of the United States, and they like to hide in dark, quiet places something bit the bottom of my foot hurts for no reason attics or garages, under porches, and in woodpiles.
When humans enter their space unexpectedly, they bite out of fear. The bites usually don't hurt at first — and most people don't even know that they've been bitten. Brown recluse bites don't cause problems for many people. Others may notice swelling and skin changes 4 to 8 hours after the bite. The swelling may form a blister, which can later turn black and leave a scar as it heals over the next few months.
Chills, fever, rash, pain, nausea and, rarely, more serious symptoms like seizures or coma also can follow a bite. The black widow is found in southern Canada, throughout the United States, and in Mexico. Easily identified by its shiny coal-black body and orange-red hourglass shape on its underbelly, it's a similar size to the brown recluse spider and it should be treated as carefully.
Most often, people who have been bitten by a black widow don't even know it until they feel the something bit the bottom of my foot hurts for no reason. But there are warning signs that give time to act before things get too serious: People who are bitten by a black widow may get pain at the site of the bite, then dull muscle pains, especially in the chest or belly, within minutes to an hour of being bitten.
As the spider's venom spreads in the body, a person may get severe abdominal cramping. If any of these things happen, or if you think you may have gotten a bite from a black widow spider, wash the area with soap and water, put an ice pack on it, and go to the emergency room right away, even if the bite doesn't look bad.
Spider bites can sound scary, but it's actually extremely rare that someone will die from one. For most varieties of bug bites and stings, antihistamines will help to stop itching and lessen swelling, and acetaminophen can help relieve any pain. Or ibuprofen can be used to help reduce swelling while relieving some pain.
Remove ticks as soon as you notice them. Ticks removed within 24 to 48 hours are less likely to transmit diseases something bit the bottom of my foot hurts for no reason Lyme disease. Using a pair of tweezers, slowly pull the tick out from its head, which is closest to your skin.
Slowly pull upward without twisting. Have someone help you get ticks in any hard-to-reach places of your body. Clean the area with soap and water, and treat with an antiseptic or antibiotic cream to avoid infection. Do not try to burn a tick off. Heat only agitates the insect, causing it to burrow deeper into your skin. When you've pulled the tick out, put it in a jar or zip-locked bag. After a bee or wasp sting, if you can see the stinger, remove it as quickly as possible to lessen your exposure to the venom.
Wash the sting or bite with soap and water and keep it clean. Apply some calamine lotion or a paste of water and baking soda unless the sting is near your eyes. Put an ice pack on the affected area for 15 minutes every few hours or so, or cover the sting with a cold compress.
Apply an antibiotic cream to prevent further infection. If you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, see your doctor for a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector.
In case of a severe allergic reaction, use the epinephrine auto-injector and call An epinephrine auto-injector is easy to use — your doctor or pharmacist will explain how.
If you're severely allergic to stings, talk to an allergist about getting venom immunotherapy shots. How do you know when a sting or bite is too much for you to handle alone?
If you have any symptoms of a systemic allergic reaction, call right away. If an epinephrine auto-injector is available, it should be used immediately. Symptoms to watch for include:. Take the spider with you if you were able to kill it safely.
If bites or stings get infected or if an open sore or blister refuses to heal, make an appointment with your family doctor. Human beings don't have to sit around and wait to be a sample on the insect buffet. Here are some steps we can take to protect ourselves:.
For specific medical advice, something bit the bottom of my foot hurts for no reason, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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