Insect Bites and Stings

What is the difference between bug bites and stings?

A bite occurs when an insect uses its mouth to break your skin, typically so it can feed. This is the case with insects like mosquitos, fleas or bedbugs.

A sting is when an insect uses another part of its body, like a barbed stinger, to pierce your skin and inject venom — usually as a defense. This is most common with bees, wasps and hornets.

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction from an insect bite or sting?

Mild allergy symptoms can include:

• Redness

• Swelling

• Rashes

• Hives
  
  

Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) symptoms can include:

• Swollen face, eyes, tongue or throat

• Difficulty breathing or talking

• Itching, rash or hives

• Pale or flushed skin

• Wheezing or coughing

• Tiredness

• Confusion

• Abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea

• Lightheadedness or faintness

• Unconsciousness
  
  

In the case of a severe allergic reaction, use an EpiPen if you have one and call 911.

What should you do for a bug bite or sting?

If you get an insect bite or sting, follow these steps:

• Move to safety if there is a high risk of being stung or bitten again.

• Check for signs of allergies. If an anaphylactic reaction occurs, use an EpiPen (if available) and call 911.

• If there is a stinger, remove it by scraping across the skin. Do not squeeze the stinger, as this may inject more of the insect’s venom into your body.

• If a tick is biting you, carefully use tweezers or a tick removal key to pull the tick out of your skin. With tweezers, grasp the tick’s head as closely to the skin as you can. Pull steadily upward, without jerking or twisting the tick. The goal is to pull the tick off without breaking its mouthparts, which could get stuck in your skin and increase the risk of infection.

• Clean your insect bite or sting with soap and water.

• Monitor yourself for signs of illness or allergies.
  
  

Which diseases are transmitted by insects/bugs?

Mosquitos can carry many diseases, including malaria, dengue, Zika and West Nile Virus. Ticks can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you feel sick and have recently been bitten by an insect, especially a tick.

The CDC has news and information about these diseases and other vector-borne illnesses.

When is a bite or sting cause for concern?

You should seek medical help for any insect bite or sting if:

• You have a severe allergic reaction

• You notice signs of infection
  
  

Additionally, you should seek medical help for a mosquito bite if:

• You develop symptoms of a mosquito-borne illness
  
  

You should seek medical help for a tick bite if:

• You’re unable to completely remove the tick

• You develop symptoms of Lyme disease, such as a bull’s-eye shaped rash or flu-like symptoms

• You develop symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, such as fever, headache, and rash.