Letting your children play outdoors is a great way to keep them happy and healthy. However, as the sun heats up and the flowers bloom, insects start to get more active while your kids enjoy basking in the sun. When this happens, your little ones may find themselves getting bitten by these insects.
Insect bites are considered as mere minor annoyances. However, they can sometimes require immediate medical attention. To learn more about what to do if your kids experience insect bites and stings and how to prevent them, use this article as your guide.
Bee Stings
Bee stings usually are just an outdoor nuisance that requires home remedies. But if your child is allergic to them, they may need emergency treatment.
If your child gets stung, remove the stinger right away. Keep in mind that it has a tiny sac filled with venom, which must not be broken while getting rid of the stinger. To do this, use a credit card or the back of your fingernail instead of tweezers to push the stinger out. Afterward, ease your kid’s swelling, itching, and discomfort by placing a cold, wet cloth or an ice pack on the affected area.
Bee stings can occasionally require children’s urgent care. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if your child has been stung in the mouth or if they experience vomiting, difficulty breathing, nausea, or dizziness.
Tick Bites
Ticks are flat insects typically located in wooded areas. They also like to burrow. After staying outdoors, you may find their mouths buried beneath your child’s skin.
To carefully pull the insect out, use tweezers. Its entire head should come out of the skin. Next, disinfect the affected area with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
While this easy home treatment can usually take care of the problem, tick bites can sometimes require kids’ urgent care. These insects carry Lyme disease that can affect the heart, brain, skin, and joints. If your little one suffers from joint pain, neck and headache, fever, and fatigue, it’s best to consult a doctor. Another obvious sign of this disease you should watch out for is a rash shaped like a bullseye.
Spider Bites
Spider bites can cause itching, pain, and discomfort. These symptoms can generally be relieved with over-the-counter pain medications, itch creams, and cold compress. An antibiotic ointment can also be used to prevent infection.
Most spiders are harmless, but some can be dangerous. Some venomous spiders to avoid are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. They are fond of hiding in cool, dark areas, like garages, playground equipment, porches, and woodpiles.
Being bitten by these venomous spiders requires immediate medical attention. If your child has fever and chills, swelling, rashes, headache, and changes in skin color, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Many insect bites can get treated with simple home remedies or the right healthcare from professionals. Since prevention is better than cure, avoid situations that lead to them in the first place. For instance, teach your little ones to stay away from insects’ favorite hiding places or not to poke wasp nests or beehives.
If insects still attack your child despite following these precautions, seek urgent care for children by Your Kids Urgent Care. Our urgent care pediatric services are available in our locations in Florida, Alabama, and New Jersey. Schedule a telemedicine or in-person appointment today!
