With the advent of heat, the activity of insects increases sharply: they wake up from hibernation, leave their shelters. It was during this period that the number of people seeking help from medical institutions for insect bites increased. The most common pests are representatives of the order Hymenoptera.
We will talk about the dangers of bee and wasp stings, how to provide first aid and prevent complications. And the photos and videos in this article will help you figure it out better.
Like all other insects, bees and wasps are highly organized creatures, they will never attack first. This is a defensive reaction and you need to try to get stung.
First of all, wasps and bees attack if there is a real threat to their nest. Insects also react to sudden and sweeping movements (for bees and wasps, this is a sign of danger).
Insects are attracted by persistent specific odors (perfume, sweat, alcohol), fruit trees and bushes, food, water, bright colors. That is why beekeepers never approach the hives in a state of intoxication, do not use perfume, and do not wear clothes of saturated colors.
What is wasp and bee venom
Everyone knows that there is a difference between a bee sting and a wasp sting. When a bee stings you, it loses its sting, and as a result, it dies. And wasps can hurt you more than once. But this is not the only difference. These insects have a poison of different chemical composition.
Near the sting of insects are special glands that produce poison. It accumulates in a special tank, which is very small in volume. During a bite, the contents of the capsule are injected through the sting into the skin of the victim.
Despite the almost identical pain sensations arising from this, insect venoms differ in their chemical parameters: wasp venom has an alkaline reaction, bee venom has an acidic reaction. The body's response to both poisons will be the same - an increased production of histamine begins - a substance that is key in the development of allergic reactions.
Due to the different structure of poisons, there is an opinion that the discomfort from wasp stings can be neutralized with acidic solutions (for example, vinegar), and from bees - with soap.
Clinical picture of bites
Stings of bees and wasps appear the same. They can only be distinguished by the presence of a sting at the site of injury. It is also believed that wasps sting more painfully. But this is a rather subjective criterion, since the pain threshold for all people is different. The clinical picture depends on the general reactivity of the organism, the site of the bite and their number.
Typical manifestations of bee and wasp stings are local symptoms, such as:
- Pain and burning.
- Itching.
- Redness.
- Edema.
- Local rise in temperature.
- Sometimes a small punctate rash is attached near the bite site.
People from risk groups are more difficult to tolerate contact with wasps and bees: children, pregnant women and the elderly (read more). In such people, fever may be added to the above symptoms. In individuals with a burdened allergic history, a second bite may develop a special clinical condition - anaphylactic shock.
This is an immediate type of reaction. Due to a sharp massive release of histamine and serotonin, the permeability of the walls of blood vessels increases, edema of the mucous membranes and tissues develops, microcirculation in the capillaries is disturbed, blood accumulates in small vessels, and blood circulation in vital organs worsens.
The clinical picture of anaphylactic shock is as follows:
- loss of consciousness due to insufficient blood supply to the brain;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- an increase in heart rate up to ventricular fibrillation;
- shortness of breath, shortness of breath due to swelling of the mucous membrane and spasm of the muscles of the respiratory tract;
- sometimes there may be convulsions, involuntary urination and defecation.
Deterioration of well-being develops in a matter of minutes and, if medical assistance is not provided, can lead to death. It should be noted that bites to the face and neck also carry a great danger.
Close proximity to large blood vessels, loose subcutaneous fat contribute to the development of edema and the occurrence of anaphylactic shock, even in people with a normal immune response. Also, more than 5 bites in children and more than 10 in adults are considered deadly.
How to help the victim?
First aid for a wasp or bee sting should be provided immediately, as this reduces the risk of complications.
Initially, it is necessary to inspect the site of damage for the presence of a sting. If it is there, it must be carefully removed. You should not rush, because during the extraction process, the tip of the sting may remain in the wound and cause suppuration.
Very often, during first aid, they try to squeeze out poison from the bite site. This will not help reduce the amount of toxins, but will only cause more irritation to the wound. This mistake should not be repeated!
First aid for bee and wasp stings is to eliminate or reduce discomfort, prevent the development of infection and anaphylaxis. After removing the sting, the bite site should be treated with any antiseptic solution (alcohol, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide). A cold compress or ice pack can help relieve pain and reduce swelling. Cold causes vasospasm, which slows down the spread of poison in the body.
Also, topical agents will help reduce pain and swelling:
- Hormonal ("Fenkarol", "Prednisolone", 1% hydrocortisone ointment).
- With the content of local anesthetics ("Prilocaine", "Lidocaine") or menthol.
To relieve itching at the site of the bite, topical agents with diphenhydramine - Fenistil, Psilo-balm - are suitable. "Bepanten", "Panthenol" have healing properties.
Persons with a burdened allergic history, in addition to local treatment, should take any antihistamine drug ("Diazolin", "Suprastin"). When using these drugs, you should be guided by the instructions for use.
First aid for a child with a bee or wasp sting
If a child is bitten by a bee, in no case should you panic. The provision of pre-hospital care is no different from that of adults, except that children under 12 years of age should be limited to local treatment only. They should not be given oral antihistamines. Only a doctor can prescribe such medicines to a child.
Folk methods
In our country, folk methods of treating bee and wasp stings are widely used. They can also help relieve pain, reduce itching and swelling.
Consider the most popular of them:
- Apply a compress of crushed plantain leaves, yarrow, aloe juice or dandelion roots.
- Rub the bite with a fresh onion.
- Rinse the wound with a decoction of parsley, a solution of soda or salt.
You should not resort to folk remedies in people at risk (children, pregnant women, allergies), as this can worsen their condition!
First aid for anaphylactic shock
In case of symptoms of shock (loss of consciousness, sweating, increased heart rate, drop in pressure, shortness of breath, etc.), you should urgently call an ambulance, since it is impossible to cope with this condition without a doctor or paramedic.
What can you do before the ambulance arrives?
Before the arrival of doctors, if possible, stop the flow of the allergen into the blood (cold compress), provide the person with air flow (free from tight clothing), lay him down and turn his head to one side to prevent asphyxia due to retraction of the tongue or aspiration by vomit.
In the event of cardiac arrest, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately! Pressing on the chest alternates with the inhalation of air into the lungs of the victim (30 presses - 2 breaths). Resuscitation may be carried out by one or two rescuers.
If a person has already experienced an allergic reaction to a bee and wasp sting, his medicine cabinet may contain injectable drugs for the relief of anaphylactic shock - adrenaline and dexamethasone. If there are any, and the person providing first aid has the skill of intramuscular injection, these drugs should be administered immediately.
The medicine can be injected into the buttock, the front of the thigh, or the back of the shoulder. Do not inject more than one ampoule of each drug. A solution of adrenaline can also be used to puncture the bite site. This will cause vasospasm and slow down the absorption of toxins into the blood.
When to call an ambulance
There are cases when you can not do without qualified medical care, since the development of complications is very difficult to predict.
An ambulance should be called in such situations:
- bite of a pregnant woman or a child under 6 years old;
- multiple bites (more than 5 in children and 10 in adults);
- bites in the face and neck;
- worsening condition after local treatment;
- the development of a clinical picture of anaphylactic shock or the occurrence of Quincke's edema (swelling of the subcutaneous fat of the face and neck).
Remember that the price of delay is human life! It is better to call an ambulance before the start of medical assistance.
Prevention
To avoid unpleasant encounters with bees and wasps, you should know some rules. The following instructions will help you prevent the bites of these insects.
- The best way to avoid being stung by bees and wasps is to stay away from their habitats. In no case should you destroy the nests of these insects, as there is a chance of falling under the wrath of a whole swarm. In the apiary, special clothing should be used.
- Avoid walking barefoot on the grass, as you may accidentally step on a bee collecting nectar.
- Insects are attracted to the smell of food, perfume and alcohol. Therefore, walks in nature are best done in a sober state. By the way, alcohol increases vascular permeability. This can cause more pronounced swelling after the bite.
- If, nevertheless, you are in the field of view of a wasp or bee, you should not brush it off with your hands, as this can cause even more aggression in the insect.
Prevention can also include the presence of a first aid kit, with everything necessary for first aid - antiseptic solutions (alcohol, hydrogen peroxide), dressings, antiallergic drugs, heart medications (validol, corvalol, nitroglycerin). Those who have an allergy or a predisposition to it should have glucocorticoids and adrenaline with them.
In this article, you will learn some simple first aid tips for insect bites.
The summer season is not only bright butterflies and weightless, graceful dragonflies. These are also hordes of mosquitoes, flies and midges of all stripes, bees, wasps, bumblebees and other flying and biting creatures. You can meet this unsafe small fry anywhere, and this meeting does not always go unnoticed for us, the “kings of nature”. Today, on the useful women's site sympaty.net, tips on how to provide first aid for insect bites.
Small but so annoying
Insect bites: first aid
So who's biting us?
Stinging insects include bees, wasps, bumblebees, hornets. Their bites most often provoke an allergic reaction, and this is dangerous.
It is known that the simultaneous bite of a hundred bees can be fatal. Therefore, first aid for insect bites of this type is something everyone should know!
In addition, mosquitoes, midges, gadflies, horseflies can not weakly bite and other flying nonsense, which is full of nature in the summer. Sometimes it’s even impossible to determine who left you an itchy blister “as a keepsake”.
A separate song of the spring-summer season - ticks. These are not harmless mosquitoes in the evening in the country.
Usually, swelling, redness occurs at the site of the bite, accompanied by itching and pain. This is a standard reaction of the body to a bite and active substances injected under the skin by insects.
If a bee stings, the first step is to remove the sting. best with tweezers. This should be done slowly so that the sting does not break and remain under the skin.
A cotton swab moistened with hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, vodka for disinfection should be applied to the bite site.
Can Wash the bitten area with soap and water.
The standard first aid for insect bites is to apply ice and a cloth moistened with cold water to the bite site. The cold will alleviate the condition of the bitten, will not allow local swelling to develop.
Swabs soaked in a solution of baking soda are suitable for healing the bite site.(or directly "cakes" from soda with water), slice of raw potatoes.
Traditional medicine also advises apply garlic or onion gruel to the bite site.
If you know for yourself the manifestations of allergies or if the bite site is very disturbing, you can take an antihistamine.
Urgently to the doctor!
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to limit yourself to first aid in case of insect bites. Here are the alarming symptoms, when they appear, you should leave self-medication and seek medical help immediately:
the appearance and growth of a rash on the body, including those located far from the bite site
an increase in temperature and a general deterioration in the condition of the bitten
vomiting, convulsions, headache, clouding of consciousness
swelling that is not commensurate with the size of the bite and rapidly developing
Edema is especially dangerous with bites in the neck and face. as they can lead to suffocation.
Allergics and people with hypersensitivity should always have on hand a drug prescribed by a doctor to relieve acute allergic manifestations.
How not to get bitten
First aid for insect bites - this is what everyone needs to know, but it is also good to know and observe preventive measures. Of course, this is not always a panacea for bites, but still ...
The general rule in summer is not to smell too much. Pronounced perfume aromas, especially floral ones, will attract uninvited flying "admirers" to you.
If you are outdoors in the summer, light-colored clothing is preferable to dark ones.. It doesn't attract insects that much.
Try not to wave your hands if a wasp or a bee is hovering around you.
Eat fruits and tea with jam in nature with caution- wasps have a habit of crawling almost into the mouth and biting on the lip.
When you go for a long walk, wear closed clothing and use repellents.
Remember these simple tips for first aid for insect bites and may you and your loved ones not need them!published.
If you have any questions, ask them
P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet
Bitten by an insect? First of all, sit down, exhale and calm down. There are very few deadly insects in our country, and it is unlikely that you will be lucky to meet him. Next, we will consider the rules of first aid for insect bites, which can significantly alleviate the severity of possible consequences for the human body. Even in cases where bites are associated with strong allergens entering the wound (for example, hornet bites), properly provided first aid will provide protection from a generalized allergic reaction and dangerous edema.
First of all, it is important to understand that the nature of first aid for insect bites to a certain extent depends on the type of insect that has bitten or stung. Therefore, even if the pain from the bite is very strong, the best thing you can do in the first seconds after the bite is not to run around waving your arms, but try to look at the offender. In the future, this can save time for treatment and help take adequate measures to relieve itching and possible swelling.
By the nature of insect bites can be divided into two types:
On a note
In most cases, under the bites of insects, we are used to understanding also, for example, the bites of spiders and centipedes. However, from the point of view of a biologist (more precisely, an entomologist), neither of them are typical insects (for example, spiders do not belong to insects, but to Arachnids). However, first aid measures for their bites are quite similar to those for bites of true insects, therefore, in what follows we will simply speak of all such exceptions as insects.
And now step by step: what to do after insect bites ...
First steps: neutralize the poison and remove some of it from the wound
The first thing to do if an insect has bitten is to try to neutralize the poison and remove at least part of it from the wound. In the case of different insects, this is done in different ways.
For example:
- When a bee stings, you need to remove the sting from the wound as soon as possible (since the muscles of the poison sac continue to contract for a long time, gradually introducing more and more poison into the wound). Then you need to try to suck out the poison by spitting it out and wash the wound with soapy water. If the sting is too deeply embedded in the skin, it can be pulled out with a needle washed in alcohol or heated over a fire.
- When bitten by a wasp or hornet, you should not look for a sting - these insects, unlike bees, do not leave their sting in the skin (and, by the way, can sting repeatedly). You can try to suck out some of the poison from the wound, then put a piece of apple on it or rinse it with vinegar. Sugar or urine also works well - they draw the poison onto themselves.
- First aid for a bite of poisonous spiders may consist of cauterizing the wound with a just extinguished match. Their poison quickly decomposes under the influence of high temperature. This method will only help for the first few minutes after the bite.
In any case, sucking the poison out of the wound is a universal action. Even if an unknown insect has bitten, this can be done safely - the poison itself will not work in the oral cavity (if there are no wounds, scratches or sores). It is only important to constantly spit saliva and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water at the end of the procedure.
If the bite site is smeared with alcohol as soon as possible, the consequences are usually less pronounced.
If an insect has bitten, in no case should you try to squeeze the poison out of the wound with your fingers: this will only lead to increased blood flow and faster spreading of the poison under the skin.
Prevent poison from spreading through tissues
Emergency care for the bites of many insects involves the imposition of a cold compress on the wound. This remedy helps to get rid of severe consequences even with the bites of stinging insects such as hornets, wasps, bees. Water, ice, metal or stone can be used as a coolant - anything that has a temperature below body temperature.
The main goal of this step is to prevent extensive edema from developing, which can sometimes pose a serious danger to human life (for example, with hornet bites in the face, neck, throat).
How to avoid intoxication and reduce the manifestation of bite symptoms?
After completing the above first aid measures after an insect bite, then you can proceed with the steps to relieve the symptoms of poisoning and decontaminate the bite site:
- Disinfect the wound: lubricate it with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green or a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
- To prevent the development of an allergic reaction: thickly lubricate the wound and an area 3-4 cm from it with Soventol or Fenistil gel. In the absence of these drugs, you can treat the wound with the juice of a plantain or dandelion leaf, attach a tomato or cut parsley root, drip with garlic juice.
- To soothe the pain, you can lubricate the wound, for example, with Insectline balm, Gardex or Mosquitol.
In case of bites of stinging insects, it is advisable to drink a lot and often, which will relieve the general symptoms of intoxication.
First aid for insect bites often also involves the use of special antihistamines (for allergies). They should be taken only when there are clear signs of extensive edema or a rash appears on the body, lymph nodes increase, heart rate increases, and shortness of breath appears. In this case, with an insect bite, you must:
- Take a tablet of Suprastin or Loratadine.
- Or you can take a Prednisolone tablet.
- Finally, in the absence of all of the above in the home medicine cabinet, you can drink a tablet of Diphenhydramine.
If there are no acute symptoms of an allergic reaction after a bite from an unknown insect, these drugs should not be drunk.
If a child is bitten by an insect, you should do the same, but especially carefully monitor his condition. If the child cries, screams and complains of pain - this is normal. It is bad if he suddenly calms down, stops talking, tries to lie down or sit down, starts to choke. In this case, you need to urgently take the child to the hospital or call an ambulance.
Mass bites: what to do?
If bitten profusely, the wounds should be washed with soap and water, then lubricated with alcohol. When biting in children, you should also monitor the general well-being of the child and his body temperature (you may have to urgently consult a doctor).
It is more dangerous if bees, wasps and especially hornets bite en masse, for example, when their nest is disturbed.
Their bites are very allergenic, and even 4-5 bites can be enough to develop pain or anaphylactic shock. Each bite in this case should be treated in the same way as a single one, but the general condition of the victim should be especially carefully monitored.
Particularly severe cases should be discussed separately.
First aid in especially severe cases
First aid for bites of especially poisonous insects does not differ from that for attacks by ordinary hornets or poisonous spiders.
In our country, the bites of giant hornets living in Primorye, earthen wasps, karakurt spiders, scorpions in the south of the country, as well as giant centipedes are especially dangerous. Such dangerous insect bites may require the bitten person to be quickly transported to intensive care. In case of laryngeal edema, it may be necessary to make a conicotomy here (an incision in the throat in the area of the cricoid cartilage) and insert a hollow tube into the hole to allow the person to breathe. But it's better if it doesn't come to that.
In the tropics, the bites of many spiders, wasps, centipedes are dangerous. One of the most dangerous insects in South America is the bullet ant - the pain from its bite is many times stronger than the pain from the bite of our hornet. Before traveling in the tropics, you should become familiar with the main biting insects and be prepared to provide first aid in case of their attack. But the main efforts with severe bites should be directed to the speedy delivery of the victim to the hospital.
It is interesting
Those who are lucky enough to be bitten by different types of spiders claim that the bite of a karakurt is not felt at all. Moreover, this usually happens in a dream, when a person tosses and turns and crushes a spider. But the consequences of this bite are very serious. A tarantula bite, on the contrary, is extremely painful, but the severity of the consequences is comparable to a bee sting.
In conclusion, we will give a list of tools that you need to have with you when you go out into nature in order to ensure a quick response to any insect bites.
memo
Be prepared for insect bites:
And remember: when bitten by unknown insects, a person suffers more from panic than from the bite itself. So be calm and reasonable, but help yourself or loved ones quickly and decisively.
Useful video about insect allergies: what to do if a wasp stings
What to do if you have an allergic reaction to insect stings
Animal bites.
When bitten by a wild or domestic animal, there is a risk of infection, so the victim must be given first aid as soon as possible. From the bite of a rabid dog, a person becomes ill with rabies. Rabies is a viral disease that affects the cells of the brain and spinal cord.
First aid: Treat the area around the bite with a disinfectant solution, apply an antiseptic dressing to the wound and immediately send the patient to a medical facility where the victim is given special anti-rabies vaccinations.
Insect bites (bees, wasps, bumblebees) - burning pain and swelling occur at the site of the bite. Their single bites are not particularly dangerous. Multiple bites can be fatal.
Carefully remove the sting from the skin, treat the wound with an antiseptic solution. With multiple bites - deliver to the LU.
scorpion sting - there is severe pain at the site of the lesion, swelling and redness. First aid: treat the wound with an antiseptic solution, apply an antiseptic bandage, take painkillers.
spider venom causes severe pain and muscle spasm. First aid: treat the wound with a solution of potassium permanganate, taking painkillers. In case of severe reaction, deliver to the LU for the introduction of antiserum.
Bites of poisonous snakes . When a viper bites, acute pain occurs at the site of the bite, redness, bruising, swelling, and lymphangitis appears. Symptoms of poisoning: dry mouth, thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, convulsions, speech disorders, swallowing, and sometimes motor paralysis. Death comes from respiratory arrest.
First aid: One of the most effective and reliable first aid measures for a venomous snake bite is to suck out the poison from the wound. To do this, it is better to use a small jar or vial.
The victim must be given plenty of fluids to increase diuresis (urination).
Immobilize the bitten limb and the victim, give rest and deliver to a medical facility as soon as possible.
It is forbidden cutting a wound at the site of a bite or trying to cut off a bitten area of skin, you can not cauterize the bitten place with anything. Do not apply a tourniquet above the bite site. When bitten by vipers, this is especially dangerous for the development of gangrene, only with cobra bites is it possible to slow down the development of general intoxication by applying a tourniquet above the bite site for 30-40 minutes. Do not give the victim to drink strong drinks. Alcohol will only worsen the elimination of toxins from the body.
Control questions for consolidation:
1. The concept of electrical injury.
2. Causes of electrical injury.
3. Signs of exposure to electric current:
4. Types of electrical injuries.
5. PMP in case of electrical injury.
6. The concept of drowning and asphyxia.
7. Signs and types of drowning.
8. PMP during drowning.
9. Heat and sunstroke.
10. PMP for heat and sunstroke.
11. Provision of primary care for foreign bodies.
12. Providing PMP for animal bites.
13. Providing PMP for insect bites.
14. Providing PMP for snake bites.
Mandatory:
Buyanov V.M., Nesterenko Yu.A. First aid: Textbook. - 7th ed. .- M. Medicine, 2009. - 223 p.
Mukhina S.A., Tarnovskaya I.I. A practical guide to the subject "Fundamentals of Nursing". M. Moscow 2008
Additional:
Dmitrieva Z. V., Koshelev A. A., Teplova A. I. / Surgery with the basics of resuscitation. General surgery: textbook. allowance. - St. Petersburg, "Parity", 2000. - 576 p. (Series "Nursing").
Borodulina V.I. . "Encyclopedic reference book of a nurse, paramedic", M, 2008
S.V. Petrov. General surgery: textbook. 3rd ed., revised. and additional - M.: GEOTAR - Media, 2005. - 768s.
Electronic resources:
First aid rules:
http://www.1st-aid.ru/
Video "First aid for drowning":
First Aid Handbook:
http://www.03-ektb.ru/naseleniyu/pervaya-pomosch
4. Medical encyclopedia. Electrical injury.
http://www.medical-enc.ru/26/electrotrauma.shtml
5. Bites of insects, snakes, animals
http://triomed.cemmed.info/press-bites
With the advent of the first warm days, many different insects wake up. And some of them are not nearly as harmless as they seem. Wasps, bees, spiders, mites - these little insects sometimes do much more harm than big animals. Such insects are terrible primarily because when they bite, they release a certain dose of poison into the human body, which in turn causes an allergic reaction of varying severity.
If city dwellers think that modern megacities will be able to protect them from insects, then they are deeply mistaken. However, in urban conditions it is much easier to consult a doctor at the first sign of a bite, but in nature it is quite problematic to do this. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to help the injured person.
Most often, small children suffer from insect bites, as well as those people who are prone to allergies. The most dangerous are bites to the head, neck and chest area. In some, especially severe cases, an insect bite develops a serious allergic reaction - anaphylactic shock. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how to behave in such a situation and what to do before the ambulance arrives.
What to do if a wasp stings or a spider bites? What measures need to be taken? How to provide first aid to a bitten person? The answers to these and other questions can be found by reading the following article.
Actions for the bite of a wasp, hornet, bumblebee or bee
The venom of such insects contains biogenic amines, the entry of which into the human blood can cause severe allergic reactions.
The most basic symptoms of stings of bees, hornets, bumblebees or wasps are itching and burning at the site of the bite, acute pain, redness and swelling of the tissues. In some cases, there is an increase in body temperature, slight chills, and malaise. Probably the appearance of nausea and.
In especially severe cases, especially in people predisposed to allergies, various allergic reactions may occur. From light - and itching, to severe - Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock.
First of all, you need to know what you should never do. First, it should be understood that scratching the tissues in the area of the bite can lead to further spread of the poison, and in this way it is very easy to introduce an infection into the wound, which will only aggravate the situation and lead to serious consequences.
Secondly, water from nearby natural sources should not be used to cool or wash the wound, as this in most cases leads to infection, and sometimes to tetanus infection.
Also, you should not take alcoholic beverages and sleeping pills, because their effect enhances the effect of the poison.
First aid for the bites of such insects includes:
- Disinfection of the affected area with alcohol, soapy water or chlorhexidine.
- Cooling the bite site with ice wrapped in a towel, freeze spray, or cold pack. These actions will help relieve swelling and reduce pain.
- Taking an antihistamine, as well as using an antiallergic ointment or cream.
- Providing the victim with plenty of fluids and complete rest.
When a bee stings, you can try to pull out the sting by grabbing it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible. If it was not possible to pull it out, or it is scary to do it, then you need to go to the nearest emergency room to extract it.
Actions for a tick bite
It should be remembered that the diseases that ticks carry cause severe and unpleasant complications, ending in disability. Therefore, the extracted tick must be taken to the laboratory for analysis.
First aid for tick bites:
- If a tick is found under the skin, it is urgent to visit a surgeon to remove the tick completely and in the safest way.
- In the case when it is not possible to contact a specialist, you should remove the tick on your own. To do this, you need to use special tongs, which, following the instructions, will remove the insect without the risk of tearing it into several parts.
- Be sure to treat the affected area with any antiseptic preparation: chlorhexidine, iodine, hydrogen peroxide.
- The extracted insect must be placed in a glass container filled with water-soaked cotton wool. Close the container tightly with a lid and take it to the laboratory within two to three days after the bite.
In addition, you should know exactly what actions should not be performed with tick bites:
- use improvised means to extract the tick from under the skin (needles, tweezers, pins, and others), since the insect may not be completely removed, which will cause subsequent suppuration of the bite site;
- cauterize the insect, since such actions will lead to the exact opposite effect and the tick will penetrate even deeper under the skin;
- crush the insect, since in this case the possible pathogens that it carries can enter the bloodstream and lead to infection;
- lubricate the bite site with fats (kerosene, oil, and others), as this will cause the tick to suffocate without access to oxygen, without having time to get out.
Actions for a spider bite
Any spiders are usually poisonous. There are a great many varieties of arachnids in the world, and some of them are even deadly. But the most common spiders, whose poison is not very toxic, and its quantity is very small in order to provoke severe symptoms of poisoning.
In our latitudes, the most dangerous arachnids are karakurts and tarantulas.
Karakurts are rather small, up to two centimeters in length, black spiders with red spots on the abdomen.
Tarantulas are black or dark brown spiders, usually three to four centimeters long. However, some individuals can reach twelve centimeters. The most characteristic feature of a tarantula is the hairs that cover its entire surface. Moreover, due to their more formidable appearance, tarantulas cause more fear than karakurts, but their bite does not pose a serious danger. The bite of a karakurt is much more dangerous. But at the same time, you should know that just like that, spiders do not attack a person, but bite only if they are disturbed, in order to protect themselves.
The spider bite itself is practically painless, and the first symptoms appear only after a few hours. These include:
- dizziness and general weakness;
- and palpitations;
- redness and slight swelling at the site of the bite;
- an hour after the bite, severe pain appears, spreading to the lower back, shoulder blades, abdomen and calf muscles;
- shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting;
- convulsive seizures;
- an increase in body temperature up to forty degrees;
- increase in blood pressure.
In especially severe cases, there are sharp changes in the emotional state - from to overexcitation, strong, severe shortness of breath and pulmonary edema appear. Three to five days after the bite of a karakurt, skin appears, and weakness and general discomfort are observed for several weeks.
Tarantula venom is much weaker, and it manifests itself as swelling and swelling at the site of the bite, reddening of the skin, weakness and drowsiness, apathy, slight pain and heaviness throughout the body.
After a few days, all symptoms disappear.
First aid for the bite of any spider:
- Treat the bite site with an antiseptic.
- Lay and cover the victim, warm him and ensure complete rest.
- Give pain medication.
- Give the victim plenty to drink.
- If a limb is bitten, it should be bandaged tightly, starting at a distance of five centimeters above the bite, and ensured its immobility. With increasing swelling, the bandage should be loosened. The limb must be fixed below the level of the heart.
- If the bite occurred in the neck or head, then the bite should be pressed down.
- Seek immediate medical attention.
- In a serious condition, if it is impossible to show the injured doctor, it is necessary to give a hormonal anti-inflammatory drug.
What not to do with spider bites:
- scratching or rubbing the bite site, as this leads to further spread of the poison and contributes to infection;
- make incisions in the bite area;
- cauterize the bitten place;
- suck out the poison, because through any even the smallest wound in the mouth, the poison penetrates into the human blood.
First aid for anaphylaxis
In especially severe cases, insect bites can develop a serious allergic reaction - anaphylactic shock. This reaction is terrible because it occurs and develops quite quickly - within a few minutes. The most susceptible to anaphylaxis are people who are prone to allergies, as well as asthmatics.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis when bitten by spiders or other insects:
- strong and sharp pain at the bite site;
- skin itching, transmitted to all parts of the body;
- rapid heavy and difficult breathing, severe shortness of breath;
- severe pallor of the skin;
- weakness, a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- loss of consciousness;
- abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting;
- circulatory disorders in the brain, confusion;
- severe swelling of the mouth, neck and larynx.
All these reactions develop within a few minutes, and as a result of impaired respiratory activity and blood circulation, death from a lack of oxygen can occur. Therefore, it is very important to know how to provide first aid to a person with anaphylactic shock. This action could save his life.
First aid for anaphylaxis:
- Immediately call an emergency ambulance by calling 103 or 112.
- Give the victim a horizontal position and raise the legs.
- Cool the bite site.
- In case of loss of consciousness, it is necessary to control the breathing of the victim every two minutes.
- If breathing is ineffective (less than two exhalations in ten seconds in an adult, less than three in a child), cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be performed.
- Give the victim antihistamines: Suprastin, Tavegil and others.
Summing up
The bites of any insects almost always entail unpleasant and negative consequences, most often expressed in allergic reactions. They are especially difficult for children, people suffering from bronchial asthma, as well as those who are prone to allergies. In some cases, even such serious conditions as anaphylactic shock can occur, the delay in which can cost the victim his life. Therefore, it is extremely important to know what to do in such cases and be able to provide first aid for bites of various kinds of insects in order to help a person wait for the arrival of a doctor. In some cases, especially with anaphylaxis, such actions can save the victim's life.
Speciality: infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist.
General experience: 35 years .
Education:1975-1982, 1MMI, San-Gig, highest qualification, infectious diseases doctor.
Science degree: doctor of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences.
