Warm weather has returned causing the insect community around us to buzz, fly, crawl and yes – bite and sting as well. Insect and spider bites are common throughout the country during the warmer months and often cause redness, pain, swelling and itching. These are all typical, mild reactions to being bitten or stung by a spider or insect. Babies and children may be even more affected by bites and stings than adults. Some people have severe allergic reactions to being bitten or stung and, for some it can be fatal. Those who are allergic to stings should always carry a preloaded syringe of epinephrine, which blocks allergic reactions.

We are going to go over stings and bites from a few creatures – bees, wasp, hornets, fire ants and spiders. Stings by bees, wasps, and hornets are common throughout the United States. The average person can safely tolerate 10 stings for each pound of body weight. This means that the average adult could withstand more than 1,000 stings, whereas 500 stings could kill a child.

Bee Stings
When a bee stings, it leaves behind its stinger and then dies, never to sting again. Wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, however, can sting repeatedly. Bee stings can typically be treated at home, however, in the United States, 3 or 4 times more people die from bee stings than from snakebites. A more aggressive type of honeybee, called the Africanized “killer” bee, has reached some southern states (Texas, Arizona and California) as these bees travel north from South America. By attacking their victim in swarms, these bees cause a more severe reaction than do other bees, securing their name “killer” bees. The large amount of venom injected by many bees at once can cause death.

Most common reactions to bee stings are:

• A minor reaction with a bump, at the site of the bee sting. Pain and itching may be present and may last from a few hours to a few days.
• Toxic reactions - which are more likely to occur when you have been stung 10 or more times.

Not so common reaction:

• Severe life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) requiring emergency medical treatment.
• Serum sickness (a rare reaction to stings), that causes flu-like symptoms, joint pain, and hives beginning 7 to 14 days after an insect sting.
• Large skin reactions that involve redness and swelling extending beyond the sting site.  This reaction may affect an entire limb or large area of the body.

***If you or your child gets stung and cannot breathe properly get to the emergency room immediately (they may be having an allergic reaction). 
(This goes for all stings and bites)

Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets
Yellow jackets and hornets are types of wasps.  Wasps can sting a person repeatedly without losing their stinger and a person’s reaction can range from mild to severe.  Wasps are usually more aggressive than bees.  Most people stung will experience a "local" reaction with redness, pain, swelling and some itching only at the sting site. If the reaction progresses quickly to sites other than the sting site or is followed by difficult breathing or choking at the throat, the person is experiencing a "systemic" allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) requiring emergency medical treatment.

Most common reactions to wasp stings are: (very similar to bee stings)

• Most people have a minor reaction, with a bump at the site of the sting. Intense immediate pain and itching may be present and may last from a few hours to a few days.
• A toxic reaction can occur when a person has been stung 10 or more times.
• A large skin reaction can occur, causing redness and swelling to extend beyond the sting site. This reaction lasts about 3 to 4 days.

Not so common reaction:

• A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction can occur (anaphylaxis).
• Serum sickness is a rare reaction to stings in which flu-like symptoms and hives develop 7 to 14 days after an insect sting.

Fire Ants
Fire ants are wingless insects that belong to the same family of insects as bees and wasps. Fire ants are found in the southeastern and south central United States, especially along the Gulf Coast.  They tend to attack and sting in great numbers.  A fire ant attaches itself to a person by biting with its jaws, then pivoting its head and stinging from its abdomen in a circular pattern at multiple sites.

Symptoms of a fire ant sting may include:

• A painful raised bump that becomes a puss-filled blister in 6 to 24 hours and lasts for up to 10 days.
• Skin at the bite site that dies and leaves a scar or bump.
• Redness and swelling extending beyond the sting site.

Not so common reactions:

• A severe life-threatening allergic reaction.
• Serum sickness, a rare reaction to stings. Flu-like symptoms and hives begin 7 to 14 days after an insect sting.
• A toxic reaction could occur when there have been 20 or more stings.
  

Home treatment is usually all that is needed for minor reactions to relieve pain and itching from insect bites and bee and wasp stings.  Severe reactions require medical treatment. These people who are allergic to stings should always carry a preloaded syringe of epinephrine, which blocks allergic reactions.

Spider Bites (Brown Recluse and Black Widow)
Almost all spiders are poisonous.  Fortunately, the fangs of most species are too short or too fragile to penetrate human skin.  Although at least 60 species in the United States have been implicated in biting people, serious injury occurs mainly from only two types of spiders: the black widow and the brown recluse (fiddleback, or violin) spiders.  These spiders will usually only bite if provoked, but their bites can cause severe reactions, possibly even death in rare cases.  Spider bites cause fewer than three deaths a year in the United States, usually in children.

Experts say spiders typically don’t go looking for human prey.  Spiders are generally shy and try to avoid contact with humans.  Leave them to their dark, secluded spaces – under rocks, in debris piles, sheds, closets and attics, and there’s no worry.  Invade their space, though, and risk a bite.  Spiders will attack if trapped or if pressed against the skin.

The symptoms of these two particular spider bites are quite different.  The black widow spider bites cause immediate pain and numbing pain around the area of the bite.  Cramping pain and muscle stiffness, which may be severe, develop in the abdomen or the shoulders, back, and chest. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, sweating, restlessness, anxiety, headache, drooping and swelling of the eyelids, skin rash and itching, severe breathing problems, increased saliva production, and weakness. 

The brown recluse spider bites cause no immediate pain, but pain develops in about an hour around the bite area.  Pain may be severe and may affect the entire injured area, which may become red and bruised and may itch.  The rest of the body may itch as well.  A blister forms, surrounded by a bruised area or by a more distinct red area that resembles a bull's-eye.  Then the blister enlarges, fills with blood, and ruptures, forming an open sore (ulcer) that may leave a large craterlike scar.  Nausea and vomiting, aches, fatigue, chills, sweats, blood disorders, and kidney failure may develop, but the bite is rarely fatal.

The only first-aid measure of any value for a spider bite is placing an ice cube on the bite to reduce pain. For a black widow spider bite, muscle pain and spasms can be relieved with muscle relaxants and opioid analgesics.  Hot baths may relieve mild pain.  Anti-venom is given for severe poisoning.  Hospitalization is usually required for people younger than 16 and older than 60 and for those with high blood pressure or heart disease. For a brown recluse spider bite, anti-venom is not yet commercially available. Skin sores are cleaned daily with a povidone-iodine solution and are soaked 3 times a day in sterile salt water (saline); dead tissue is trimmed away as needed.

Prevent Stings
Use common sense when playing outdoors.  Remember not to disturb or provoke these creatures as they will always defend their homes.  It is always a good idea to get allergy tests so you know what you and your children are allergic to.

• Use a commercially available stinging insect control aerosol to destroy nests.  It can shoot a high-volume spray stream 15 to 20 feet.
• Do not stand directly under an overhead nest you are trying to destroy. If possible, hire a professional exterminator to remove a nest.
• Never try to burn or flood a nest with water since this will only make stinging insects angry.
• Be careful not to mow over a nest in the ground or disturb a nest in a tree or the eaves of the home.
• Never strike or swing at a wasp or a bee.
• Never trap a wasp or a bee against your body. That can cause the insect to sting.
• Wear a hat and closed shoes (not sandals).
• Light-colored cotton clothing is best.  Avoid white or bright-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Never wear wool around stinging insects because wool retains some degree of animal odor even after extensive processing.
• Avoid heavy, flowery perfumes, colognes, or scents.  They may attract bees.
• Run away from bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets.  They are not very fast, and you can usually outrun them.
• Avoid sweet beverages, which can attract stinging insects.
• Do not drink out of a can.  Bees might be inside the can where you cannot see them.
  
  

Prevent Spider Bites
Although the chance of being bitten by a venomous spider is extremely slim, you can reduce the likelihood by heeding the following: