Insect Bites and Stings: What to Do, What to Watch For, and When to Seek Care

Insect Bites or stings

Mosquitoes, ticks, bees, wasps, spiders, ants, chiggers, and other insects can leave behind itchy, painful, or swollen skin reactions. Most bites and stings improve with simple home care, but some can cause infection, allergic reactions, or illness that needs prompt medical attention.

What is an insect bite or sting?

An insect bite occurs when an insect feeds or irritates the skin, often causing itching, redness, and a small bump. A sting occurs when an insect such as a bee, wasp, hornet, or fire ant injects venom into the skin.

Reactions can range from mild local swelling to a more significant allergic response. Mosquitoes and ticks can also transmit certain illnesses, so symptoms that develop after a bite matter just as much as the bite itself.

Common symptoms

A mild bite or sting may cause:

• Itching

• Redness

• Small raised bumps

• Mild burning or tenderness

• Local swelling

• A visible puncture mark or sting site

Some people develop a larger local reaction, with more noticeable swelling and redness around the bite or sting. This can still be non-emergent, but should be monitored closely.

When to seek medical care

Contact a healthcare provider promptly for:

• Redness that is spreading or becoming increasingly painful

• Warmth, pus, drainage, red streaking, or fever

• A large swollen area that continues worsening

• Numerous bites or stings at one time

• Fever, rash, body aches, headache, or other illness after a mosquito or tick bite

• A bite that becomes blistered, ulcerated, darkened, or fails to heal

• Concern for a tick bite with new symptoms

• Symptoms after travel or an unfamiliar insect exposure

An infected bite may become red, warm, increasingly painful, or develop spreading redness or streaking.

Call 911 for emergency symptoms

Call 911 immediately for symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, including:

• Trouble breathing, wheezing, or shortness of breath

• Throat tightness, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing

• Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat

• Widespread hives along with vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, or breathing symptoms

• Fainting, confusion, severe weakness, or loss of consciousness

If you have been prescribed epinephrine for a prior severe allergy, use it immediately as directed and call 911. Do not wait to see whether symptoms improve.

Can telehealth help?

Telehealth may be appropriate for mild-to-moderate insect bites or stings when you need help determining whether symptoms appear consistent with a local reaction, irritation, early infection, or another skin condition.

A virtual visit may help with treatment guidance, medication recommendations when appropriate, and determining whether you need in-person evaluation. You may be asked to upload clear photos of the area in good lighting.

Telehealth is not appropriate for severe allergic symptoms, trouble breathing, rapidly worsening swelling, severe pain, or signs of a serious infection. Call 911 or seek urgent in-person care for emergencies.

Prevention tips

• Use EPA-registered insect repellent as directed.

• Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes in wooded or grassy areas.

• Check your body, clothing, pets, and gear for ticks after outdoor activity.

• Use caution around nests, flowering plants, trash areas, and outdoor food.

• Keep screens intact and remove standing water around your home when possible.

• Avoid swatting at bees, wasps, or hornets, which can provoke stinging.

Preventing bites is especially important because mosquitoes and ticks can spread illnesses, including West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

Book a Visit

Not sure whether your bite or sting is a normal reaction, an infection, or something that needs treatment? Your Best Life Medical eClinic can help evaluate many non-emergency skin concerns through telehealth for adults in Virginia.

Book a virtual visit today for guidance from home.

Click Link to Schedule an Appointment

Disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek emergency care or call 911 for trouble breathing, throat swelling, fainting, severe allergic symptoms, or other urgent concerns.