When Bug Bites do More Than Just Bug You

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors, but one seemingly never-ending battle in the warmer months is keeping the bugs that seem to be a constant nuisance at bay. While enjoying the warm weather, it’s important to remember that bugs aren’t just annoying—they can also pose real health risks. With rising global temperatures and longer, hotter summers, insects are thriving more than ever, making bite and sting prevention an essential part of your seasonal routine.

Mosquitoes, bees, and wasps are the most common insects to bite or sting. Other common creepy crawlies you might find sinking their teeth into some human flesh are spiders, ticks, and bed bugs. Insect bites and stings account for nearly 1.17 million emergency department visits across the U.S. each year, and that number is expected to rise, but a little awareness and a few precautions can go a long way in keeping your summer safe, comfortable, and bite-free.

Bug bites are more likely to occur in rural, heavily wooded areas, near standing water, and if you work in farming, landscaping, or construction.

It can be unsettling to find a bug bite, especially when you aren’t exactly sure what bit you. Most bites can be treated at home, but some people may experience an allergic reaction. If you notice redness, swelling, numbness, tingling, or burning, it may be a sign that a reaction is developing.

For more serious bites, such as ticks or venomous spiders, look for the “bull’s-eye” rash, discoloration or blistering of the skin, tissue death (necrosis), or buildup of fluid/drainage of pus coming from the bite wound.

If you’re worried about symptoms that stem from a recent bug bite, consult your primary physician, or visit the nearest emergency room if you start having difficulty breathing and swallowing, or develop hives.

Protect Yourself from Bug Bites

Bug bites are more than just an itchy inconvenience, they can also transmit germs and diseases like malaria and Lyme disease. The best way to protect yourself is to stay aware of your surroundings and take preventive measures to reduce your risk of being bitten.

• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent with one of the following active ingredients:
  • DEET
  • Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the United States)
  • IR3535
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)—A plant-derived ingredient
  • Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
  • 2-undecanone—A plant-derived ingredient
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants if you plan to be outdoors, and treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin, or buy pre-treated permethrin gear
• Always stick to the center of the trails, avoid heavily wooded areas with tall grass
• Check pets, clothing, and your body for ticks before going indoors
• Be mindful of the clock—mosquitoes are most active from dusk until dawn
• Sweating attracts mosquitoes, so keep a towel handy
• Keep the lid on your garbage tightly sealed, and treat your bin with an insect repellent if possible
• Secure doors and windows and cover them with screens
• Clear your yard of any standing water where mosquitoes can breed
• Cover open strollers and carriages with mosquito netting

Bug Repelling Myths to Be Aware Of

It’s also important to be aware of common myths and misinformation that can lead to ineffective or even unsafe approaches to preventing and treating bug bites.

• Citronella candles and plants— These are only effective at repelling mosquitoes within a very short radius
• Essential oils— Citronella, lavender, and eucalyptus are not strong repellents, may work for 15 minutes or less
• Ultrasonic devices do not repel bugs
• Garlic and garlic pills will not repel insects

 

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