Allergy to mosquito, wasp and bee bites: what does it look like and what to do?

Symptoms of a mosquito allergy Diagnosis of a mosquito allergy Treatment How to avoid mosquito bites What to do after a bite What to smear on a bite Repellents - protection from mosquitoes How to use repellents

We also got to our smaller friends - mosquitoes. Allergy to mosquitoes is an interesting and fascinating topic. If only because an allergic person can react not only to mosquito bites, but also to particles of the insect’s body.

Mosquito particles are airborne and contain volatile allergen proteins. The most studied of the mosquito's volatile proteins is Tropomyosin, which causes cross-allergic reactions with arthropod tropomyosins.

To catch a mosquito protein, it is not necessary to encounter an insect; it is enough to swim in a lake or cut up fresh freshwater fish.

Mosquito allergy is a type of insect allergy (Insecta - insects) and is called Culicidosis.

If you are allergic to, for example, birch, this does not mean that you will necessarily have a reaction to insect bites.

But if an allergy to mosquitoes has already developed, there is a risk of developing allergies to other insects.

Interestingly, people with atopic dermatitis are more likely to develop insect allergies. Probably because the protective function of atopic skin is impaired and allergens easily penetrate through it.

Biologists consider mosquitoes to be non-biting insects, like butterflies, bedbugs, lice, fleas and cockroaches. Proteins from some insects can cause cross-allergic reactions. For example, if there is a reaction to a cockroach, then there may be a reaction to grasshoppers and house dust mites.

And here’s another little-known fact: mosquitoes love the blood of animals - rats, artiodactyls, and human blood, with all due respect, is like cancer for them without fish. Human blood is poor in the substance necessary for the formation of mosquito eggs - the amino acid isoleucine.

In places inhabited by people and other animals there are usually not many, so mosquitoes have no choice - they have to bite us.

If you think that a mosquito pierces the skin of a mammal with its proboscis, then you are mistaken. I was wrong too.

The mosquito has plenty of other weapons. With its proboscis, the insect examines the skin, looking for a suitable place to bite. What places do mosquitoes like most? This is still a mystery to scientists.

When a suitable place on the victim's body is found, the mosquito pierces the skin with its mandibles (mandibles), then uses them as spacers to prevent the edges of the wound from meeting.

Then the mosquito plunges its lower jaws, like sharp saws, into the wound and saws it. And only after this, the mosquito inserts two needles into the wound. Through the first it sucks out the blood, through the second it injects saliva with an anticoagulant, which prevents the blood from clotting.

Mosquito saliva contains allergenic proteins, to which allergic reactions most often occur. Scientists have thoroughly studied 12 proteins in mosquito saliva.

Symptoms of a reaction to a mosquito

There is no reaction to the first mosquito bite; it appears to subsequent bites. If the immune system is in order, then the body reacts less over time to the same type of mosquito - the principle of vaccination.

If the reaction to a bite is allergic, then it will not weaken with age. The more an allergic person is exposed to mosquitoes, the stronger the reaction will be.

Reactions to a mosquito bite can be divided into several types:

• normal reaction;
• allergic reaction;
• dangerous allergic reaction.

Symptoms of a normal reaction

• The bite site turns red, swells, and an itchy pimple appears;
• in people with sensitive and thin skin, the bite site may turn blue. The blueness fades over time;
• symptoms disappear after 7–11 days.

A normal reaction is not dangerous. Itching causes trouble: due to scratching, the wound can become infected and you will have to apply antibiotic ointment.

Allergic reaction

• The bite site swells greatly - the diameter of the swelling can easily be more than 10 cm;
• swelling at the site of the bite lasts from several hours to several weeks;
• the wound hurts, itches very much, becomes warm or hot to the touch;
• rash at the site of the bite;
• hives;
• Skeeter's Syndrome may develop (very large swelling, when the site of a mosquito bite swells, expands and hurts, like a wasp sting. Blisters appear at the site of the bite, and the temperature rises);
• diarrhea;
• vomit;
• stomach ache;
• bronchospasm;
• sweating;
• dry mouth;
• chills
• sometimes the temperature rises (especially if there are a lot of bites);
• malaise;
• lymph nodes may become enlarged;
• insomnia.

Keep in mind that if a mosquito bites a small child or adult in a sensitive place - eyelid, lip, forehead, temple - the reaction may be strong, but not allergic.

If symptoms of a severe reaction occur after each mosquito bite, or the reaction gets worse, then it's time to visit an allergist.

Symptoms of a dangerous allergic reaction

We urgently call an ambulance!

• Swelling, redness, itching spread throughout the body beyond the bite - a leg was bitten, and the face began to swell;
• dizziness, nausea and vomiting;
• severe hoarseness of voice;
• it becomes difficult to breathe;
• you feel dizzy and feel like you are about to faint.

If there have been cases of anaphylactic shock, always keep adrenaline and an emergency phone number on hand. European pharmacies sell EpiPen and Anapen Jext adrenaline pens. Learn to use the auto-injector ahead of time and know your dosage.

In case of anaphylaxis, adrenaline is needed. Hormones - prednisolone or dexamethasone are used for urticaria. The dosage should be checked with your doctor.

Allergic manifestations

Two to three days after an insect bite, it is recommended to check the damaged areas for an allergic reaction of the body.
It is characterized by thickening of the skin and discharge from the wound. If the allergic reaction is moderate, these symptoms may include dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, pressure and pain in the chest and heart.

In severe cases, this may include suffocation, anaphylactic shock, confusion, or loss of consciousness due to obstruction of the airway.

For allergies, you can take an antihistamine: “Suprastin”, “Tavegil”, “Zirtek”, “Diazolin” and others.

If the allergy develops very quickly, it is better to administer these medications intramuscularly. But in order to neutralize the dangerous saliva of a mosquito, it may be necessary to administer Prednisolone.

Diagnosis of mosquito allergy

Correctly identifying an allergic reaction is not easy. Especially if you make a diagnosis without the help of an allergist or dermatologist.

Mosquito bite rash can be confused with prurigo rash or toxic rash that affects people with autoimmune diseases. In addition, the cause of the rash may be an infection, the causative agent of which entered the body with the saliva of an insect.

Therefore, if you suspect you are having an allergic reaction, rush to see an allergist. The doctor will examine, listen and, possibly, prescribe additional examinations.

Algorithm for diagnosing allergies:

• the allergist must establish a connection between the clinical manifestations of the reaction and the bite - the clinical picture;
• positive skin tests with extracts from the insect body. In Russia, reagents with the mosquito allergen Aedes aegypti are used;
• there must be IgE antibodies to the mosquito in the blood;
• provocative tests (not officially allowed in Russia).

There is no point in taking specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) for mosquito allergens. A positive analysis only confirms the fact that the body has already encountered proteins - allergens.

Remember the time the reaction began, its duration, symptoms and sensations after the bite - this will help the doctor draw the right conclusions.

I found interesting information on the UpToDate website: it is not always necessary to perform skin tests or take a blood test for specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to mosquito saliva.

The reagents used in the research contain very little mosquito saliva, but a lot of other irritating proteins. These proteins may give a false positive result.

I think you will find laboratories that offer mosquito saliva testing, such as the ImmunoCap (Phadia) method. However, it is better not to take the test without a doctor’s referral and his help in interpreting the result.

You can conduct provocative tests - they are considered the most reliable, but doctors rarely perform them, since during the test an allergic person may have a serious reaction. In Russia, such tests are not certified, in other words, they are prohibited.

Skin application tests (Patch test) are also prohibited in our country. Abroad, such tests are carried out with insect extracts if contact dermatitis is suspected.

Who do mosquitoes love?

To be honest, I didn’t understand the hype around mosquito bites before and why everyone is so afraid of them. But one day we found ourselves in the wilds of a very dense forest. The mosquitoes there never saw people. At first I didn’t even understand why there was such background noise in the forest. And they were the ones squeaking. And no repellents bothered them at all - they were so hungry.

When we cooked buckwheat over the fire, the hungry insects went completely crazy. They rushed into the warmth of the boiled porridge and stuck their proboscis into it. It became clear that at night we would all simply be gnawed to the bones, and we hastily retreated to another place.

After that, I realized that a lot depends on the area of ​​residence, the season, the level of hunger of mosquitoes, the person himself and his psychological fortitude. Some people get bitten more, some less. I’m not sure whether mosquitoes love any particular blood type more, but it’s a fact that they flock more actively to a person who sweats a lot. They hardly touch me, I hardly even use sprays, but my husband just goes crazy from the bites and rushes through the blueberry thickets like a bull maddened by horse flies.

And of course, there are people with a pronounced reaction to mosquitoes; children with delicate and sensitive skin often suffer.

Treatment

Symptomatic treatment

• Relief of allergy symptoms with 2nd generation antihistamines (in age-appropriate dosage): cetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine. The duration of the appointment is prescribed by the doctor.
• Normalization of the general condition with glucocorticosteroids: pulmicort, nasonex.
• Application of antipruritic creams.

Preventative treatment

• If it is not possible to avoid mosquito bites, your doctor may prescribe antihistamines for as long as the insects are active.
• Use repellents.

Immunotherapy ASIT

Fortunately, mosquito bite allergies can be treated with immunotherapy. However, like allergies to bee and wasp stings.

Timely ASIT helps reduce the body's sensitivity to mosquito allergens and improves the quality of life of an allergy sufferer, reducing the level of fear of insects

ASIT is carried out in autumn and winter for 3 – 5 years. For therapy, an extract of mosquito bodies is used.

Unfortunately, mosquito allergies are not officially treated in Russia.

But specialists from the State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation - Institute of Immunology of the FMBA - have created a medicinal form of a water-salt extract of the mosquito allergen Aedes Aegypti. Now scientists are waiting for the official registration of the drug.

Abroad, mosquito allergies are well treated with medications, both in tablets and injections.

When is ASIT prescribed?

• if a true allergy to mosquitoes is confirmed;
• increasing violent reactions to bites (severe systemic reactions);
• respiratory symptoms worsening year after year;
• Allergy sufferers have a strong fear of insects.

While domestic medicine cannot offer treatment methods, allergy sufferers are left with only prevention.

Products with zinc among the main components

Preparations based on zinc oxide relieve itching well.
This element destroys the structure of proteins foreign to the human body. In addition, zinc oxide stimulates the maturation of lymphocytes and increases tissue resistance to foreign substances. Preparations that contain zinc oxide are “Tsindol”, “Lassara Paste”, “Zinc Ointment” and “Calamine” in the form of lotion. The affected areas should be lubricated with these products 3-4 times a day.

How to avoid mosquito bites

The best way to avoid being bitten is prevention. If you are going on vacation to warm regions, remember that in hot countries mosquitoes carry dangerous infections.

• go around parks, forests, ponds and swamps;
• and of course do not swim in ponds with standing water;
• install mosquito nets on windows. Just don’t leave your child alone in a room with an open window;
• use mosquito nets for baby strollers;
• fumigators (not recommended for use if there is a child under 2 years old at home);
• ultraviolet, electric or carbon dioxide mosquito traps (for example: Swissinno SWI-20 or EcoSniper GF-4WB);
• wear the most closed clothing made of thick fabric;
• use repellents. Before going outside, treat your clothes with special impregnations, lotions, sprays;
• do not wear clothes of bright colors - insects can distinguish them;
• in hot weather, do not wear dark-colored clothes, you will sweat more in them, and mosquitoes focus on high concentrations of carbon dioxide;
• in the evening try to stay at home. In the dark, mosquitoes become more active;
• remove all standing water: buckets, barrels. Unfortunately, the pond will also have to be filled in;
• inspect basements and attics, there may also be standing water there;
• if you can’t handle it yourself, call specialists who will carry out disinfestation of the suburban area;
• always take with you an antihistamine and an allergy passport or bracelet;
• if you react violently to bites and you can’t escape from mosquitoes, then take antihistamines and keep adrenaline in your first aid kit and an emergency phone number in your notebook. Be sure to check the expiration date and follow the storage conditions of medications.

Clinic from scratch

Summer time makes us happy with sunny weather, vacations and trips to nature. But the joy of summer is overshadowed by the invasion of mosquitoes, because of which it is impossible to go out for a walk in the evening, and to sleep at night with the windows open, because the annoying bloodsuckers are able to fly even to the upper floors of high-rise buildings. Mosquitoes can irritate us not only with their bites and squeaks. The main trouble is that they are carriers of various infections, so it is important to know how to effectively protect your family from mosquito bites.

Why do mosquitoes bite?

Male mosquitoes feed on the juices and nectars of plants, but the mouthparts of female mosquitoes are capable of piercing the skin of mammals in order to feed on blood. Blood for females is a source of useful substances and energy, which mosquitoes obtain from proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the blood of the victim. In addition to providing life support to the insect, the nutrients in the blood provide female mosquitoes with everything they need to produce and lay more eggs.

The life cycle of a mosquito consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Only an adult female mosquito is capable of feeding on the blood of humans, animals and even fish.

Damp wetlands are a comfortable habitat for mosquitoes. In urban environments, insects live in dark, warm and humid places, such as basements. In sunny weather, mosquitoes are in an inactive state, but in shaded places or in the evening they fly out to hunt. The optimal temperature for them is considered to be 15-25ºС, and at temperatures closer to 0ºС they fall into a state of torpor.

Female mosquitoes find their prey using the following characteristics:

— Movement of a person or animal, as well as thermal radiation at a distance of several meters;

— Carbon dioxide emitted by humans is felt by insects at a distance of hundreds of meters;

— Lactic acid released in sweat can be felt by mosquitoes at a distance of several kilometers.

Before the female mosquito begins to drink blood, along with its bite, it injects a substance secreted with saliva - an anticoagulant, which prevents blood clotting. This substance causes itching and redness at the site of the bite, as well as allergic reactions of varying severity.

How to protect your child

To protect children from mosquito bites, you can use special anti-mosquito protection products - repellents. Such products are produced in the form of sprays, creams, lotions, wet wipes, etc. It is necessary to use only those products that are appropriate for the baby’s age. Children's repellents have the least toxicity compared to products for adults. Children's repellents are intended for children from three years old, but protection products for younger ages are also available on sale. Such products must be used with extreme caution, as they contain chemicals.

When using repellents, you need to remember that you should avoid getting the product on damaged areas of the skin - wounds and scratches and on mucous membranes. If the product does get into your eyes, mouth or wound, rinse the area with water. Also, you should not treat the child’s face and hands, as active children can get the product into their eyes or mucous membranes. In order to protect the child as much as possible from the toxic effects of the anti-mosquito agent, if possible, the child’s clothes and hats should be treated as much as possible. Babies in strollers can be protected from mosquitoes by treating the stroller itself.

Repellents should be applied no more than three times a day. There is no need to apply additional product, even if mosquitoes hover around the child. The effect of any such protective agent is designed for at least 2 hours. If the protection does not work, then perhaps some personal smell, such as perfume, attracts insects, or the product turned out to be a fake. Upon returning from the street, it is necessary to wash off the product from the child’s skin.

Repellent bracelets are one of the latest inventions to protect against annoying mosquitoes. This product is considered safe because it does not contain toxic substances, and is recommended for use even in newborns. The bracelet is made of soft hypoallergenic material and impregnated with lemon and citronella extract. For protection during night sleep, such a bracelet can be worn on the wrist or leg or hung from the crib. However, since the bracelets have a pronounced aroma, you should monitor the child’s reaction to avoid allergy attacks.

You should be very careful when purchasing repellents. Today it is known that mosquito repellents are one of the most frequently counterfeited products. Therefore, it is better to purchase such products in trusted stores or pharmacies.

What do the words on the packaging mean?

On the packaging of mosquito repellent you will find the word “DEET”, which means poison. The concentration of such a substance should not exceed 40%. A product where the concentration of DEET is less than 7% can protect children. Also, on the packaging of the children's repellent it should be indicated that the product contains a “prolongator”. A product with a prolongator will allow you to significantly reduce the amount of the active substance, but the action of the product will be as effective as a standard product designed to protect from 2 to 5 hours. Thus, children's mosquito repellents should contain a minimum amount of poison, prolongators and essential oils. You should also note that the maximum protection time for the product is no more than 4 hours. If the packaging indicates a mosquito protection time of 8-10 hours, then such a product is not approved by the Ministry of Health, which means it can be dangerous.

Mosquito repellents intended for indoor protection

Fumigants, fumigators, are pesticides (chemicals) that are strong insecticides, but have no effect on people and domestic animals. Fumigants evaporate and destroy pests indoors. To protect children, products are produced that have a special composition and odorless products. Such drugs include Mosquitall plates and liquid, Fumitox “Nezhenka”, Raptor “Nekusayka”. In the children's room, before the child goes to bed, the electric fumigator is turned on for 1-2 hours in the absence of the baby and at a distance of no closer than one meter from the crib. If a child has an allergic reaction in the form of sneezing, coughing, or watery eyes, it is necessary to turn off the device and ventilate the room.

Ultrasonic insect repellers are electronic devices that produce ultrasound that is not harmful to people or pets, but is not tolerated by mosquitoes. The device imitates the sound of a dragonfly or a male mosquito flying, from which female mosquitoes try to stay away. Also in the mosquito protection line there are ultrasonic children's key fobs that operate on batteries. Such devices are convenient to use outdoors, but their protection extends over a short distance (up to 1 meter).

How to choose the right repellent for your child

The choice of repellent for a child should be taken seriously, because such a product contains chemical additives, which means it must be safe, of high quality and not harm the baby. In Russia, children's mosquito repellents undergo mandatory certification, so before purchasing, to ensure the quality of the product, you can ask to see a quality certificate.

Don’t be tempted by the inexpensive price and buy the product at the first street stall you come across. Such products require special conditions of transportation and proper storage. Jars that are overheated in the heat can lose their effectiveness or change their composition, thereby harming the baby. When purchasing a product, you should pay attention to the expiration dates and integrity of the packaging.

Before purchasing, you need to pay attention to the age limit indicated on the packaging. Under no circumstances should you use products not intended for children. The concentration of poisons included in the product can have a toxic effect on the child.

Age restrictions are calculated by the manufacturer based on the average weight and height of the child. Therefore, if the child’s anthropometric indicators are slightly below average, then it is better to purchase a product for a younger age group.

Before using a repellent, you should carefully read the instructions, since similar products can be used differently. For example, some sprays can be applied to the skin, while others can be applied exclusively to clothing. Despite their safety, sprays should be used with extreme caution, since the sprayed substance can easily enter the child’s respiratory tract and eyes. Therefore, use repellent sprays outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.

First rub repellents with a creamy texture in your hands and then apply them to your baby’s skin. Such products should not be applied under clothing, as the effectiveness of the drug will decrease under a layer of fabric.

To safely use repellent sprays, try to apply the products to clothing, not the child's skin. When spending time outdoors, choose light-colored clothing with long sleeves and long legs - insects are more noticeable on light-colored items. To protect your head, you can use a mosquito net, having previously treated it with a protective agent. This way the product will be applied to clothing, which will avoid unnecessary toxic effects than if it were applied to the skin.

If you'll be traveling to another country, check in advance for mosquito forecasts and insect-borne disease warnings. It is worth purchasing repellents at home in advance, since it may be difficult to purchase such a product abroad, for example, there is a risk of purchasing a fake. You also need to remember that you need to carry repellents in your luggage, as such products are subject to confiscation at the airport.

DIY products to protect children from insects

Attention! Before using essential oils, make sure your child is not allergic. Dilute essential oils with cream or vegetable oil to avoid sunburn where the oil is applied.

Since insects are repelled by strong odors, you can use natural essential oils to repel mosquitoes:

— you can prepare a natural remedy that is safe to apply even to sensitive skin: mix 5 drops of clove oil, 30 drops of tea tree oil and 50 ml of vegetable oil. Pour the resulting product into a dark container.

- apply a little eucalyptus or clove oil to clothes or bedding if the child is sleeping.

- a mixture of baby cream with vanillin powder can be applied to the baby’s skin and clothes.

To relieve itching and soothe irritated skin, you can apply Fenistil-gel or Tsindol suspension, zinc ointment, or make a soda lotion to the bite site (1 glass of water - 1 teaspoon of soda.)

Diseases carried by mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are dangerous because they can carry various infectious diseases. For the most part, these are various fevers and encephalitis, some of which are fatal. Human infection occurs through transmissible transmission of the virus in contaminated blood from a sick person to a healthy person.

Nowadays, scientific research and work is being conducted to prevent and eliminate infections that are spread by mosquitoes. But since it is impossible to defeat mosquitoes, diseases, despite efforts, are not decreasing.

Below is a description of just some of the types of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

Malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. The infection occurs with fever and chills, an increase in the size of the liver (hepatomegaly), spleen (splenomegaly), and severe anemia.

Previously, this disease was called swamp fever. The incidence of malaria is growing, isolated cases of imported malaria are recorded even in areas where there are no living conditions for malaria mosquitoes. Nowadays, when drainage of swamps has stopped and reclamation work is not carried out, there are ideal conditions for the breeding of mosquitoes, and therefore the spread of malaria will increase.

Every year, up to 300 million cases of malaria are detected in the world, of which up to 0.5 million are fatal. The majority of malaria cases occur in Central African countries, where the majority of those infected are children under 5 years of age. Malaria is also common in Afghanistan and India. On the territory of Russia, malaria is recorded in the lower reaches of the Volga, and it is also suffered from in countries that are former Soviet republics.

Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis

Lymphatic filariasis is a group of tropical helminthiasis that affects humans and animals. Infection occurs when the helminth is ingested by a mosquito bite. When infected with filariasis, the subcutaneous retina, serous membranes, eyes, and lymphatic system are affected. In the lymphatic and circulatory systems, parasites clog blood vessels, creating blood clots and accumulation of lymph in the limbs, causing the limbs to enlarge to enormous sizes. Filariasis can lead to disability, and deaths are recorded as a result of purulent-septic complications. This parasitic infection is widespread in Asia, Africa and South America. Tourists traveling to these regions have the opportunity to become infected with filariasis through mosquito bites.

Tularemia

Tularemia is a natural focal disease caused by rodents (muskrats, rats, mice, gophers, hares). Blood-sucking insects (ticks, mosquitoes, horseflies) carry the infection from pathogens to a healthy person. Farmers, hunters, and agricultural workers often become infected with tularemia through direct contact with infected animals, as well as through contaminated products and through inhalation of dust during grain threshing.

Tularemia is a particularly dangerous infectious disease characterized by severe intoxication, fever, and damage to the lymph nodes. In endemic areas, mass vaccination of the population against tularemia is carried out to prevent infection. On the territory of Russia, in different years, outbreaks of tularemia were registered in the Orenburg, Rostov, Smolensk regions, Moscow, Bashkortostan, etc.

West Nile fever

Fever or West Nile Virus is a dangerous infection that can cause severe illness and death. The infection is transmitted to people most often through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on the blood of sick birds and rodents. Mosquitoes can infect people, horses and other animals with the virus. The viability of West Nile Virus is ensured by the transmission of the virus between mosquitoes and birds. West Nile virus is typically found in North America, Western Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

Yellow fever or amaryllosis

Yellow fever is an acute hemorrhagic disease transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. As a result of infection, some patients develop jaundice, which is why the disease is called “yellow”. The infection is common in Africa and Central and South America.

Yellow fever occurs with high fever, headache and muscle pain, vomiting and is accompanied by bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, damage to the kidneys and liver. Fever affects 200,000 people each year, of whom about a seventh of those infected die from severe symptoms.

Yellow fever epidemics occur when infected people bring the virus to areas where mosquito populations are high and most of the population lacks immunity to the fever. This is how the virus is transmitted among humans by infected mosquitoes.

There are currently no antiviral drugs against yellow fever, but infection can be prevented through vaccination. The yellow fever vaccine is very effective and safe. One dose of yellow fever vaccine provides lifelong immunity against infection.

What to do after a bite

Please discuss any medications with your doctor.

• Wash the bite site with cold water and soap and treat with an antiseptic: chlorhexidine, octenisept, miramistin.
• Apply ice or something cold (through a towel) to reduce swelling.
• Itching can be relieved with antipruritic creams: Calamine, Tsindol, Poksklin. Don’t be afraid to apply the cream as often as you want – it won’t get any worse. It is better not to scratch the wound. Trim your child's nails, and at night you can put on thin gloves for him so that he does not scratch the bite in his sleep.
• Antihistamine ointments (allergosan, etc.), drops and ointments with zinc are good for relieving itching. I use Zodak or Suprastinex drops. Just remember that antihistamine ointments increase skin sensitivity to the sun. Zinc ointment and antihistamine ointment can be combined.
• If there is no ointment, you can apply a soda lotion to the bite site: 1 teaspoon of soda per glass of water. For 15 minutes.
• Doctors do not recommend traditional therapy: rub the bite with parsley, a basil leaf, apply a cabbage leaf, earth, plantain or gauze with urine. The risk of infection or allergic reaction is too great.
• If there are a lot of bites, severe swelling or itching interferes with sleep, take a 2nd generation antihistamine for 5-7 days: cetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine, in an age-appropriate dosage.
• It is recommended to use one thing: either oral antihistamines or topical antihistamines.
• Hormonal ointments will help relieve severe itching and swelling: Advantan, Comfiderm. Usually doctors prescribe them in courses of 5-10 days.
• In severe cases, doctors may prescribe a course of prednisolone tablets;
• If a bacterial infection occurs - yellow crusts, pus, and oozing appear at the site of the bite - antibiotics may be needed. The doctor will prescribe Baneocin, Bactroban, Fucidin, Oxycort, erythromycin ointment.
• When the bite is very painful or the temperature has risen, you will need an antipyretic: ibuprofen or paracetamol. For a child, the dosage of drugs is calculated by weight. Ibuprofen: 10 mg per 1 kg. Paracetamol: 15 mg per 1 kg.
• If there is severe swelling of the eyelid, consult a doctor. Your doctor will probably recommend dexamethasone eye drops. Try to drink more (not to be confused with “drink”