How to Identify Insect Bites

Over the last few years, insect bites that are responsible for diseases and illnesses have been on the rise. In rural areas, the cases of Lyme disease and tick-related illness have become more prevalent. Mosquito bites can cause diseases such as the West Nile virus and Yellow fever and if there is an allergic reaction, hives, shock or comas can occur from the bite of a fire ant. Some insect bites require immediate medical attention. If left unchecked, a single insect bite that becomes infected can send the infection throughout the body causing a host of other medical problems. This is why it is so important to know how to identify insect bites and what to do to if they change in appearance.

Ticks
When walking in heavily wooded areas there is a possibility that you can be bitten by a Tick. These bites have a tiny red entry hole surrounded by a swollen bump. The bite will become hard and it is slightly itchy. The bump usually goes away in a week, unless you were bitten by a Deer tick carrying Lyme disease. This makes the bite importantly different. If Lyme disease is caused by a Tick bite, the bump area will swell and the red dot becomes much larger. There is also a red circle that goes completely around the bump and a severe rash and blistering will be seen around the bite.

Chiggers
Picking berries or walking through leaves in the forest can be good places to run into Chiggers. When they are on your skin they look like a red dot no bigger then the head of a needle. They cluster together, so chances are you will have more than one bite. The bites start out small and round with a tiny, red entry holes that soon become larger, inflamed and intensely itchy. The chigger leaves a feeding tube in the skin and that is what causes the dreadful itch. It can take up to three weeks for this type of bite to heal.

Fleas
Fleas are excellent jumpers and live in tall grass. They usually come in contact with humans through the family pet. Raised, small red bites that are mainly seen on the ankles and feet are from fleas. For the first few days they can get very itchy but these bites are known to heal quickly.

Mosquitoes
If you are near a lake, river or you have any other kind of water source nearby, you will see Mosquitoes. They come out in full force at dusk. The bites from Mosquitoes are quarter sized red bumps with an entry hole in the middle. The bump can also be slightly hard. Due to itching, they can become bigger and more inflamed. Mosquito bites can take ten days to heal.

Spiders
When you are cleaning out a basement or attic, you may see spiders. Most Spiders are harmless to humans. If you encounter a bite that is medium sized, raised and has two red entry dots in the middle, it is most likely a Spider bite. The bites cause no pain and go away in two to three days. The two exceptions to this rule are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse spiders. The female Black Widow produces a bite that has the two red entry holes in the middle of a big red circle of swollen, hardened skin. The Brown Recluse spider bite starts out as two red entry holes, in a small raised area. Within six to eight hours it swells up and becomes hard and inflamed. The skin will appear to have a rash at first and it may become discolored. Eventually, blistering skin will also start to form. Without medical attention the bite area will start to turn black, killing the skin tissue surrounding the bite. With prescribed antibiotics, it takes around two weeks for a Brown Recluse spider bite to fully heal.

Fire Ants
If a person or animal disturbs a Fire ant nest, they are likely to be swarmed. Fire ants can be found in parks and picnic areas. The bite of a Fire ant is small and red and can form into a white pustule blister. The bite can cause a burning sensation and become quite itchy. If a blister is broken from scratching, infection can set in leading to permanent scarring. Depending on how a person reacts to treatment, it can take weeks to heal after being swarmed by Fire ants.

Here are a few ways to avoid being bitten.

Be aware of your surrounds and know what biting insects dwell there.
Take precautions and use a spray insect repellant to protect yourself and your family.
Wear light colored clothing and shoes when hiking in a wooded area, so a biting insect can be seen.

Any insect bite should be watched closely for 24 to 48 after the bite is noticed. If any changes occur such as a darkening of the skin or blistering, seek medical attention immediately.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/insectbitesandstings.html