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Community Corner

Insects, Mosquitoes and Snakes, Oh My!

Learn what you can do to prevent and treat bites and stings from flying and crawling creatures.

It’s officially summer, and along with all that extra time outdoors comes extra exposure to the flying and crawling creatures. They can range from minor annoyances to dangerous conditions.

According to Dr. Meng Zhao, an internal medicine physician with the Overland Medical Group in Ladue and staff member at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, the most common bites in our area are from bees, wasps and mosquitoes. And for the outdoorsy types, there are snake bites.

“Fortunately, most snakes in this area are not poisonous,” Zhao said. “But if you get bitten by a snake, it’s best not to go after it because it might bite you again. If you could get a picture of it, then that would help the health care practitioner.”

For snake bites Zhao recommends the following:

  • Stay calm and don’t hyper-ventilate yourself.
  • Don’t move.
  • Don’t take any medicines, because some of them can speed up absorption of the venom.
  • Use a splint to immobilize the bite, but don’t wrap it too tightly.
  • Experts no longer advise sucking out the venom.
  • Keep the bitten area below the heart.
  • Remove anything that is restricting, such as rings, watches and belts.
  • Call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 or local emergency at 9-1-1.
  • Seek medical attention immediately.
  • Update your tetanus booster.

In general, most of us will face bites from insects. Zhao said the best way to deal with them is to avoid bugs in the first place.

“Insect repellents with DEET do work, along with other measures like wearing long, light-colored clothing,” she said. “Light colors don’t attract insects, especially white and tan, as much as dark clothing. Plus, it’s easier to see if one lands on you. Blue and red colors are the worst for attracting insects. Also, wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover your head and neck.”

As for some concerns about DEET, Zhao said there has been no report of danger from the product if you follow the instructions for proper use.

Avoid going out when mosquitoes are most active, which is at dusk and dawn. Because they breed in still water be sure to empty vessels and avoid still ponds.

If you do get a mosquito bite, clean the area with soap and cool water to wash off any residue to limit the body’s reaction. You can also put ice on the bite. If the bite area is small, use anti-itch creams. If it’s diffused and involves a large area of the body, apply calamine lotion.

When it comes to bees and wasps, it’s always best to avoid them. In addition to wearing long and light-colored clothing, if you're gardening, then at least wear gloves. Zhao said bees and wasps don’t sting unless they are threatened, so if they land on you try to gently coax them off. Don’t swat at them or run away.

“Lot of insects can sense us from our sweat and breathing, so that’s why you need to stay calm. They won’t attack unless they sense you are agitated and pose a threat to them,” Zhao said.

If you are stung, do not pull out the stinger. Your fingers can spread the venom. Use a straight edge, such as a credit card, to scrape off the stinger like a razor. Again, use soap and cool water to clean the area, and if the area is very itchy, use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream; you can also take an over-the-counter antihistamine such as loratadine or benadryl as needed.

In most of these situations, the bite or sting will be a minor issue with a bit of swelling of the area accompanied by itching. But some people are allergic to certain insects. In this situation, the affected area might expand very quickly, and those affected might become short of breath, dizzy, light headed and nauseated. They might experience heart palpitations and the throat closing. If this is the case, seek immediate medical attention. In the future, this person should carry an epinephrine auto-injector kit or EpiPen and wear a medical alert bracelet.

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