Insect bites on the feet

In addition to the hot summer sun, our feet should be wary of another threat – insect bites, which are dangerous to each of us in different ways. Being vulnerable, feet are a tasty prey for mosquitoes, horseflies, midges, flies, bees and wasps, as well as for all-season insects – bedbugs. Let's talk about this further.

Why legs?

Insects are attracted to legs for the simple reason that legs contain a large number of capillaries - therefore, there is plenty of blood there. Unfortunately, when bitten, a person is not a donor, a bite is actually closer to barter. That is, when bitten, an insect receives blood, and a person receives saliva, which is used, for example, by a mosquito when biting. Insect saliva irreversibly causes inflammation of the skin area, which causes itching. As a result, if the infection was not brought in by the bite, then a person has the opportunity to bring it into his body later - when he begins to scratch the bite site.

Symptoms of bites

The main symptoms of an insect bite are itching, irritation, swelling, which usually go away in 2-3 days. Most bites are not life-threatening and are classified as mild bites. It is much worse if you have to deal with delayed reactions, which will be characterized by symptoms such as rash, joint pain, and body temperature fluctuations. Also, with a delayed reaction, your lymph nodes may enlarge.

Too much pain

As mentioned above, the bites of some insects can cause, in addition to allergic symptoms, very strong pain symptoms. If, for example, hornets live near your house or cottage, it would not hurt to have ibuprofen or acetaminophen in your home medicine cabinet. Such drugs are easy to buy (they are sold in pharmacies without a prescription), and they can also relieve pain from bites.

Now the itching is not scary

If itching is your main concern after a bite, antihistamines or diphenhydramine (also available over the counter) are your best bet. The downside is that these medications can make you drowsy.

What could be the signs of an allergy after insect bites on the legs?

• Skin rashes
• Swelling of any part of the body
• Fainting
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness
• Anaphylactic reaction

If these reactions continue, you should register with an allergist to receive desensitization therapy.

It's easy to help yourself

Considering the fact that severe allergic reactions only affect a small percentage of the world's population, helping yourself at home is not a fantasy.

The most painful bites will be from bees and wasps, fire ants and hornets. Allergic reactions are most likely to occur after a bite from a mosquito, tick, stinging fly or spider.

Let's proceed directly to the instructions for saving yourself from insects. As soon as you are surrounded by insects, try to leave this place without panicking, because "God protects those who protect themselves." If you are late and a bite is inevitable, brush off the sources of the bite - insects - from your skin and clothes.

After a bite, for example, from a bee, you must find the sting and remove it. This will help you recover faster from the bite. If there are no tweezers nearby, then in the field you can try to remove the sting with your fingernail. It is highly undesirable to remove the sting with your fingers, since in this case you risk spreading the poison throughout your body. If you have been bitten, it would be a good idea to monitor the swelling. Apply ice to the bite site. Ice will numb the bite and help reduce swelling in the area affected by the insect.

If you are bitten on the leg or arm, it is important to remove rings and other objects from these parts of the body that could cut off the blood supply when the finger swells.

What examinations are carried out after insect bites on the legs

The most important examination is a visual examination by a doctor, his questions about your well-being, sensations after an insect bite, detailed information about the diseases that you suffer from and which may worsen after a bite.

• Pulse and blood pressure measurements
• Check the skin on your leg for foreign bodies: maybe there is an insect sting left in your leg, in which case it needs to be removed.
• The doctor also checks your lungs to see if they are enlarged after an insect bite, if there is swelling, and if this poses a threat to your airways.
• It is necessary to do an ECG of the chest and an X-ray as prescribed by the doctor, but this is only done in severe cases.
• In case of insect bites, laboratory tests (blood or urine tests) are not necessary.

To treat itching:

Take an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine, which you can buy without a prescription. Note that one of the side effects of this drug is increased drowsiness.

A good argument against itching can be an ointment containing hydrocortisone. In the old-fashioned way, you may have baking soda or a solution of salt and water on hand - they will help too.

As an option, there is calamine lotion.

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It's better not to do this. Contraindications when fighting itching at home

One of the worst ideas when a blister forms after a bite is to try to puncture it. The affected area will take longer to heal after the puncture, there is a risk of infection when trying to puncture the blister, and, in addition, the healing process becomes much more painful after such stupidity.

It is best to continue treatment until symptoms disappear completely, without interrupting it. On average, the reaction can last from 2 to 5 days.

Treatment for bites

• The main goal of doctors after an insect bite is to help a person establish stable breathing and normalize blood pressure.
• If breathing is difficult, doctors may prescribe oxygen to the person, which is given through a mask or tube.
• If a person has a distress syndrome that is difficult for the body to bear, he or she may be connected to a device that artificially ventilates the lungs, saturating them with oxygen.
• If the bitten person's blood pressure is low, a saline drip will be a lifesaver.
• If the condition is severe, the doctor may prescribe additional therapy.

When to See a Doctor After a Bite

It would seem - a bite - what's the big deal? But no, a person may experience swelling of the leg tissues, pulmonary edema and, as a result, death. What symptoms should you see a doctor for?

• Edema
• Itching
• Discomfort in the sore leg
• Increase in size of the bitten leg
• Redness at the site of the bite that does not go away for more than 3-4 hours

These may be signs of tissue toxicity or infection. If a person's condition worsens over time after a bite, swelling continues to increase, pain increases, and redness does not disappear, emergency medical care is needed.

Insect bites, if they hit the leg, have a not so innocent effect on the body. A person may have an allergic reaction, after which, if a remedy with adrenaline was used, but nothing helped, you need to go to the nearest medical center for urgent medical help. It is very difficult if a person does not go away the symptoms of an allergic reaction. In this case, you must definitely consult a doctor without delay.

If you seek medical attention immediately after a bite

The sooner you see a doctor after a leg bite, the easier it will be to deal with allergic reactions and other consequences of the bite. Insect bites can also cause an infection on the leg. Therefore, immediate treatment without delay will help to cope with this problem.

If you see a doctor immediately after a bite, you can avoid complications from arthritis exacerbation, kidney failure, and nervous system disorders that can occur as a reaction to insect bites on the legs.

After bites of the legs, severe pain in the joints or swelling of the legs may also appear. And even the face, so contacting a doctor will save you from irreparable consequences.

Leg insect bites can cause such consequences as too frequent urination or, on the contrary, its delay, pain when urinating, as well as burning, tingling or severe pain in the limb bitten by insects. These symptoms can bother the patient even a week after the bite, so the sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you will be cured.

If a person has experienced anaphylactic shock after a bite once, then after a repeated bite this risk increases - it is simply necessary to contact a medical facility.

Folk remedies for insect bites on legs

To avoid swelling, immediately after the bite, apply ice to the sore area. If there is no ice, you can apply compresses with strong tea to the sore area.

If a wasp or bee stings your leg, you need to wipe the skin at the site of the bite with a cotton swab soaked in vodka and vinegar in equal parts. If pain occurs in the leg area after an insect bite, it can be reduced with ammonia with water and onion juice, diluted in equal proportions. You can also apply a piece of raw onion to your leg, which will reduce the pain while removing toxins from the body. If you apply a slice of fresh cucumber to the bite, this will help avoid swelling or significantly reduce it. If you cut a lemon and apply it to the bite on your leg, this will relieve the pain after the bite.

If you need to relieve pain and swelling at the site of the bite, as well as reduce itching of the leg, use an alcohol tincture made from raspberry leaves. Raspberries contain a natural antibiotic - aspirin. If you have garlic on hand, you can crush it and lubricate the sore spot with the gruel - this will disinfect the wound and remove the pain at the site of the bite. Parsley leaves have the same useful property.

And best of all, be careful and use insect repellent when hiking in nature, so as not to suffer from insect bites later.