Self-help Guides

You should take your child to a doctor right away for an insect bite or sting if he or she has any of the following symptoms:

• difficulty breathing or swallowing, tightness in the chest, swelling on the face or in the throat, hives, nausea, weakness, abdominal pain, or dizziness. Call 9-1-1 immediately - these symptoms could be signs of a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.
• flu-like symptoms such as fever, severe headache or body aches, nausea, or vomiting
• purple skin or skin that is starting to blister
• spreading of the reaction to a large area (e.g., an entire limb)

Non-medication treatment

Avoid infections.

• Clean the site with water and mild soap to remove any dirt or bacteria.

Deal with the itch.

• Use ice or a cool compress to help with the itch. Be careful not to place ice on your child's skin for more than 15 minutes at a time to avoid frostbite. Cool compresses can be made by soaking a towel in cool water and wringing it so that it is moist but not dripping. Place the towel on your child's skin for about 1 minute, then remove it for 1 minute. Continue these steps for about 20 minutes.
• Avoid very hot water or harsh skin cleansers because these can dehydrate the skin.

Remove the stinger or insect.

• For insect stings (e.g., bees): Gently scrape the stinger with your fingernail or the back of a knife blade. Don't use tweezers because they might puncture the venom sac still embedded in the skin.
• For ticks: Tweezers are useful for ticks. Gently grab onto the tick and keep holding it until it lets go of your skin.

Over-the-counter medications

Pain relievers

• Acetaminophen* or ibuprofen* help reduce pain caused by bites and stings.

Antihistamines (e.g. diphenhydramine*, cetirizine*)

• Antihistamines reduce swelling and itchiness. Some antihistamines can also cause drowsiness, which might help your child sleep better if the itchiness is keeping him awake.

Topical medications (applied to the skin)

• These include products like calamine lotion and zinc oxide, which protect and soothe the skin and have some astringent properties (drawing together the tissues and reducing the blood flow).
• A thin layer of hydrocortisone* may help relieve redness, itching, and inflammation.
• Pramoxine, a topical anesthetic, can also reduce pain by numbing the bite site.
• Gently clean and dry the affected area before applying any topical medications.

These medications come in a variety of forms and strengths. Ask your pharmacist which over-the-counter medication is right for your child.

* All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Your child's symptoms should subside in 1 to 2 days.

You should take your child to a doctor if he or she:

• has symptoms that have not improved after 1 or 2 days.
• has any signs of infection: fever; pus, continued swelling, redness, or tenderness at the bite site
• has swelling to a large portion of his or her body (e.g., whole leg)