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Is there anything better than walking barefoot on lush green grass? Or breathing in the scent of wildflowers that you can't find in the city?
Summer is one of the few seasons when we can truly immerse ourselves in nature and spend the entire day outdoors. We have the unique chance to soak up the fresh air, sunshine, and natural vitamins surrounding us. However, we also inevitably meet some of nature’s more unpleasant inhabitants—namely, insects.
Flies, wasps, mosquitoes, and ticks are capable of ruining even the best vacation. To prevent that from happening, here’s a quick guide on how to protect yourself from biting “attackers” and what to do in case of an unwanted reaction.
Is That a Bite?
Insect bites accompany us from early spring to late autumn. The symptoms are well known—itching, swelling, redness, rashes, and even severe pain. These symptoms reveal the bite’s location, but unfortunately, long after the “culprit” has left.
Young children are most vulnerable since their sensitive skin reacts easily to external irritants. Reactions vary widely; sometimes, kids don’t even notice the bites. In rare cases, they might develop a fever or swollen lymph nodes, while anaphylactic shock occurs only in children with severe allergies.
Adults should also take bites seriously. While common redness and swelling are harmless, severe facial swelling or breathing difficulties signal an urgent need for medical attention. Some situations require immediate action, which we’ll outline below.
The good news is that the annoying itching and burning usually subside within a day or two. The bad news? Red spots and swelling can persist much longer. That’s why the best protection against insect bites is prevention rather than treatment.
Keep a Repellent Handy
The best defense against biting insects is using repellents. The market offers a vast selection of natural and synthetic repellents that keep even the most persistent pests away. Unlike insecticides, repellents fall into the “eco-friendly” category as they do not kill insects but deter them.
You can rest assured that no mosquito or tick will think of biting skin treated with DEET (diethyltoluamide), picaridin, permethrin, or essential oils like citronella, lemon eucalyptus, and lavender—for at least four hours.
Another essential tip is always having a first-aid kit for insect bites. It should include ethyl and ammonia alcohol, iodine tincture, antihistamines, anti-itch creams, and soothing lotions. Some pharmacies sell ready-made outdoor emergency kits, but it's best to assemble your own to suit your needs.
Forget Short Sleeves
In addition to repellents, you can take extra precautions to minimize the risk of insect encounters:
- Avoid areas with stagnant water, such as reservoirs, lakes, and swamps. These are mosquito breeding grounds. If you plan a riverside picnic, expect company.
- Keep food covered. Secure all bottles and jars with lids. Dispose of trash properly. Ants, flies, and especially wasps love beer, chips, and ice cream as much as you do.
- Wear clothing that covers your entire body. Avoid short sleeves and shorts while outdoors. Choose breathable fabrics and ankle-covering shoes. You might not avoid all bites, but you’ll at least prevent ticks from latching on.
- Avoid bright colors. No insect can resist vivid yellow, blue, or red—especially when paired with a fresh floral perfume.
Mosquitoes
You might not feel their bite, but you won’t miss the itchy red bump they leave behind. Though usually harmless, mosquito bites shouldn’t be ignored. Some mosquitoes transmit malaria and viral infections, and in recent years, they have become key carriers of the West Nile virus. Mosquito allergies are also common.
Mosquitoes are active from March to September, particularly at night and before rain.
Wasps and Bees
These stinging insects are active during summer in daylight hours. They are attracted to sweet foods, fruits, flowers, floral perfumes, and brightly colored clothing.
A sting causes sharp pain and burning. The stinger may remain in the skin, and the venom causes swelling, redness, and warmth. In such cases, remove the stinger with tweezers, disinfect the wound with ethyl alcohol, and apply iodine tincture. You can also place ice on the area. If you are allergic, take an antihistamine immediately. If severe allergic symptoms appear, seek medical help urgently.
Ticks
Ticks pose a serious threat as they transmit deadly diseases such as Lyme disease and encephalitis. Their bites are painless because their saliva numbs the area while they embed themselves in the skin. A red ring may appear around the bite site, but there is usually no itching. Ticks prefer soft skin areas—groin, knee bends, and armpits—making them hard to detect.
If you find a tick, you have several options for removal. The traditional method is to coat it with oil (such as olive oil) and extract it with tweezers using gentle twisting motions. If no oil is available, pull the tick upward with tweezers and hold it for a few seconds—when fatigued, it will release its grip. Be careful not to pull too hard, as leaving the head inside may cause inflammation.
If unsure, seek medical assistance. Doctors can remove the tick and prescribe treatment or preventive measures. If you want to check whether the tick carries infections, store it in a jar and take it for testing. If there’s a risk of Lyme disease, antibiotics are usually prescribed.
Biting Flies
Found near fast-flowing rivers where their larvae develop, these insects bite on hot days. Their bites often go unnoticed as their saliva numbs the skin. Minutes later, burning, severe itching, and red swelling appear. Swelling subsides in a few days, but the itching can last up to a week.
Children often scratch the bites, leading to bleeding and small wounds. Multiple bites may cause fever and general intoxication symptoms. People with allergies should take extra precautions.
Ants
Interestingly, ants don’t bite but spray a jet of toxic formic acid. This causes sharp pain, redness, and sometimes a small blister, like a burn. While usually harmless, their bites can trigger dermatitis or allergic reactions requiring medical attention.
Ants are active from spring to autumn and mostly inhabit forests and parks. Unlike other insects, they are not deterred by repellents, so the best defense is to avoid anthills.
When to Seek Emergency Help
Unfortunately, tiny insects can sometimes be life-threatening. Children and people prone to severe allergic reactions are at the highest risk. Since symptoms may not appear immediately, it’s essential to recognize dangerous situations and monitor reactions.
Seek emergency medical help if:
- The bite or sting is on the head, inside the mouth, on the lips, or neck.
- There are more than ten bites or stings on the body.
- Anaphylactic shock occurs within two hours of the bite, with facial swelling, mouth and tongue swelling, coughing, breathing difficulties, and severe itching.
- There are behavioral changes, confusion, drowsiness, or loss of consciousness.
- A severe local reaction occurs with pronounced redness, swelling, or pain.
- An infection develops 24 to 48 hours post-bite, accompanied by pain, swelling, fever, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, or altered consciousness.
Swollen lymph nodes, fever, or a rash appear within one to two weeks, which may indicate serum sickness.
Insect bites may seem trivial, but knowing how to prevent and react to them can make all the difference!
