If you enjoy spending time in the Great Outdoors, chances are you have encountered at least a few bug bites in your life. While most of them are just a mild annoyance and a bit itchy, they are normally nothing to worry about.

However, if you don’t see what bit you immediately, it can be a bit worrisome! Allergic reactions can happen at any point, even if you have never had a reaction to something before.

Our AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN team explains some common bites and what they look like, so read on to learn more.

What Do Tick Bites Look Like?

If you discover a tick bite on your skin, chances are that it will be pretty obvious. Ticks will remain attached to you until they have had their fill of your blood, so when you notice the bite, the tick will probably still be there and the bump will be red and raised.

Your main goal should be removing it from your skin quickly. Not all ticks are carrying Lyme disease, but the ones that are need to be attached to you for around 36 hours to transmit the disease to you.

Removing a Tick From Your Skin

• Use a clean tweezers and pull slowly and steadily away from the skin.
• Do not twist as you pull.
• Take a picture of the tick.
• Dispose in the garbage in a piece of tape or flush in the toilet.
• Wash your hands and the bite site thoroughly.

Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?

When a mosquito bites you, it is actually injecting a bit of its saliva underneath your skin. That itch you develop afterward is the reaction of your body to the saliva! Mosquito bites can appear anywhere on your body and will most likely be red, raised and irritated for a day or so. Mosquitoes can sometimes carry diseases like Zika and West Nile, but that is not as common in the United States.

If you think you got stung by something, remove yourself from the area quickly and inspect the sting. Stings will quickly irritate your skin and become red, painful and can also be itchy. If you don’t know what stung you, keep a close eye on how you feel and seek immediate medical attention if you begin having a reaction.

Signs of an Allergic Reaction

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the throat and tongue
• The appearance of hives or flushed skin
• Loss of consciousness or fainting

If you are ever worried about an animal or insect bite, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN.