Although the beginning of the spring and summer seasons bring about beautiful blooms and welcome weather, they also bring about the start of new life for lots of creepy crawlers. Bees buzz by and spiders make their way near you much more frequently than they do in the fall and winter, which can sometimes result in painful stings or bites.

When you get stung or bitten, what should you do next? Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN team shares some helpful answers below!

What Should I Do to Treat a Bug Bite?

Most insect bites or stings cause mild reactions. The way that you can know if your reaction to a bite or sting is mild is by observing the location of the redness, pain and/or swelling. A normal reaction sets off pain, swelling and redness around the sting site. A large reaction causes swelling elsewhere, like a sting on the ankle causing swelling of the knee.

If you think your bug bite or sting is minor, we’ve listed what you can do to treat it at home below.

How to Treat Mild Reactions

• Remove any stingers.
• Gently wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply a damp rag soaked in cold water or ice to the area of the bite or sting for 10 to 20 minutes. This helps reduce pain and swelling.
• Take an OTC pain reliever as needed.
• If the injury is on an arm or leg, elevate it.

When Is a Bug Bite or Sting Serious?

While it’s true that many spring/summer bug injuries aren’t cause for serious concern, it’s also true that some can cause severe side effects.

When the side effects that we’ve listed below happen, they call for a trip to the ER. Before getting emergency care, loosen tight clothing and cover the injured person with a blanket, don’t offer him or her anything to drink, and, if necessary, make sure the person is in a position that would prevent him or her from choking on vomit.

Emergency Bug Injury Symptoms

• Trouble breathing
• Swelling of the lips, face, eyelids or throat
• Dizziness, fainting or unconsciousness
• A weak and rapid pulse
• Hives
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

Whether it’s treatment for a bug bite or a broken bone, we can provide the non-emergency care you need! Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC team today.