Insect Bites

Insect Bites

Bee, Wasp, Ant stings and other Insect bites.

Remove the sting by scraping, never squeeze the site.

Wash the area and apply antiseptic cream.

Keep the sting site rested, elevated and cool.

To relieve pain and swelling apply cold compress.

Local swelling and irritation may last for several days.

Scorpions Bites

Scorpion stings can be very painful and the pain may persist for several hours. Local redness and numbness often occur.

Some people are allergic to stings and can rapidly develop the serious condition of anaphylactic shock.

Symptoms and signs

Itching, swelling

Burning pain

Increased sensation or numbness

Lacrimation

Salivation

Nausea and vomiting

Profuse sweating

Treatment

Apply a tourniquet proximal to the site of the sting and release it every 5 to 10 minutes. Apply ice pack on the region to slow down the absorption of poison.

Shift the patient to hospital

Centipedes

Local redness, itching and pain are common.

Severe pain is sometimes experienced.

Apply antiseptic to the bite site.

Snake bite

Bites from sharp pointed teeth cause deep puncture wounds that can carry germs far into the tissues. Snake bite results in punctured wounds caused by the fangs of a snake.

Signs and symptoms of snake bite:

A pair of puncture marks.

Severe burning pain at the site of the bite

Redness and swelling around the bite Nausea and vomiting

Difficult in breathing and speech.

Dimness of vision.

Increased salivation and sweating.

·           Do not wash, squeeze or puncture the bite site.

·           Apply a pressure immobilization bandage.

·           Keep the victim calm and still. Do not give food or alcohol.

·           Do not allow the victim to walk.

·           Bites to the head and body must be bandaged as firmly as possible.

·           Do not attempt to catch or kill the snake.

Animal bites

One infection someone might get from an animal bite is rabies, which is a serious viral infection that attacks the brain and nervous system. If an infected animal bites a human, they will pass on the virus, through their saliva.

Tetanus (a bacterial infection) is also a potential risk after an animal bite.

Animal bites- First Aid Management

·           Wash the wound from the bite thoroughly with soap and warm water as it can reduce the risk of infection from an animal bite.

·           Raise and support the wound and then cover it with a sterile wound dressing.

·           If the wound is large or deep, then treat for bleeding.

·           If there’s a risk of rabies, then you need to get them to hospital as fast as you can.

If the bite is from another human, there’s also a risk of getting hepatitis or HIV/ AIDS viruses.