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Consumer Health Informationwww.fda.gov/consumer 

 Another insect-borne illness, WestNile virus, is t ransmitted by infectedmosquitoes and usually producesmild symptoms in healthy people.But the illness can be serious for olderpeople and those with compromisedimmune systems.

Most reactions to bees and other

stinging insects are mild, but severeallergic reactions can be deadly. Anallergic reaction can occur even if aperson has been stung before with nocomplications.

Here are tips for preventing andtreating bites and stings.

 What can I do to keepinsects away?• Use structural barr iers such as window screens and netting.

• Avoid wooded, brushy, and grassy

areas when possible.• Don’t wear heavily scented soaps

and perfumes.• Use caution eating outside and

drinking; don’t leave drinks andgarbage cans uncovered.

• Don’t wear bright colors, whichattract bees.

• Wear long sleeves and long pants when possible.

• Tuck pant legs into socks or shoes.

registered with EPA. An EPA reg-istration number on the productlabel means the product has beenevaluated by EPA to ensure that it will not pose unreasonable harm-ful effects on people and the envi-ronment.

• Spray insect repellent on clothesor skin, but not on the face.

• Don’t use insect repellent onbabies. Repellent used on olderchildren should contain no morethan 10 percent DEET. Oil ofeucalyptus products should not beused in children under 3 years.

• Don’t use insect repellent that’smeant for people on your pets.

• Use insect repellent according tothe labeled instructions.

• Avoid applying it to children’shands, around the eyes, or toareas where there are cuts and irri-

tated skin.• Store insect repellent out of chil-

dren’s reach.• Wash the repellent off with soap

and water and contact a PoisonControl Center (1-800-222-1222)if you (or your child) experience areaction to insect repellent.

• After returning indoors, wash skin with soap and water to removerepellent.

• Wear a hat for extra protection.• Get rid of containers with stand-

ing water that give mosquitoesa breeding ground. Examplesinclude water in flowerpots andoutdoor pet dishes.

• Use insect repellent if nonchemi-cal methods are ineffective and you spend time in tall grass and

 woody areas.• Treat camping gear, clothes, and

shoes with permethrin, whichrepels and kills t icks, mosquitoes,and other insects. Clothing thatis pre-treated with permethrin isalso commercially available.

What’s the proper way to useinsect repellent?It’s okay to use insect repellent andsunscreen at the same time. The gen-eral recommendation is to apply sun-

screen first, followed by repellent. There are also some combinationproducts that contain both insectrepellent and sunscreen. FDA regu-lates sunscreen as an over-the-coun-ter (OTC) drug. The EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) regulatesinsect repellent products.

• Use insect repellent that containsactive ingredients that have been

Warm weather makes it easier to spend more

time outdoors, but it also br ings out the bugs.

Ticks are usually harmless. But a tick bite can

lead to Lyme disease, which is caused by the bacterium

Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria are transmitted

to people by the black-legged deer tick, which is

about the size of a pinhead and usually lives on deer.

Infected ticks can also cause other diseases, such as

Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Beware of Bug Bites

and Stings

USDA/ARS

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Consumer Health Informationwww.fda.gov/consumer 

What’s the best way to removea bee stinger?It’s best to scrape a stinger away in aside-to-side motion with a straight-edged object like a credit card or theback of a knife. Don’t use tweezersbecause it may push more venom intothe skin. After removing a stinger, wash the area with soap and water. You can apply ice or another coldcompress to help reduce swelling.

What should I do if I find a tickon me or my child? Wearing light-colored clothing makesit easier to spot ticks. Check for ticksafter outdoor activities. If you find a

tick, remove it with tweezers. Graspthe tick as close to the skin as pos-sible and pull it straight out. Thendrop it in a plastic bag, seal it up, andthrow it away. Early removal of a tickis important because a tick generallyhas to be on the skin for 36 hours totransmit Lyme disease. People who want to get a tick tested for disease orother information could check withtheir local health departments to seeif they offer tick testing. After remov-ing a tick, you can cleanse the area of

the tick bite with antiseptic, such asrubbing alcohol or soap and water.

What can be done for itching andpain from bites and stings?Oral OTC antihistamines can bring itchrelief. Oral OTC drugs, such as ibupro-fen and acetaminophen, can providerelief of pain from bites and stings.

In addition, there are many topi-cal OTC drugs that are applied to theskin and can provide itch and painrelief. Some of these topical OTC drugs

are labeled as “external analgesics”or “topical analgesics.” They containingredients such as hydrocortisone,pramoxine, and lidocaine. There arealso topical OTC drugs labeled as “skinprotectants” that provide itch relief forinsect bites and stings. These productscontain ingredients such as colloidaloatmeal and sodium bicarbonate.

Keep kids’ nails short. If they scratchthe area and break the skin, it can

lead to a bacterial infection that willrequire treatment with antibiotics.

When is medical attentionneeded?Most bites and stings are minor andcan be treated at home. But you shouldseek medical attention if you experi-ence the following symptoms:

Signs of allergic reaction: Some peoplecan experience anaphylaxis, a severe,life-threatening allergic reaction. Thisis a medical emergency that warrantscalling 9-1-1 immediately. Signs of anallergic reaction, which may occur within seconds to minutes, include

sneezing, wheezing, hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden anxiety,dizziness, difculty breathing, chesttightness, and itching or swelling ofthe eyes, lips, or other areas of theface. If you or your child has everhad an allergic reaction to a sting orbite, you should be evaluated by anallergist. In some cases, you may beadvised to wear a medical identifica-tion tag that states the allergy, and tocarr y epinephrine, a medication usedto treat serious or life-threatening

allergic reactions. Sometimes allergyshots may also be recommended.

Symptoms of Lyme disease: Lyme dis-ease, which is transmitted throughthe bite of an infected tick, can causefever, headaches, fatigue, and a skinrash that looks like a circular redpatch, or “bull’s-eye.” Left untreated,infection can spread to the joints,heart, and nervous system. It is rarely,if ever, fatal. Patients who are treated with antibiotics in the early stages of

the infection usually recover rapidlyand completely. Antibiotics com-monly used for oral treatment includedoxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefu-roxime axetil (Ceftin). People withcertain illnesses related to the heartor the nervous system require intra- venous treatment with drugs such asceftriaxone or penicillin.

Symptoms of West Nile virus: West

Nile virus, which is transmitted byinfected mosquitoes, can produceflu-like symptoms including fever,headache, body aches, and skin rash. While most infected individuals havemild disease and recover spontane-ously, infection can be serious or evenfatal. There is no specic treatment for West Nile virus.

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever: Initial symptoms may includefever, nausea, vomiting, severe head-ache, muscle pain, and lack of appe-tite. The characteristic red, spottedrash of Rocky Mountain spotted feveris usually not seen until the sixth day

or later after symptoms begin. But asmany as 10 percent to 15 percent ofpatients may never develop a rash.Rocky Mountain spotted fever istreated with antibiotics.

Signs of infection:  It is normal for abite or sting to result in redness ofthe affected area and minor swelling.But if a bite or sting becomes infected,a fever may develop or the rednessor soreness may worsen. In cases ofinfection, an antibiotic is the typical

treatment.

For More InformationBeware of Ticks … & Lyme Diseasewww.fda.gov/consumer/updates/ lymedisease062707.html

 West Nile Viruswww.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/ westnile.html

Updated Information Regarding

Insect Repellentswww.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/ repellentupdates.htm

Insect Repellent Use and Safety inChildrenwww.fda.gov/cder/emergency/ repellants.htm

Spider Biteswww.umm.edu/non_trauma/spider.htm