How to Avoid Insect Bites and What to Do if You Get Bitten

Summer has arrived, and for some city dwellers, that means it鈥檚 time to head out to the countryside for a well-earned vacation. But with all its pleasures, the season comes with a wealth of insects, including mosquitoes, flies, and stinging wasps and bees. Arachnids such as spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks also tend to show up in greater numbers from May through October.

Says Dr. Melanie Dubois, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases and an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at 日本av色情片, certain summer activities can increase your risk for bug bites, including hiking, camping and visiting farms or national parks.

However, 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 no need to limit your time outdoors. The insects and arachnids pose a threat to your health are particular to different geographical areas, so it is important to be informed about your local area, as well as where you plan to travel. You can protect yourself from getting bitten, starting with knowing your enemy.鈥澨

The main culprits

There are two main disease vectors, defined as the organisms that transmit an infection from an animal to a human or another animal: mosquitoes and ticks.

Mosquito-borne illness include:

  • West Nile virus
  • Zika
  • Dengue
  • Chikungunya
  • Malaria

Tick-borne diseases include:

  • Lyme disease
  • Babesiosis
  • Anaplasmosis
  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Powassan virus
  • Tularemia

For details about these diseases, the insects or arachnids that purvey them and the areas where they鈥檙e most prevalent, take a look at the following , provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).听

The diseases spread by mosquitoes and ticks are tracked by local and state public health agencies, so it鈥檚 a wise move to stay on top of what鈥檚 happening before you leave home, or even if you decide to stay put this summer.

Which mosquito-borne diseases, if any, are of concern in New York City?

According to the New York City , most mosquitoes in the city do苍鈥檛 carry disease. However, a few species may carry and spread West Nile virus.

The majority of people infected with West Nile experience no symptoms or mild-to-moderate illness. However, people over 60 are at greater risk for more serious disease. As well, 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 growing evidence that people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.

Mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus tend to bite around dusk and dawn. If 测辞耻鈥檙别 out and about just after sunset, right before sunrise or anytime in between, for that matter, protect yourself by using insect repellent.听

Most people who become infected will get better on their own. For symptom relief, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help.

Should New Yorkers also worry about ticks?

Residents of New York City who are diagnosed with a tick-borne disease usually get infected when visiting grassy, wooded areas in upstate New York, Long Island and nearby states. However, several types of ticks have been found in New York City, some of which can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

How to check for ticks

When returning indoors from tick-infested areas, check for ticks in the following areas of your body:

  • all joint areas
  • your belly button
  • behind your ears
  • behind your knees
  • between your legs
  • around your waist
  • in your hairline
  • in other skin folds

Take a shower within two hours of coming indoors to wash off any ticks and make it easier to find them if they鈥檙e attached to your skin.

How to remove a tick

If a tick is crawling on you, remove the tick and dispose of it by putting it in alcohol in a sealed bag or container or wrapping it tightly in tape before throwing it in the trash.

If the tick is attached to your skin, use these tips to remove it:

Do苍鈥檛

  • Do苍鈥檛 handle the tick with your bare hands.
  • Do苍鈥檛 squash or squeeze the tick.
  • Do苍鈥檛 use petroleum jelly (Vaseline庐), nail polish remover or heat to remove the tick. These methods can increase the risk of infection.

Do

  • Using pointed-tip tweezers, grab the tick at the point where it is closest to the skin (that鈥檚 its head)听
  • Gently pull up on the tick with slow, even pressure to ease out the mouth parts.
  • After removing the tick, wash your hands, and whatever parts of your skin the tick touched, with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
  • Contact your health care provider immediately if you develop fever, aches and pains or a rash.

For more information about ticks, take a look at the NYC Department of Health鈥檚 tick page . Also visit the CDC鈥檚 mosquito and tick information page .

When can a bite or sting be dangerous?

Some insect bites will cause a red, itchy, swollen area on the skin,鈥 says Dr. Dubois. 鈥While bites can be painful and annoying, most are harmless.

In rare cases, she adds, some people may have a serious allergic reaction to a bite, resulting in hives, vomiting, low blood pressure or difficulty breathing. Anyone experiencing such a reaction should seek immediate medical attention.

Once you鈥檝e had an allergic reaction to insect venom, your doctor may prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector, or EpiPen. Epinephrine is a hormone that can prevent anaphylactic shock. Keep your EpiPen with you at all times to reverse an allergic reaction from a bite or sting.

What are the signs of infection from a bite or sting?

Signs of infection include redness, warmth and tenderness near the site of the bite or sting. Additional signs of infection can include drainage or pus from the site. Your doctor may prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to resolve the problem.

How are stings and bites treated when theyre mild? When theyre more serious?

For mild stings and bites, we generally recommend supportive care, which can include applying cold compresses and taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen if 测辞耻鈥檙别 in pain,鈥 Dr. Dubois says. When theyre more serious, we recommend seeking medical care, particularly if you believe 测辞耻鈥檙别 having an allergic reaction.

Tips and strategies for avoiding getting stung or bitten

  • Use bug spray, especially one with an active ingredient such as DEET.听
  • Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when hiking in the woods to avoid tick bites.听
  • After you come indoors, perform tick checks on your clothing and your body.听
  • The best way to protect your pets from tick bites and tick-borne infections is to discuss these strategies with your veterinarian.听

Have a safe, fun summer!

To consult with a pediatrician who specializes in infectious diseases, 鈥make an appointment here.