When should I see a doctor about a bug bite?
Ask the doctor
Q. My family and I are awaiting our summertime onslaught of bug bites, some of which can get quite nasty. How can we tell if one requires medical attention?
A. There's sometimes a fine line between insect bites that produce the usual redness, itching, swelling, and pain and symptoms that seem more worrisome. Part of the equation is discerning what did the biting — whether a mosquito, spider, tick, or another bug. But regardless of the offending pest, certain clues point toward a more severe reaction that deserves a doctor's prompt evaluation.
Hives, major swelling, difficulty breathing, nausea, and vomiting are all signs of a potential allergic reaction, while an infection would generate warmth, swelling, fever, chills, pain, or red streaks or drainage around the bite. In the case of tick bites, look for a round rash, classically a "bulls-eye," which may signal Lyme disease. And some bites, particularly from spiders, can lead to death of tissue in the area around the bite, caused by a lack of blood flow. Watch for pain, swelling, blisters, skin discoloration, numbness, or fluid collection in the area.
All of these scenarios would require different treatment, but the first step is getting a swift medical assessment to ensure they don't worsen.
Image: © skynesher/Getty Images
About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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