Horseflies to hornets: how to recognize insect bites and what to do about them

Meal.
As beautiful as summer is, it also has disadvantages: the chance of being bitten by insects is high. How to recognize what stung you.

It usually starts with a short prick – then it itches, burns or, in the worst case, hurts: Insects are particularly active again in the summertime. The chances of being stung or bitten by the little pests are high. However, laypeople cannot always tell at first glance which sting belongs to which animal. We have with Dr. Wiebke Sondermann, Senior Physician at the Essen University Clinic for Dermatology. She explains how to recognize insect bites and what helps against the itching and pain.

mosquito bite

With mosquitoes, it is the females that bite. The males, on the other hand, are harmless. When mosquitoes bite, they not only suck blood, they also inject their saliva into the skin. The body recognizes this saliva as a foreign body and initiates a defense reaction. Among other things, a messenger substance called histamine plays a role in this. He is responsible for the itching. The bites of European mosquitoes are annoying, but mostly harmless.

Recognize the sting: Anyone who is bitten by a mosquito doesn’t see much at first: First, a point-like elevation develops, which becomes increasingly red and can then swell, says Sondermann. A small puncture can often be seen in the middle. Wheals could form in sensitive people.
What helps: The dermatologist recommends that so-called bite healers, which are briefly heated to 50 degrees, can help with mosquito bites if they are applied immediately after the bite. The heat breaks down the insecticide and makes it less effective. After that, Sondermann recommends cooling the bite and no longer treating it with heat. Otherwise, the symptoms could even increase due to the heat. In addition, creams with antihistamines work against the itching. “Creams that contain a bit of cortisone also help,” continued Sondermann. In addition, the stung should not scratch. Because then infections and inflammations could develop. Spit is also not recommended, as this can also get bacteria into the skin.

wasp sting

A lot of people are afraid of wasps. Finally, they can sting if they feel threatened. The spike is briefly extended and retracted.

Bad news for everyone who doesn’t like the black and yellow insects: Wasp larvae develop particularly well in years with dry spring heat and hot early summers.

Recognize the sting: Wasp stings are very painful, so you definitely know when you’ve been stung, says Sondermann. Unlike mosquito bites, wasp stings also swell faster and more severely. Although the stings hurt, they are usually not dangerous. Because pain and swelling after insect bites are quite normal. They go back on their own after a while. Exceptions are bites in the mouth area – this can lead to life-threatening swelling. In allergy sufferers, a sting can also lead to shortness of breath. Those affected should therefore consult a doctor immediately.
What helps: As with mosquito bites, heat also helps with a wasp sting to break down the venom. After that you should cool down. Home remedies such as an onion can have an anti-inflammatory effect: “But there is no real data on the effect of the onion,” says Sondermann. In the case of pronounced reactions, over-the-counter antihistamines – i.e. allergy tablets – can also help.

Bee and bumblebee sting

Bees and bumblebees only sting if they are directly threatened. In contrast to bumblebees and wasps, however, bees usually die a few days after being stung. Because their sting often gets stuck in the skin of the bitten person due to the barbs and is torn out by the insects when they sting. Bumblebees, on the other hand, can protrude their sting like a wasp. Unlike wasps, stings are rather rare: bees and bumblebees only defend themselves against active attacks.

Detect Sting: stings from bees can often be recognized by the thorn that is still in the wound. Otherwise, the symptoms are similar to those of wasp stings. In terms of tendency, however, they are a bit more uncomfortable, says Sondernmann. According to Sondermann, bumblebee stings are very rare.
What helps: Stung people should act similarly to bee or bumblebee stings as to mosquito or wasp stings. Hyposensitization, i.e. immunotherapy, could also help in people who suffer from a bee or wasp allergy. Anyone who has been stung by a bee should remove the stinger as soon as possible. For example with tweezers. Because if you pull out the stinger with your fingers, you may push the remaining venom into the puncture site.

brake stitch

Nasty! Horseflies are especially active on muggy days. They are often found near meadows or water bodies. That means: where people swim or cool down. The grey-brown insects are particularly annoying as their stings are very painful. They can also transmit diseases. In addition, protecting against horseflies is not easy, since thin clothing is not an obstacle for them. But they can be easily killed when sucking…

Recognize the sting: brake stitches are more uncomfortable and can cause stronger reactions than mosquito bites. However, they are usually not quite as painful as a bee or wasp sting, says Sondermann. Sensitive people can get a very strong reddening with severe itching from the sting. Since horseflies have a larger puncture channel, it is also possible that a small drop of blood will come out of the wound.
What helps: Horsefly stings should be treated with heat or cold like mosquito or wasp stings. Creams can also help. If the pain is particularly severe, it may help to resort to ibuprofen, advises Sondermann. It has a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect.

hornet bite

Hornets are a particularly protected species in Germany. Above all, the fear of hornets endangers the animals – after all, they have the reputation of being menacing and stinging. Completely wrong. Compared to bees and especially wasps, hornets are much more shy, predictable and “friendly”. Hornets don’t care about humans and human food. So they rarely get in our way. The risk of being stung is therefore low. In addition, hornets build their nests (usually) much higher than bees or wasps.

Recognize the sting: The hornet sting is the “very nasty version of a wasp sting,” says Sondermann. Because of the very strong poison, their sting triggers even more violent reactions. As with mosquitoes or horseflies, there is no hyposensitization for the hornet. Even Sondermann cannot say whether it is true that three hornet stings can kill a person: “If you are stung by a large number of hornets at the same time, it could in principle be life-threatening. But it is difficult to say how many stings are necessary for this,” so the doctor.
What helps: Heat and subsequent cold treatment also helps with a hornet bite.

tick bite

Ticks sit in taller grass, bushes or shrubs. From there they climb onto humans and look for an exposed spot on the body. So they don’t fall from trees like many people still believe. Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts are particularly suitable for prevention. Walkers or hikers should also wear light-colored clothing on which ticks are easy to see.

Recognize the bite: Ticks are usually not immediately noticeable on the body because they are so small. They only get bigger when they suck blood. Eventually they just fall off. However, the small animals can transmit two dangerous diseases: Firstly, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), which can lead to meningitis. But it occurs mainly in southern Germany. On the other hand, Lyme disease, which is widespread throughout Germany.
What helps: If you discover a tick on yourself, you should remove it quickly, advises Sondermann. Tick tweezers or tick cards are suitable for this. On the other hand, you should keep your hands off old home remedies such as oil or Uhu glue. If, after removing the tick, you find that there is still something stuck in the skin, you should see a doctor. Anyone who discovers a red ring around the bite site up to three weeks after the bite (see photo) should also seek medical treatment. This can be an indication of Lyme disease. Flu-like symptoms such as body aches, fever or fatigue are also indications of the disease. “But you don’t have to go to the doctor after every tick bite to examine it for Lyme disease,” says Sondermann. Instead, you should pay attention to the symptoms.

bug bite

Bugs are recognizable as one to two millimeter small black dots. They feel particularly comfortable in beds, but they can also lurk behind pictures, protruding wallpaper edges or in furniture joints. The bugs recognize humans as hosts through body heat and the CO2 concentration in the air.

Recognize the bite: The stings are almost indistinguishable from those of other insects: a red, bloodshot spot that is slightly larger than the pustule after a mosquito bite. It is suspicious if the stitches are in areas of the body that are normally covered by clothing. In addition, bug bites itch. “Most of the time, they run in a line like a road,” says Sondermann.
What helps: Bug bites are also best kept refrigerated. In the event of an infestation, you usually need a professional pest controller to remove the bugs from the bed or furniture.

(with dpa)