The warm weather of summer brings families out into their backyards and onto their patios. Unfortunately, it also brings bees, wasps, and other stinging insects out into the atmosphere where they can cause problems for humans.
Every summer, the Medics USA urgent care centers see hundreds of kids who are suffering from insect bites and stings. In most cases, bites and stings are minor and can be treated through home first aid, but it’s important to know the signs of a more severe sting or bite that might need to be treated at our urgent care center.
What Insects Bite & Sting During The Summer?
The insects that will potentially bite and sting you during the summer vary by region, but no matter where you are in the United States, it’s important to keep an eye out for the following:
- Bees
- Wasps
- Yellow Jackets
- Ants
- Mosquitos
- Spiders
- Ticks
Treating Minor Bites & Stings
Most of the common biting and stinging insects are incapable of inflicting life-threatening injuries, but it ultimately depends on the person.
“Each year in the United States, more than a half million patients visit the ED because of an insect sting, and some of them die because of an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic response characterized by urticaria (hives) over large areas of the body, difficulty breathing, a rapid drop in BP, shock, and loss of consciousness,” explains ModernMedicine.com. “Someone who receives multiple stings simultaneously can experience a potentially deadly toxic reaction that mimics anaphylaxis…and a large local reaction involving the mouth or throat can be life-threatening if the swelling blocks the airway,” the article continues.
If you fear that anaphylaxis is a threat for any reason, bring your child into one of our urgent care centers right away, and our medical professionals will administer treatment that could potentially save a loved one’s life.