An insect bite (flea, bedbug, chigger, mosquito, horsefly, tick, bee, hornet, etc.) or arachnid bite (spider, scorpion) generally results in a red and swollen lesion. It may be accompanied by itching, more or less intense pain and can sometimes be dangerous.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET A BITE?

In most cases, bites are relatively harmless.

Clean with soap and water or disinfect with an antiseptic. If necessary, apply a lotion or cream to relieve the itching and take an analgesic to reduce the pain.

If it is a bee sting, remove the stinger, trying not to squeeze the venom sac located at the visible end of it.

If it is a tick, it can transmit bacteria that cause Lyme disease in particular. Remove the tick with special tweezers available in pharmacies. Turn slowly, counterclockwise, without pulling, until the tick comes off. Do not try to kill the tick beforehand with a heat source or a chemical substance (ether, alcohol, etc.). Then apply an antiseptic to the bite area.

Three tips against ticks: go out covered, then after the walk, examine yourself from every angle and if you have a tick, remove it with a tick remover, a kind of crowbar but ... small!

WHEN SHOULD I CONSULT?

Monitor the lesion. If it becomes swollen, inflamed and painful, this may indicate a superinfection. In this case, a consultation with your doctor is necessary. He or she may prescribe a topical antibiotic treatment or a topical corticosteroid treatment. Oral antihistamines can also relieve itching.

See a doctor promptly if, within a month of the tick bite, a ring forms around the lesion or if you experience symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches or fatigue. If the doctor diagnoses Lyme disease, he or she will prescribe antibiotics. The sooner treatment is started, the more effective it is.

Another bacterial disease transmitted by ticks, Mediterranean spotted fever, may be suspected by your doctor if you develop a rash on the trunk and limbs, accompanied by fever.

WHEN SHOULD I GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR CALL SAMU (15) IMMEDIATELY?

A sting, regardless of the species of insect or arachnid involved and regardless of the location of the sting, is a medical emergency if you have or experience the following symptoms:

• a more or less generalized rash and itching,
• swelling of the face,
• a feeling of weakness,
• a feeling of dizziness,
• a feeling of chest tightness,
• a change in your heart rate,
• a dry cough,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• headaches,
• a high fever,
• convulsions.

This is either anaphylactic shock, which is a sudden allergic reaction that can be fatal, or a reaction to a toxic venom. The risk of shock is all the greater when there are many stings (50, 100 stings at the same time).

Your medical care, in a hospital setting, must be as fast as possible.

In addition, an insect bite in the throat or on the tongue, which may eventually prevent breathing, also requires urgent intervention. Call the emergency services (15) or go to a hospital emergency room as quickly as possible.

ARE THERE SIMPLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID THESE BITES?

If you have bites, even if they are harmless, and in order to adapt your preventive measures, ask your pharmacist to determine the species of insect or arachnid responsible for your bites (fleas, chiggers, bedbugs, etc.). Tell them on which area of ​​your body you were bitten, the type of lesion, and the time and place (night or day, in your bed or on a lawn, etc.) where you think you were bitten. You can try to eliminate these species by using an insecticide, for example, or reduce contact with them.

In areas where it is necessary, use repellents and mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide.

Wear covering clothing (long-sleeved shirts, pants, high shoes), especially in the forest. Inspect your body and scalp after each walk in the forest to remove ticks early.

A venom allergy test can confirm your sensitization. If it is positive, your doctor may recommend that you carry an epinephrine syringe with you when you are exposed to a risk of being bitten. It is also possible to desensitize yourself by being regularly exposed to small, harmless amounts of venom.
The health risks associated with insects and arachnids vary in importance depending on the region and the country.

In France, for example, the black widow and certain scorpions, which are the only species whose venom is toxic, are not present throughout the country. The black widow is only found in Corsica, Provence and along the Atlantic coast, while scorpions are mainly found in the South of France. As for Lyme disease, the East and centre of the country are the most affected regions. Before travelling to a region, you can find out about the existence of real risks from your doctor, pharmacist or tourist offices.

Outside our borders, in tropical and subtropical areas, insects are vectors of many diseases. Mosquitoes, for example, can transmit malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever or chikungunya. Your doctor, vaccination centres or specialised sites will warn you of the risks involved and will tell you what protective measures are appropriate.

Author: Pascal Seu