“I was bitten by an insect during an outing. How do I best treat this bite?'
Drugstore Linda gives advice:
Depending on which insect caused the bite, there are different methods to relieve the itching and swelling. It is useful to know whether insects have a poisonous or a non-venomous bite. Venomous bites are mainly caused by bumblebees, bees, wasps, hornets and some ants. If you are allergic to bee or wasp venom, you must be treated immediately with medication. Fortunately, non-venomous bites are more common and are caused by mosquitoes, fleas, lice, ticks and mites.
Insect repellents
Because prevention is better than cure, there are several repellents available at drugstores. There are products based on citronella, DEET, eucalyptus oil. Citronella works best in the form of candles. On the skin, the effect only lasts about fifteen minutes. Eucalyptus oil works for about 8 hours, but can cause some irritation to the mucous membranes. DEET-based products work best, they are available in different percentages and available in lotions, sticks, sprays and rollers. I personally prefer to recommend products that you no longer have to apply by hand. Hygienic and quickly ready! Pregnant women, children up to the age of 6 and people who are allergic to DEET should be careful and it is best to ask for an alternative at the drugstore. Unfortunately, DEET can also cause irritation to the mucous membranes.
Tips to keep insects away
Other ways to take preventive action:close windows and doors with mosquito nets, place a mosquito net over the bed and wear long sleeves and pipes. What also helps against mosquitoes is opening the windows against each other. Mosquitoes don't like drafts. That mosquitoes would be attracted to light is a myth. Mosquitoes are attracted to body heat and odor.
Treating insect bites If you have nevertheless been stung by an insect, lubricate the bite with a soothing and itching-relieving ointment based on pramocaine hydrochloride and zinc oxide. Ointment with tripelennamine can also provide relief, it is an antihistamine and works well against itching. In addition, marking pens, based on water and ammonium, are ideal. The bite can be touched on quickly and painlessly and you can easily take the pen with you in your bag.
Remove tick
A bite by a tick requires a different approach. The tick must be removed within 24 hours with a special drawing pen (or by an experienced person who can do this well between 2 nails) so that the tick is completely detached from the skin. Do not dab the tick with all kinds of liquids first, this will only have the opposite effect. After this, clean the skin with alcohol or iodine.
Lyme disease
Sometimes you can be infected with Lyme disease from a tick bite. Be alert for red circles or spots on the skin, even if they only appear after some time. Flu-like symptoms such as a feverish feeling and muscle aches can indicate an infection. If you have such symptoms or if the tick has been in the skin for more than 24 hours, please consult your doctor.
Who is Linda?
Linda is a certified druggist and works in a drugstore with the Certified Specialist in Self-Care quality mark, which is the quality mark for good advice on over-the-counter medicines. On www.erkendspecialistinzelfzorg.nl you can find out which drugstores in your area have this quality mark and what you as a customer can expect from these drugstores.
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