What is an insect bite?

What symptoms does an insect bite cause? 

You may experience several symptoms from an insect bite. These vary depending on the type of insect bite.

You may experience several symptoms from an insect bite. These vary depending on the type of insect bite.

• If a flea, ant, or mosquito bites, you notice little to nothing; after the bite, a red bump appears that itches
• If a horsefly, bee, or wasp stings, it can be very painful and a large red bump may develop at the site of the sting
• If a horsefly bites, it can be very painful and you will get an itchy bump
• A tick bites into your skin and sucks itself full of blood. It only lets go when it is completely engorged. You should check yourself thoroughly for ticks after a walk in the woods, because some ticks carry Lyme disease. For more information, see: https://www.thuisarts.nl/teek/ik-heb-teek 
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What can you do yourself? 

There are a few things you can do yourself if you have been bitten or stung by an insect. This also varies depending on the insect. If you have been stung by a wasp or bee, you must:

• Remove the stinger. You can do this with your fingernail or the blunt side of a knife. Do this carefully so that the sac attached to the stinger does not break. Otherwise, you may actually experience more pain or irritation.
• Place an ice pack on the sting. Wrap a tea towel around the pack so it is not too cold. Don't have a pack? Something cold, like a bag of frozen vegetables, also helps. Sucking it out won't help, because the venom has already spread.
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If you have been bitten by a tick, you must:

• Remove the tick as soon as possible. You can read more about how to do this at https://www.thuisarts.nl/teek/ik-heb-teek.

If you have a bump, itching, or pain, it may help to:

• Cool the bump with an ice pack. Wrap a tea towel around the pack so it is not too cold.
• To place a cold and wet cloth on the spot.
• Take paracetamol if you have severe pain. For the dosage, please check the medicine's package leaflet.
• You can buy a remedy for itching at the drugstore. There are various creams and powders for this. An example is Azaron.
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When should I see a doctor for an insect bite?  

Contact your GP immediately if:

• You have been stabbed in the tongue
• You have been put in your mouth
• You have been stabbed in the throat
• You become short of breath after being bitten or stung
• You are allergic to an insect bite and have previously experienced additional symptoms. As a result, you may start to feel very ill, and in some cases, an allergic reaction can be life-threatening.
• You get a rash on your skin
• Your skin thickens in a different place than where you were bitten or stung
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Call your GP to request information and advice if:

• Your entire body itches after the sting or bite
• You become ill after having been in the tropics. There is a chance that you were stung or bitten there by a mosquito carrying, for example, malaria or another insect.
• You get a red circle around the tick bite
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