There are many things that define a Southern summer: sweet tea, swimming pools and—unfortunately—mosquito bites. We all look forward to long, sunny days outdoors but nothing spoils the fun faster than itchy, red bumps. The good news is that there are ways to keep the fun rolling all season long.
Glenn Barnes, DNP, RN, EMT-P, NHDP-BC, FWEM, FAWM, former Green Beret and clinical associate professor with the Texas A&M University College of Nursing at Texas A&M Health, said there are plenty of methods to prevent and treat bug bites and stings.
“Prevention is always better than treatment,” Barnes said. “The saying ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ is no joke. A little bit of prevention can save you a lot of pain and agony on the backside.”
The first step, he said, is finding a good bug repellent. He recommends one with DEET as a primary ingredient, as it is the industry gold standard. Repellents come in a variety of DEET concentrations, but he said 30-50% is best for everyday use.
Non-chemical repellents are also an option, but Barnes emphasized that you’ll likely need to reapply them more often than a standard DEET repellent. However, the best repellant is the one you will wear and reapply to protect yourself from the potential dangers that come with being around critters.
In addition to a repellent spray, Barnes recommends utilizing permethrin to treat clothes, tents and other cloth materials prior to going into an area where insects are present.
Recognizing risks
Wizzie Brown, senior extension program specialist in the Department of Entomology at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is an expert in insects, arachnids and other pests.
She said here in the Brazos Valley area and around Texas, you’ll likely encounter pests like mosquitos, fire ants, paper wasps, spiders, chiggers and, occasionally, ticks.
Medically significant pests include mosquitos, ticks and certain types of spiders.
The primary concern for mosquitos, Brown said, is West Nile virus. Summer is the primary time for infection, and most people experience mild illness with flu-like symptoms.
While mosquito bite reactions are typically a mild itchy bump, Barnes said tick and spider bites can carry greater potential for serious complications.
“If you get a bullseye rash—a red dot, then regular skin, then a red ring, then regular skin, and then a larger red ring—that could be a tick-borne illness,” Barnes said. “We also have Rocky Mountain spotted fever and we have Lyme disease. And then there’s something called tick paralysis, where you’re literally paralyzed by the tick and soon after it’s removed, the paralysis goes away in minutes.”
Another potential for serious complications from ticks is Alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergy to animal products—particularly beef and pork.
It’s crucial, he said, that if you’ve been in an area where there is a potential for ticks—wooded or high grass areas—that you check for them on your body, especially anywhere warm, moist or covered—like hair, armpits and everywhere covered by a bathing suit.
Ticks aren’t the only arachnids to keep in mind this summer—spiders can also make themselves at home in the same places you and your family are enjoying your vacation. In Texas, two groups of venomous spiders are of particular concern: widows and recluses. Both can deliver bites that may lead to a range of symptoms.
Barnes said the symptoms of a spider bite to watch for include:
- Minor redness and swelling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Red ring with a dark center—which could indicate a necrotizing bite
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms after a spider bite:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Streaks going out from the bite site
- Severe swelling
Other bug bites—from mosquitos, chiggers or other pests—could cause mild irritation, causing mild itching and redness. For these reactions, Barnes recommends washing the area well with soap and water, putting on some sort of numbing solution—like a topical analgesic—or an anti-itch ointment and leaving it alone as much as possible. If the itching and swelling is worse than topical ointments can handle, he said an over-the-counter pain relief and a Benadryl or similar medication should lessen the reaction.
For severe reactions that lead to anaphylaxis, Barnes emphasized the importance of administering epinephrine either by epi-pen or a nasal spray right away. Once epinephrine is used, 911 should be called to follow up and ensure there are no secondary reactions.
Both experts agree, though, that the best way to avoid serious complications from bug bites is to prevent the bites with a tested and trusted bug repellentand regular reapplication.
Timing the fun
Another important prevention factor is timing your outing, Brown said.
“Insects are not on a calendar schedule—they’re on environmental schedules,” she said. “So, insects are going to be associated with longer periods of daylight. Moisture levels and rain certainly play into that because when it rains, that means all the plants are growing and the insects that are eating the plants are then going to have plenty of food.”
In light of these factors, Brown recommends minimizing your chances of encountering pests by being mindful of when and where you plan outdoor activities. She advises avoiding hiking or camping during or soon after rainfall, when standing water can lead tomosquitoes. Additionally, because spiders and scorpions are more active at night, it’s wise to exercise extra caution during evening or nighttime outings.
Stay safe all summer long
During your great outdoor adventures, remember that just because a creature is capable of causing danger or discomfort, it likely doesn’t want anything to do with you as long as it doesn’t feel threatened.
“Any insect or arthropod that has mouth parts is capable of biting—but that doesn’t always mean they do,” Brown said. “Any time we’re talking about bites or stings from scorpions and spiders or wasps and bees, they are just defending themselves. They’re not hunting you down to attack you, so if you leave them alone, they won’t bother you.”
The important thing is getting outdoors, enjoying the fresh air, and making sure to do it safely and with care.
“Spending time outdoors is good for you,” Barnes said. “It lowers your stress hormones, your blood pressure and your pulse rate. There’s just so much good with getting out into nature and getting away from the manufactured, industrial, electronic world and just communing with plants and animals. But no recreational activity is worth a life, so plan ahead and respect the life that lives there.”
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