Some ache, some beg to be scratched, and the worst of the bunch do both. Unfortunately, experience shows us that almost all bug bites look strikingly similar. Mild itchiness and pain are normal reactions to insect bites and stings, but if you experience anything more severe than these, including shortness of breath and swelling away from the original site, you should contact a doctor or seek medical attention immediately.
Ready to get to the bottom of your bite? Here are pictures of the most common bug bites to keep on your radar. What they look like: The best way to ID a tick bite is to find one of the insects attached to you—and they can linger for three to six days as they feed on your blood. Some leave a red spot about the size of a dime , but not everyone exhibits this. Tick bites often occur on warmer parts of the body, like the hairline, armpits, behind the knees, and groin. Symptoms to note: Tick bites are pretty painless and a bit itchy at first, but dangerous, with more serious symptoms appearing days to weeks after a bite.
Related: How to Remove a Tick Correctly. Redness and swelling at the site of the bite are also common. Thankfully, most spiders bite only when provoked. Symptoms to note: Innocuous spider bites often cause mild pain like a bee sting and even itching. But watch out for brown recluses and black widows: The former can cause necrotic lesions, while the latter can bring on muscle spasms, tremors, and nausea.
Seek medical help if you suspect a bite from either of these spiders. Related: How to Treat a Spider Bite. What it looks like: Mosquito bites present as small, puffy, round bumps that are lighter or redder than the surrounding skin.
A Gnat Bit Me! Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What's a Gnat? What a Bite Looks and Feels Like A person who gets bitten by a gnat may not even know it at the time. What You Should Do If you've been bitten by a gnat, wash the bite with soap and water.
What a Doctor Will Do If the area around a gnat bite is very swollen, a doctor might prescribe a special cream or medicine by mouth.
How to Avoid Getting Bitten The best way to avoid getting bitten by gnats is to wear an insect repellent. But do not worry if you're not sure — the treatment for most bites and stings is similar. A wasp or hornet sting causes a sudden, sharp pain at first. A swollen red mark may then form on your skin, which can last a few hours and may be painful and itchy.
Sometimes a larger area around the sting can be painful, red and swollen for up to a week. This is a minor allergic reaction that is not usually anything to worry about. A few people may experience a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis , causing breathing difficulties, dizziness and a swollen face or mouth.
Dial for an ambulance immediately if you have these symptoms. A bee sting feels similar to a wasp sting, but the sting will often be left in the wound. See treating insect bites for advice about how to remove this safely. The sting can cause pain, redness and swelling for a few hours. As with wasp stings, some people may have a mild allergic reaction that lasts up to a week. Serious allergic reactions can also occasionally occur, causing breathing difficulties, dizziness and a swollen face or mouth.
Bites from mosquitoes often cause small red lumps on your skin. These are usually very itchy. If you have swelling in just one eye or have found a spider in the area where you were bit, it's safe to assume a spider or similar bug is to blame.
Most spider bites are harmless, and symptoms will go away after a few days. Seek immediate medical care if you suspect the following. Learn how to safely and quickly remove a leech, as well as how to recognize a leech and when to seek immediate medical treatment. Termites feed off wood and live in dark environments. A noticeable bug bite is more likely to be from a different insect, but here's what you can look…. If you share a bed with your pets, you may find black specks called "flea dirt.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. What are gnats? What does a gnat bite look and feel like? What can you do to treat gnat bites? When to get medical attention. Prevention tips. The bottom line.
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