Tightness in your throat or trouble breathing Nausea or vomiting Dizziness or lightheadedness Abdominal pain or diarrhea Rapid heart rate
For example, suppose you get a bug bite on your calf. Within an hour, your entire leg hurts and you can’t put any weight on it. You also have a rash spreading from your calf over your whole leg. This is a reaction a doctor needs to look at. If your symptoms get worse, not better, an hour or two after the bite, call your doctor and have them look at it. You might also go to an emergency or after-hours clinic if you’re really concerned about it (or if you’re in a lot of pain).
This is relatively easy if the bite is on an arm or a leg. If the bite is on your torso, however, it might not be possible to effectively elevate it.
Try to rub and not scratch the bites to prevent infection. [9] X Expert Source Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPHBoard Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor Expert Interview. 13 April 2020. If you have a hard time not scratching, you might want to cover the bite with a bandage. It won’t do anything to help the area heal faster, but it’ll keep you from scratching your skin directly.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking an antihistamine.
OTC pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications are usually most helpful immediately after the bite happens. If you find you still need to take something the next day, you might want to call your doctor.
Lyme disease is usually easily treated with a round of antibiotics, but it’s better to get started with that as soon as possible. Keep in mind that a normal tick bite reaction can last several days or even weeks after the initial bite, but it won’t grow any bigger. It’s the expansion that you need to look out for. Draw a line around the outside of the redness with a pen or marker so you can easily see if it’s expanding.
If the bite doesn’t look any better after using antibiotic ointment for 48 hours according to the instructions on the package, call your doctor. They can prescribe a stronger antibiotic.
Wear long sleeves and long pants Spray your skin and clothes with bug repellent Don’t wear perfume or lotion with a floral or sweet scent Keep food and drink covered outside Stay out of tall grass or areas with dense brush Use citronella candles. [15] X Expert Source Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPHBoard Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor Expert Interview. 13 April 2020.
