There are some simple precautions you can take to reduce your risk of being bitten or stung by insects. It's particularly important to follow this advice if you've had a bad reaction to an insect bite or sting in the past or you're travelling to an area where there's a risk of picking up a serious illness. Basic precautions to prevent insect bites and stings Extra precautions when travelling abroad The following measures can help you avoid insect bites and stings: Ticks are small spider-like creatures that are mainly found in woodland and heath areas. They attach to your skin, suck your blood and can cause Lyme disease in some cases. You can reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick if you: It's important to remove any ticks you find as soon as possible. Find out how to safely remove a tick. The risk of becoming seriously ill from an insect bite or sting in the UK is small, but in some parts of the world insects can carry serious diseases such as malaria and you need to be extra careful.
In addition to the precautions mentioned above, it can help to: Read more about travel illnesses and vaccinations. If you've been bitten by fleas, mites or bedbugs, you may have an infestation in your home. Try to find the source of the infestation before taking steps to eliminate it. The following are signs of an infestation: Speak to your vet if you're unsure whether your pet has fleas or mites. Once you've identified the cause of the infestation, you'll need to eliminate it. For flea infestations, treat the animal, its bedding, household carpets and soft furnishings with an insecticide. Thoroughly vacuum your carpets and soft furnishings. For mite infestations, you should seek advice from your vet as aggressive treatment is required. For bedbug infestations, your home will need to be thoroughly treated with an insecticide by a reputable pest control company. GOV.UK has details of details of pest control services and information about how your local council can help.
Page last reviewed: 01/07/2016 Next review due: 01/07/2019I react badly to mosquito bites. In the past the bites have blistered and sometimes swollen into very hot, itchy spots. I do take malaria tablets when required. On my most recent trip abroad to Spain, I was bitten again and the bites reacted as usual.Is there anything I can take before a trip that will stop such an adverse reaction to the bites?Insect bites can be very troublesome and if you are someone who frequently gets bitten and reacts badly to the bites it is worth doing all that you can to avoid being bitten.Insect repellent spray, and plug-in types of repellent can be very effective and covering up at times when bites are most common (early morning and evenings) is a good idea too.In tropical places, avoiding bites is even more important because of the risk of catching insect-borne diseases such as malaria.Some people believe that taking vitamin B, eg in an oral vitamin B complex preparation may reduce the likelihood of being bitten.
Apparently the vitamin is excreted in the sweat and puts off biting insects.There are no studies that support this claim, but you may like to try this. B vitamins should not be taken long term but taking them for a few weeks at a time would be safe.Try to avoid scratching any bites that you get as this does make the reaction worse.Antihistamine medications such as loratadine should ease the itching to some extent.An antihistamine cream specially designed for use on insect bites is also helpful. When you take a bath keep the water cool as heat will tend to make the itching worse.One thing that you need to be aware of is that bites do sometimes become infected. For this reason if you notice that the area around a bite is becoming very red, hot or swollen, it is always a good idea to arrange to see your GP or practice nurse so that they can check that this is not happening.Other Qs & AsBed bugsCould this be an insect bite?Dealing with horse fly bitesFlea bitesInfected mosquito biteInsect biteInsect bitesInsect bites make summer a misery for meLove biteMy bites turned into blistersPricked by a rose thornProblems with flea bites
Appointments at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. PreventionBy Mayo Clinic Staff You can take several steps to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Avoid and exclude mosquitoes Limit exposure to mosquitoes by: Avoiding outdoor activities when they're most active, dusk to dawn Repairing any tears in the screens on your windows, doors and camping gear Using mosquito netting over strollers and cribs or when sleeping outdoors The most effective insect repellents in the United States include one of three active ingredients: Icaridin (also called picaridin) Oil of lemon eucalyptus (a plant-based compound) These repellents temporarily repel mosquitoes and ticks. DEET may offer longer lasting protection. Whichever product you choose, read the label before you apply it. If you're using a spray repellent, apply it outdoors and away from food. If you're also using sunscreen, put it on first, about 20 minutes before applying the repellent.
Avoid products that combine sunscreen and repellent, because you'll likely need to reapply sunscreen more often than repellent. And it's better to use only as much repellent as you need. Used according to package directions, these products are generally safe for children and adults, with a few exceptions: Don't use DEET-containing products on infants younger than 2 months. Don't let young children get DEET or icaridin-containing products on their hands or faces. Don't use oil of lemon eucalyptus on children under age 3 years. Don't apply repellent under clothing. Don't apply repellent over sunburns, cuts, wounds or rashes. When you go indoors, wash with soap and water to remove any remaining repellent. Treat clothing and outdoor gear Permethrin is an insecticide and insect repellent used for additional protection. This product is applied to clothing and outdoor gear, not skin. Check the product label for specific application instructions. Some sporting goods stores sell clothing pretreated with permethrin.
Use protective clothing and gear Socks and closed-toe shoes Long pants, possibly tucked into the tops of your socks A hat that protects your ears and neck or one with mosquito netting that covers your face If you tend to have large or severe reactions to mosquito bites (skeeter syndrome), consider taking a nondrowsy, nonprescription antihistamine when you know you'll be exposed to mosquitoes. Reduce mosquitoes around your home Eliminate standing water, which mosquitoes need to breed. To keep your house and yard free of mosquito pools: Empty children's wading pools at least once a week, and preferably more often. Change water in birdbaths at least weekly. Get rid of old tires in your yard. Empty outdoor flower pots regularly or store them upside down so that they can't collect water. Drain your fire pit if water collects there. Lifestyle and home remediesRochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research;
Malaria (adult and pediatric). Bolognia JL, et al. Bites and stings. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; Insect repellent (adult and pediatric). West Nile virus: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Aug. 13, 2015. Onyett H. Preventing mosquito and tick bites: A Canadian update. Pediatrics and Child Health. Accessed Aug. 14, 2015.Large local reactions to mosquito bites (skeeter syndrome). Beware of bug bites and stings. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Insect repellent use and safety in children. Auerbach PS. Mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; Auerbach PS. Protection from blood-feeding arthropods. Millman M. Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care. 6th ed. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.