Insect stings are almost impossible to avoid, especially during the warmer months - at least if you are active outdoors and enjoy going out into nature in good weather. Mosquito bites in particular are practically unavoidable, but various other insects in this country can also sting or bite.
Insects sting for various reasons - for example, to feed or defend themselves. The consequences of insect stings usually consist of annoying but harmless symptoms such as redness, raised welts, or itching.
However, for various reasons, problematic consequences such as inflammation or acute overreactions of the immune system can also occur. Stings from certain insects, such as wasps or bees, in the throat and mouth area can cause life-threatening swelling.
Contents
- What are insect stings, and how can you recognize them?
- Which insects sting in this country, and why do they do it?
- Insect bites - respond quickly and treat them correctly
- Insect venom allergy - risks and treatment options
- Hyposensitization for insect venom allergy
- How can insect bites be prevented?
In German-speaking countries, around two to three percent of the population are allergic to insect stings. They suffer from an insect venom allergy, often also called an insect sting allergy. However, it is the insect venom that triggers the dangerous immune reaction and, in the worst case, can lead to anaphylactic shock. Some people affected hardly dare to go outside in spring and summer, but fortunately most insects are not out to sting us.
With the right behavior, bee and wasp stings can at least be largely avoided. Things are different with mosquitoes or ticks, whose stings and bites are not painful but stealthy. Both insect stings and allergies can be treated with medication. In the case of an insect venom allergy, hyposensitization is also always an option.
In this article, we discuss insect stings, stinging insects, and insect venom allergies. With a mouse click, you can go directly to any section.
What are insect stings, and how can you recognize them?
Insect stings refers to all skin injuries caused by the stingers or mouthparts of insects. In this sense, insect bites are also often understood as “stings.”
Insects sting to defend themselves or to feed and it is not always immediately apparent which animal has stung you. Since some insects - for example mosquitoes or biting flies - sting painlessly or even inject pain-relieving substances, symptoms often do not appear until several minutes after the sting. The stings of bees, wasps, or hornets, on the other hand, cause severe pain immediately.
Typical symptoms of insect stings include swelling and redness around the sting site. Sometimes, a small red dot is even visible where the insect stung. Small hives may also appear, while noticeable itching often develops within just a few minutes.
Some insect stings can cause a slight numbness at the sting site, while others are accompanied by noticeable pain.
If you are allergic to the venom of the insect in question, much more severe, potentially life-threatening symptoms may occur. If, for example, you experience muscle cramps or severe headaches, develop chills, or get a fever, you should seek medical attention in any case.
Dizziness, feelings of weakness, or lightheadedness are further warning signs. It becomes particularly critical when shortness of breath occurs, often announced by a feeling of tightness in the chest. In the event of shortness of breath or impaired consciousness, call an ambulance immediately
Which insects sting in this country, and why do they do it?
In Germany there are a whole range of insects and other arthropods that can sting or bite. Fortunately, there are no insects with life-threatening venom in our region.
Nevertheless, a wasp sting in the area of the oral mucosa, for example, can cause life-threatening swelling even when no insect venom allergy is present. Otherwise, dangerous consequences of an insect sting generally only affect people with allergies.
The stingers of wasps and hornets serve both self-defense and hunting prey. They generally only become aggressive when people get too close to their nests. Mosquitoes use their stingers to prepare for feeding.
Parasites such as ticks, lice, or bedbugs feed on the blood of their hosts - they are not specifically targeting humans, but are often "picked up" during walks in nature, forestry work, or cuddling with pets. Below you will find an overview of the typical stinging insects in Germany.
Bees are peaceful insects that only sting in an absolute emergency. The bee's stinger becomes lodged in its target, causing the bee to tear the stinger, along with its venom gland, from its body and die.
She gives her life defending the hive while the stinger continues pumping venom into her enemy. This is why people are generally only stung by bees when they accidentally step on them or swat at them.
If you are stung by a bee, the stinger should be removed immediately. The sting is accompanied by sharp pain, and a crater-like wound often forms in the center of the swollen, reddened puncture site.
Wasps sting more often than bees because they often come close to people while foraging for food. They can also reuse their stingers repeatedly. However, not all wasps are equally aggressive.
The brightly yellow-and-black common wasps are attracted to human food - they love grilled meat and sweets. That is why they often approach very close to the mouth, where they can still smell the food being consumed, increasing the risk of stings around the mouth.
The darker and smaller Saxon wasps, by contrast, feed on other insects and remain fairly relaxed even in the immediate vicinity of their nest. Wasps also sting only when they feel threatened. Their sting causes severe pain and leaves a reddened swelling whose center is sunken like a crater.
Hornets are feared unjustly because, although they are very large and look threatening, they very rarely sting. Danger generally arises only when someone stumbles directly over a hornet's nest.
However, its sting is extremely painful - more painful than a wasp sting. The puncture site may itch severely, and symptoms such as a racing heart, dizziness, and nausea are also known, although these may also be related to the pain.
Otherwise, a hornet sting differs little from a wasp sting. Its venom is even similar to wasp venom and can trigger a reaction in people allergic to wasp stings.
Bumblebees are very peaceful and almost never sting. They have a stinger that they can use when threatened - they do not "bite," as popular belief would have it.
However, these large, fluffy insects have a calm temperament and even warn intruders by raising their abdomens. Most bumblebee stings occur when someone steps on a bumblebee barefoot.
The sting is then very painful and resembles the effects of a bee sting, although the bumblebee retains its stinger. People allergic to bee stings often also react to bumblebee venom.
Mosquitoes are the real pests, as the small, inconspicuous insects are almost impossible to escape. Who hasn't spent sleepless summer nights listening to the high-pitched buzzing of mosquitoes, only to find small, itchy bumps on various parts of their body in the morning?
Female mosquitoes drink blood to nourish their offspring and prefer to bite where the skin is nice and thin. They inject their saliva into the wound to temporarily prevent blood clotting with the help of the proteins it contains and suck up the blood like through a straw.
These proteins cause the typical welts and unpleasant itching. In rare cases, the mosquitoes’ enzymes trigger a mosquito-bite allergy, which can involve widespread hives and swelling of the mucous membranes.
Black flies are mosquitoes that look like small flies and cut into the skin with their sharp mouthparts. They suck up the emerging blood with a short proboscis.
Black flies also inject an anesthetic substance, so itchy swelling only develops after some time. The itching is more intense than that caused by a mosquito bite. The bite site is often severely reddened, and a little blood may even continue to seep out.
Horseflies are commonly found in pastures and near lakes. They are also called “horseflies” because they feed on the blood of grazing animals. Horseflies have very sharp mouthparts that cut a hole in the skin like tiny knives. They then immediately lap up the blood that emerges.
Horsefly bites are extremely painful and cause severe swelling and intense itching in humans even without an allergy. Actual bruises may even form around the bite site. If someone has an allergy to horsefly venom, extreme swelling and difficulty breathing may occur.
Fleas are annoying little crawlers that mainly infest mammals and sometimes birds, but can also jump to humans. Flea bites appear as small, intensely itchy red punctures, often with several arranged in a line.
The fleas themselves are difficult to find because they only jump onto the host to feed and then hide again in upholstery and carpets. Getting rid of them often requires drastic measures. So-called “flea bombs” can fumigate infested homes and kill the parasites.
There is a flea allergy, but it affects almost exclusively dogs and cats. The animals suffer from severe inflammation and crusting of the scratched areas of skin.
Bedbugs are parasites that originally lived mainly in the fur of bats. Over time, they also spread to livestock such as poultry and from there to humans. Today, these creatures are found mainly near human dwellings.
Bedbugs feel comfortable in old mattresses and emerge at night to drink blood from various parts of the host through small bites. In the morning, bedbug bites can be seen as numerous red spots and welts.
Head lice are parasites that infest human hair and feed on blood from the scalp’s capillaries. They also use their saliva to prevent the blood from clotting for a while. The enzymes in lice saliva trigger immune reactions such as swelling and itching.
Scratching the bites can cause inflammation. If lice bites do not heal over a longer period, so-called excoriations can develop on the sensitive scalp, creating entry points for dangerous pathogens. Special lice combs and various hair products help get rid of the pests and their eggs.
Ticks are not insects, but mites, which in turn belong to the arachnids. Their bite is among the most feared “insect bites.” Although ticks are not considered allergy triggers, these tiny creatures can carry dangerous pathogens.
In addition to the tick-borne encephalitis TBE, some ticks also transmit the insidious pathogen that causes Lyme disease. An allergy associated with tick bites is the “meat allergy,” which has recently become more common in the United States.
The so-called alpha-gal syndrome can cause certain types of meat and other foods to trigger immune reactions. Only a few cases are known in Europe.
Chiggers: sit on tall grasses and wait for a host to pass by and brush them off. The tiny mites feed on the blood of their hosts and also bite people when they are “picked up” while walking through tall grass. Chigger bites leave red welts that sometimes continue to itch even days later.
Spider bites are extremely rare and largely harmless among native spider species. The yellow sac spider is considered the only species with potent venom, which can cause severe swelling, dizziness, nausea, and fever. Its bite is dangerous only for particularly sensitive people or those allergic to insect venom.
Insect bites - respond quickly and treat them correctly
How to respond to an insect bite depends on which insect has stung and where the sting is located. Bee, wasp, and hornet stings cause severe pain immediately.
If a stinger is still lodged in the wound, remove it immediately - torn-out bee stingers continue pumping venom into their target for several seconds. Immediate cooling - for example, with gel packs from the refrigerator - helps relieve pain and counteracts swelling.
Stings around the neck and mouth, or even inside the mouth, require the utmost caution - do not hesitate to call the emergency services if shortness of breath, dizziness, or severe nausea occurs.
People allergic to insect venom can be prescribed special emergency kits to carry with them on trips outdoors. This is advisable at least in the case of known severe allergies, as these kits contain antihistamines and an adrenaline injection that can prevent circulatory collapse in an emergency. In any case, seek medical advice if you believe you suffer from an insect sting allergy. More on this below in the text.
Break down or neutralize insect venom
The bites of mosquitoes and other bloodsuckers often do not hurt and are only noticed hours later, when they swell and itch. The itching caused by the venom is common to practically all insect bites - and it is always important not to give in to it.
Insect bites usually heal quickly. However, if you scratch them open, countless germs can enter the wound and cause inflammation. The treatment of acute insect bites aims to neutralize the venom as quickly as possible.
Cool packs, cold compresses, or cooling gels suppress the itching, but mosquito bites or harvest mite bites can also itch for days. In this case, it is better to deactivate the venom itself. Heat actually produces the better effect here, because the enzymes in insect venom break down when exposed to high temperatures.
As a home remedy, for example, a tea light can be heated and the hot wax poured onto a mosquito bite. A spoon heated over an open flame is not recommended, as you can quickly burn yourself with it. In any case, the most efficient option is likely to be using a modern insect sting healer.
Insect sting healers are electric devices that usually resemble a pen in shape and size. At their tip, these pens have a small contact surface that can precisely cover a mosquito bite and can be heated to around 50 degrees Celsius for a few seconds at the press of a button.
Using the insect bite healer involves a brief moment of pain. For persistent bites, it may be necessary to apply the device more than once. Bite healers are primarily suitable for mosquito bites. According to the manufacturer's information, some models are also intended to help with wasp or bee stings.
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Ticks can be removed using special tick tweezers, tick cards, or fine-pointed tweezers . It is important to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, directly behind its head. Do not crush the animal, as this may cause the tick to release its stomach contents into the wound in its death throes.
Since the pathogens that cause Lyme disease are located in the digestive tract, they can also enter the wound if present. Otherwise, it takes several hours for the pathogens to enter the body. The sooner a tick is removed, the better. The tick should be pulled out as straight as possible with a slow, steady motion. Avoid twisting, as this can cause the tick's head to tear off and remain embedded.
Inflamed insect bites or tick bites, as well as remnants of stingers, mouthparts, or tick heads, should always be treated by a doctor.
In the case of tick bites, it is also important to watch for extensive redness spreading around the bite site. Lyme disease often - though not always - announces itself in this way. Detected early, the disease can now be treated effectively.
Insect venom allergy - risks and treatment options
Insect venom allergies are quite rare - but those affected may face life-threatening consequences from just a single wasp sting. Allergy to wasp stings is the most common and affects around two thirds of allergy sufferers.
Bees and hornets follow closely behind, while allergies to mosquito or horsefly venom are extremely rare. Since insect-sting allergies are type I allergies (immediate-type allergies), the first symptoms appear immediately after the sting.
An allergic reaction to insect venom can range from a slight worsening of the usual symptoms of an insect bite to life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
The allergic shock is heralded by various symptoms whose severity can increase rapidly. The course and severity of the symptoms may vary from case to case. Nevertheless, it is possible to distinguish four grades of anaphylaxis that describe the progression of anaphylactic shock.
- Grade 1: Anaphylactic shock begins after the insect sting with severe itching and pronounced swelling at the sting site. A rash may appear both around the sting and on other parts of the body. The first grade is often accompanied by a vague feeling of anxiety. If you know that you have an insect venom allergy, you should call emergency services and use your emergency kit already at this point.
- Grade 2: Symptoms then appear that are more clearly distinct from the usual effects of an insect sting. Swelling also occurs away from the sting site, accompanied by nausea and abdominal cramps, progressing to vomiting and/or diarrhea. In addition to hoarseness and the first signs of shortness of breath, an increased heart rate often occurs alongside a drop in blood pressure. Severe dizziness may occur. By now at the latest, it should be clear that emergency assistance is needed - call 112.
- Grade 3: In addition to pronounced wheezing, grade three involves severe shortness of breath, often accompanied by swelling of the larynx and increasing difficulty swallowing and speaking. Cold sweats, pale skin, and bluish discoloration of the lips or fingernails indicate acute circulatory problems. Those affected are very weak and dazed.
- Grade 4: A life-threatening circulatory collapse occurs, which can lead to loss of consciousness and cessation of breathing and heartbeat. Those affected are no longer able to help themselves.
An emergency kit contains medications that can slow down or stop anaphylactic shock. These include, among others, medications for asthma, since asthma patients with insect venom allergies are particularly at risk. Using the emergency kit cannot replace medical care.
So, if you find yourself in a situation where you have to use your anaphylaxis emergency kit, be sure to also make a medical emergency call . An emergency kit must be prescribed - in any case, you should always have a suspected insect sting allergy evaluated by medical specialists. Once identified, the allergy may even be curable.
Hyposensitization for insect venom allergy
Hyposensitization against insect venoms is now a proven procedure with high success rates. Particularly in the area of common wasp and bee allergies, most patients show no or hardly any reactions to the insect venom after completing the multi-year treatment.
Patients are administered a tiny amount of the allergen so that the immune system can gradually become accustomed to the stimulus. The procedure must be repeated continuously over several years, with the dose of the allergen slowly increasing. Hyposensitization for insect allergies usually takes place in two stages.
During the dose-escalation phase, patients receive subcutaneous injections with diluted insect venom. This treatment can take place in hospital as “rapid hyposensitization” under medical supervision, or as outpatient dose escalation with weekly injections at an allergy practice.
In principle, insect bites should be avoided during the dose-escalation phase. For this reason, outpatient treatment usually does not begin until November, when no wasps or bees are still active.
This is followed by a maintenance phase lasting three to five years. During this time, hyposensitization is continued with monthly administrations of the allergen. In an ideal course, no further allergic symptoms occur. In most cases, the allergy can at least be reduced to a harmless level.
If your work involves dealing with wasps, bees and hornets - for example, as a gardener or beekeeper - it is advisable to continue the maintenance phase permanently. In any case, seek medical advice!
How can insect bites be prevented?
Many types of insect bites can in fact be almost completely avoided - even when you are out in nature. Some pests, such as mosquitoes or ticks, may require more effort.
Pollen collectors such as bees and bumblebees, or insect hunters such as hornets and wasps, are not out with the intention of stinging people. We are irrelevant to them - however, humans can become targets if they intentionally or unintentionally disturb or attack the animals.
It is therefore advisable not to walk barefoot through flowering meadows. If you step on a bee, it will sting in a fight for its life. These insects usually only become aggressive when their nest is threatened or they feel attacked themselves.
Avoid hitting the animals or making frantic movements. If you accidentally come across a wasp nest, move away slowly and calmly. Do not try to destroy wasp or hornet nests!
First, these animal species are protected and important to the environment, and second, such an undertaking would be very dangerous. In such a case, call the fire department or local beekeepers - they should be able to help you. Beekeepers are also able, for example, to collect and secure swarms of bees looking for a new home.
Head coverings and long clothing that fully cover the body protect against insect bites. People allergic to insect venom should wear long trousers, closed shoes, and gloves, especially when gardening, to be better protected against “stinging accidents.”
Some insects are attracted to brightly patterned or dark clothing. So wear light-colored clothing instead. Also avoid loose sleeves and trouser legs in which insects could get lost. Exposed areas of skin can be treated with a special insect repellent spray .
These sprays release smells that insects find unpleasant and often keep mosquitoes, horseflies, or ticks away for hours.
Ticks sit in tall grass and shrubs and are brushed onto the skin or clothing when, for example, you walk across a flowering meadow. They sometimes wander around for hours or days until they find a suitable place to suck blood.
A tick spray spoils their fun and encourages them to leave the host. In any case, smells play an important role - mosquitoes are attracted by the smell of our sweat, while other insects mistake perfume for the scent of fascinating flowers.
Wasps often become a nuisance in bakery shops or at barbecues because - depending on the species - they are attracted by the smell of sweets, grilled meat, or fresh fruit. Here is a fairly effective trick: Offer them a tempting alternative.
For example, cut open a few grapes and place them in a bowl at the other end of the garden. Or take the piece of cake with the most wasps on it and carefully place it a few meters away. Because the insects follow the scent trail of their “colleagues,” many wasps usually gather where other wasps are already at work.
Insect bites in other regions of the world
Please note that this blog article focuses on native insect species. In many tropical and subtropical travel destinations, insects and other crawling creatures are native that possess far more potent venom and transmit more dangerous diseases.
Possible allergic reactions can also take a different course if they were caused by an exotic insect. Before traveling to remote regions of the world, always find out about necessary vaccinations and possible health risks.
