INSECT BITES

Symptoms | When to call | Homecare Advice

A Female Mosquito Feeding on a Human Host

Main Symptoms

• Itchy Insect Bites: Bites of mosquitoes, chiggers (harvest mites), fleas, and bedbugs usually cause itchy, red bumps.
• Painful Insect Bites: Bites of horseflies, deer flies, gnats, fire ants, harvester ants, blister beetles, and centipedes usually cause a painful, red bump. Within a few hours, fire ant bites can change to blisters or pimples.
• This topic excludes bees, ticks and spiders.
• A severe life-threatening allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis

See More Appropriate Topic(instead of this one) If

• BEE OR YELLOW JACKET STING
• SPIDER BITE
• TICK BITE

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Pediatric SelfCareNavigator. Copyright © 2000-2004 Barton Schmitt, M.D. FAAP

Reviewed 8/2004

Revised 7/2004

See Other Topics:

• Bee or Yellow Jacket Sting

• Spider Bite

• Tick Bite

View Anatomic Index of Topics