No matter where you live, there is a good chance you have been bitten by some types of insects. Some bites can be dangerous, while for most part they are harmless, yet needing first aid care.
Bug bites is one of the common types we experience. There are several types of bug bites, including
- Flea bites
- Mosquito bites
- Bed bug bites
- Tick bites
According to one of the family physicians urgent care in Pentagon, “ A bug bite happens when the skin gets injury by the mouth of an insect. They do it to feed on blood or to defend its territory”.
There are various situations when you can get bitten by a bug. When as a camper, hiker, wild life lover you spend good time outside, you get exposed to insects or bug bites. You are more at risk when you travel to tropical places.
How to tell if you have a bug bite?
“ Firstly, look for redness and swelling around the area you feel bitten”, says a doctor in a walk-in clinic around Pentagon. “ If it is painful and tender, in all probability it is a bug bite”.
You can even have more serious symptoms like fever, chills, body aches. If you are not sure whether you are bitten by a bug, it makes sense to err on the side of caution and see a doctor at the earliest.
If the bite occurs at odd times of the day, or on days doctors’ offices are closed, the best bet to get medical assistance is by visiting an urgent care clinic near you. Most of urgent care clinics are open 7 days a week. A family physicians urgent care in Pentagon offers care at extended hours even.
Luckily, most bug bites can be treated at home. For mosquito, flea and bug bites, thoroughly clean the affected area with soap and water, and take antihistamines for itching and hives. For tick bites, you can use a sharp tweezer to pull out the tick. Apply even pressure to avoid breaking the tick.
“ You must also drink plenty of water to flush out toxins”, says one of the physicians urgent care in Pentagon.
Seek medical assistance if you experience the following symptoms
- Substantial swelling
- Severe pain
- Bruising or discoloration at the area of bite
- Pus formation
- Fever, chills
The bite can get aggravated if you have a pre-existing condition like allergy. It is best you tell your doctor about this when you meet him/ her during consultation.
In rare cases, you may get a severe reaction such as swollen face, difficulty breathing, a racing heart, loss of consciousness or difficulty swallowing
In such events dial 999 for an ambulance or visit a hospital straightaway.
You can take some precautions to minimize the risk of bug bite, such as wear shoes wfamily physicians urgent care in Pentagon hen outdoors, be extra careful around flowering plants, compost and stagnant water. You can even apply insect repellent to exposed surfaces of the skin. Avoid using strong perfumes as they can attract insects.
Arlington VA Immediate Care Clinic is a premier urgent care service located in Arlington, VA. The clinic offers patients quality medical care without an appointment. This Immediate Care Clinic boasts of having qualified and experienced doctors and also lab and onsite X-ray facilities.
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