Identify the "culprit" for proper handling
In order to help people proactively prevent and handle properly when bitten by insects during the festival season, Dr. Nguyen Huu Truong - Deputy Director of the Center for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Bach Mai Hospital - has issued important recommendations.
According to experts, identifying the right type of biting insect helps choose the appropriate treatment. Some common species include:
Honeybee: Velvet body, yellowish-brown mixed with black. This is the only species that leaves its stings and venom sacs on its skin after stinging, after which the bee will die.
Long body, small waist, black mixed with yellow or orange. This species is very ferocious, does not leave stings and can sting many times.
Hornets: Large size, black or dark reddish-brown body. Stings cause severe stinging pain, easily causing strong reactions.
Round, hairy body, usually with a yellow stripe. Relatively gentle, but the venom can still cause allergies.
Fire ants: Small but the stings cause a burning sensation, after about a day, typical pustules often appear.
Three levels of body reaction
Dr. Nguyen Huu Truong said that the body can react in three levels:
Mild local reaction: Swelling, redness, itching and pain at the site of the bite, usually resolves on its own after a few hours.
Spreading reaction: About 10% of cases have wide red folds, severe itching, pain; peak after 1-2 days and can last 7-10 days.
Systemic allergies (dangerous): Manifestations include whole-body urticaria, lip-eye edema, shortness of breath, bronchospasm, and even anaphylactic shock. In the US, there are about 40-50 deaths each year due to anaphylactic shock from insect bites.
Proper handling when bitten by insects
When unfortunately burned during a spring trip, people need to remain calm and follow the following steps:
Remove the venom immediately (if any): Use a clean tweezer to remove it, avoid squeezing to break the venom bag, causing toxicity to spread.
Reduce swelling and pain: Apply cold compresses and lift the bitten area to reduce edema.
Use supportive drugs: Antihistamines such as loratadin or cetirizin can be taken. In case of severe swelling, oral corticosteroids can be considered according to medical advice. Antibiotics are not needed if there are no signs of infection.
Notes with fire ants: Burns often create pustules after a day, absolutely do not break them to avoid infection.
When there are severe signs: If whole-body urticaria appears, shortness of breath, dizziness, low blood pressure... need to go to a medical facility immediately. Adrenaline is a mandatory drug and needs to be used early in anaphylactic shock emergency.
To reduce the risk of insect bites, experts recommend:
Discreet clothing: Wear closed shoes, wear long-sleeved clothes, prioritize dark colors.
Limit strong fragrances: Avoid perfumes and cosmetics with strong odors because they easily attract insects.
People with severe allergies should carry a dose-administered Adrenaline (EpiPen) syringe when traveling far from medical facilities.
According to Dr. Nguyen Huu Truong, each family should bring a medical bag when traveling in spring, including:
Oral antihistamines (cetirizin, loratadin...).
Oral corticosteroids (as prescribed by your doctor).
Cold compress bags, clean tweezers to remove venom.
Disinfectant solution to clean burns, especially with fire ants.
Dosage Adrenaline injection (for people with a history of severe allergies).
Medical bags only help with initial treatment. If systemic symptoms appear, patients must go to the hospital immediately. Adrenaline is the key to survival in anaphylactic shock" - Dr. Nguyen Huu Truong emphasized.
