Treat Insect Bites on a Toddler
Your toddler will likely experience a multitude of insect and bug bites before summer ends. Most insect bites pose no medical threat. However there are rare cases when medical attention should be sought. We will cover treat insect bites on your toddler whether they be a common mosquito bite or a dangerous spider bite. Knowing treat and respond to an insect bite will ensure you provide the best possible care for your child.
Instructions
1. The first step to treating an insect bite on your toddler, is to understand the different types of reactions you may encounter. When the symptoms of an insect bite or sting are confined to the area of the bite, this is referred to as a local reaction. These local bug bite reactions will cause your toddler some discomfort but they do not present any significant medical threat.
To treat localized insect bites on your toddler, your main goal is to provide relief and comfort. Once the insect bite is discovered, immediately apply a cold compress - use ice or frozen cold packs. This will shorten and control the localized reaction to the bug bite or bee sting. After the cold compress has taken affect, apply an itch relieving ointment to the insect bite. We have had success applying calamine lotion or a 1% hydrocortisone cream to the bite area.
2. If your toddler experiences wheezing, hives, or swelling then they are experiencing a systemic reaction to the insect bite. In some cases these reactions can be serious and it is important to make a call to your doctor. What your toddler is likely experiencing is an allergic reaction to the insect bite.
Hives are not necessarily a medical emergency. However, this should be a good indicator that your toddler is more likely to experience a more severe reaction to future insect bites. You should use this opportunity to discuss your toddler's symptoms with your doctor. Prevention is an important key to proper treatment.
3. Serious insect bite symptoms to watch for in your toddler are difficulty breathing in which there is often audible wheezing. In some rare cases your child may become dizzy, lightheaded, and may even faint. Consider giving children's dose Diphenhydramine (Benadryl). This can help temporarily relieve the allergic reaction until you can get medical help. If you encounter these more severe insect bite symptoms you should seek medical attention immediately.
4. If your toddler's insect bite is significant enough to require treatment at the doctor's office, you should know what to expect at the visit. Try to have as much information as possible to assist in the doctor's treatment The doctor will want to know the type of insect that has bitten your toddler. You may not know what type of insect, bee, or spider was involved. Try to gather as much information as possible - when, where, and how the bite occurred all may be important clues.
If any of the systemic reactions outlined above are present, the doctor will likely need to give your child a adrenaline injection. If the insect bite is only showing as a localized reaction, then the treatment will be focused on the affected area. The doctor will examine the area to see if there is any dead tissue or signs of infection. In some rare occasions the insect bite will require drainage. This is a relatively simple procedure and should be on an outpatient basis.
5. If the doctor suspects that your toddler is allergic to insect bites and there is fear of a severe reaction in the future, you may be advised to purchase an emergency kit that contains epinephrine injectors. Your doctor can discuss the use of these kits with you. Be sure to ask a lot of questions and understand use the injectors.
6. Bites from poisonous spiders are a real fear for parents. However, the reality is that these types of spider bites are rare. Knowing the symptoms may help put you at ease or in the rare instance that your toddler is a bitten by a poisonous spider, you will know recognize the symptoms.
The most common type of poisonous spider involved in these rare bites is a female black widow spider. The black widow spider is found in sheds, woodpiles, cluttered garages, and barns. The black widow spider is glossy black in color with a red hour glass marking on the bottom of the abdomen. These spiders are typically one half inch in diameter.
The black widow's bite is typically painless. Usually the first symptom to appear in your toddler will be cramping and pain in the abdomen. Your will notice that your toddler's abdomen may become hard to the touch. Breathing will become more difficult for the toddler. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, shaking, and a tingling sensation in the hands. If you suspect your toddler has been bitten by a black widow spider, seek medical care immediately.
7. The other poisonous spider which a parent should be aware of is the brown recluse. The brown recluse spider is brown in color and has a white violin pattern on it's back. The bite from a brown recluse will be painful and the localized reaction will be very noticeable. The bite from a brown recluse can be dangerous, but not nearly as bad as a bite from a black widow. If you suspect your toddler has been bitten by a brown recluse spider, seek medical care immediately.
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