Cindy's Health Tips:
Bug Bites
Health Tip #8, 17 October 1996
Why do some insects bite?
Insects bite because they want a meal of blood. The mouths of those insects are especially adapted so that they can puncture skin to draw blood.
What are some ways to prevent insect bites?
Bites outdoors can be reduced by wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks, and shoes. Remember that insects mostly bite unconcealed skin.
Bites indoors can be reduced by using insect screens over open windows or spraying your rooms with aerosols containing pyrethroid insecticides before going to bed. We do not have screens on our dorm windows, but we can pull the drapes so that it covers the open section of the window to reduce insect entrance into our rooms.
What do I do if I have a bite?
Wash the location of the bite with water and soap.
Something cold such as a cold pack (which Scott and I both have) should be applied to the bite. Delay in application of something cold may leave you with a more severe local reaction.
Cold-water soaks are better for itching. (Warm-water soaks are usually more soothing for pain or inflammation.)
Scratching should be avoided.
What are some treatments I can take to relieve the pain?
A soothing ointment such as calamine lotion can be applied.
Aspirin or other pain relievers may be used.
Antihistamines (such as Benadryl) can somewhat help relieve the itch.
FREEBORN HALL
Unit 1, 2650 Durant Avenue
University of California at Berkeley
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