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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Augusta, Ga. — It seems that when the weather gets nice enough for outside play and activities, it also summons the ants, mosquitoes, flies, bees and other pesky bugs that can spoil your fun with your little ones. But you can still have a good time outdoors by learning which insects to watch out for and taking measures to keep them from bugging your children.
There are two main categories into which these bugs fall. Insects that
feed on blood from animals and people are known as “biters.” Then
there are the “stingers.” Stings are a defensive weapon of insects
meant to inflict pain immediately. Most often insects in this category
sting because children or adults have trespassed into their territory.
The common “biters” include mosquitoes, fleas, biting flies, ticks,
spiders and most ants.
Mosquitoes: These blood-thirsty insects hang out any place where there
are people, food, pools or still water. Usually they bite; you itch; the
bites go away; end of story. But for children, who can’t resist the
temptation to scratch, the bites could linger longer since the
scratching and opening of the wound can slow healing or cause a
secondary infection. The biggest reason to protect children from
mosquito bites is that these insects may carry an infectious disease
such as the West Nile Virus. But the good news is that healthy kids and
teens are at low risk for catching the disease. (are you sure of the
accuracy of this last sentence?)
Many parents mistakenly believe that applying Skin-So-Soft, citronella,
peppermint oil or soybean oil to the skin, or eating garlic will ward
off mosquitoes. These home remedies are virtually ineffective. To
protect you and your children from mosquitoes, stay away from wet areas
where they breed and use insect repellent containing 10 to 20 percent
DEET or Picaridin on skin not covered by clothing. Repellents are safe
on babies two months old or older as long as you don’t apply them near
the eyes or mouth. However, it is better to cover infants with light
layers of clothing than to put large amounts of DEET on them. When you
use DEET on kids, I recommend a sustained release formula that lasts
about six hours or more. Picaridin, an alternate repellent, must be
reapplied every couple of hours. You must reapply DEET or Picaridin
after swimming, since these chemicals wash off in water.
Fleas and biting flies: Other biters that are irritating, but not so
serious to a child’s health include fleas and biting flies. The
horsefly is a biting fly that is often found hovering near pools or
other water sources where kids are at play. You generally find fleas on
your pets, but they also can be attracted to you and your children. Fly
and flea bites cause minor itching in the affected areas that normally
goes away within a few days.
Biting flies are going to show up at the pool or lake, so be on the
lookout. DEET is partially effective on most types of flies, but not
all, so try to keep a safe distance between biting flies and your kids.
Wearing light layers of extra clothing will also shield kids from biting
flies. To protect your children from fleas, vacuum regularly where pets
rest or sleep and treat your animals for fleas. You also should limit
playtime with pets during warmer months and keep animals out of the
house if there is an outbreak.
Ticks: These blood-thirsty bugs can ruin a good family camping trip,
and the deer tick variety carries Lyme disease. Ticks are dangerous
because they are easily picked up; their bites are painless and usually
not itchy; and they are good hiders making it difficult to locate them
on the body. I recommend that you inspect your children well –
especially their hair, behind their ears and the back of their heads –
after camping or playing in wooded or grassy areas for extended periods.
The best thing to do if you spot a tick on the body is to remove it.
The preferred method is to grab the tick by the head, using tweezers, to
get the entire tick out. Do not try to burn a tick off, as the flame
only agitates the insect causing it to burrow deeper into the skin.
Clean the site with soap and water, and treat it with an antiseptic or
antibiotic cream to prevent infection.
When applied on clothing, a new repellent called Permethrin provides a
solid defense against ticks. Permethrin is a human-made synthetic
intended for use on clothing, not the skin. Permethrin treated clothing
can be purchased, I don’t understand the previous; I think the word
“ahead” is throwing me off. Do you mean “pre-treated?”) or
you can spray the repellent on your children’s clothes, and it will
last through two wash cycles. Permethrin works on contact and repels
biting chiggers, too, which are common in grasses and bushes. Using a
combination of DEET on their skin and Permethrin on their clothes will
keep your kids virtually 100 percent protected.
Spiders: Most spider bites are minor, although they can cause mild
swelling or allergic reactions. A small percentage of children and teens
will become ill from black widow or brown recluse spider bites. The few
who have a reaction from a brown recluse bite may notice swelling and
skin changes about four to eight hours after the bite. Most bites get
better with little intervention, but it can take a couple of months. The
venom in a black widow bite causes a systemic reaction throughout the
body, not just around the area of the bite. Symptoms can include cramps,
body aches, nausea, chills, fever and headache.
Spiders may hide in undisturbed piles of wood, seldom-opened boxes, in
corners behind furniture, or in a rarely used pair of outdoor shoes. To
protect yourself and your children, use caution when you approach spider
territory. Less than 1 percent of people bitten will die, but children
are most at risk and could react acutely. Just to be safe, I recommend
that you see a doctor for immediate treatment if your child has been
bitten by a brown recluse or black widow.
Ants: These hard-working creatures are small and relatively innocuous,
but they can cause slight pain or itching because most types bite. Fire
ants are different, and you will see why when you read about the
stingers. Teach children how to spot ants and avoid play near them.
The common “stingers” include bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets
and fire ants.
Bees and wasps: For most adults and children, being stung by a bee or
wasp is a minor nuisance, and the affected area is painful, red and
slightly swollen, but that’s about it. Bees and wasps carry a sting
that can cause real problems for adults and kids who are allergic to
them, though.
Be careful on picnics and when carrying sweet beverages outdoors. Bees
and other stinging insects are very attracted by these and could wind up
in the mouth of your child. This internal sting hurts incredibly, so be
sure to use “sippy cups” or other appropriately lidded cups for
outdoor refreshments. Bees and wasps build nests in trees, under porches
and in garages where children’s outdoor toys are often stored. Teach
kids not to disturb nests or swat at buzzing insects as they will sting
children if they feel threatened.
Yellow Jackets and hornets: These two stinging insects are the most
aggressive, and they commonly nest in holes in the ground. So, it is
quite easy to accidently step on or near their homes and get stung.
Since children like to dig in the dirt, it makes an encounter more
likely. Watch children closely outdoors and warn them not to dig or
stick items down into the small holes that they find in the ground. If
they do, they may not like what they discover when it leads to a painful
sting. The flying stinger insects are best managed by a professional
exterminator.
Fire ants: It’s easy for a young child to get multiple fire ant
stings. Fire ants are often encountered when a child unknowingly steps
or digs into an ant bed. Most fire ants grab and bite the skin with a
set of pinchers, then sting many times on the feet, legs or hands. Fire
ants are notorious for causing severe local reactions, including
pustules, or pimples, and red, swollen, extremely itchy areas. The bites
are rarely life threatening, but a large number of bites – more than 10
to 20 in a short time span in a young child – can lead to serious
illness and may require medical attention.
The biggest health concern for children with all stinging insects is
that stings are a major cause of anaphylaxis. It is rare, but this kind
of reaction can be fatal if help is not administered quickly. If you or
your children experience any of these symptoms after a sting – or a
spider bite – get medical help immediately:
● Shortness of breath
● Wheezing
● Redness or hives over most of the body
● Swelling of the face, lips and tongue
● Feeling like your throat is closing up
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Chills
● Muscle aches or cramps
● Weakness
● Fever
For less severe bites and stings, you should always clean and dry the
affected area and quell scratching by covering the wounds. In many cases
applying a topical antibiotic will speed relief and recovery.
Curious youngsters enjoy exploring the outdoors, so bites and stings
are inevitable. However, if you use these suggestions, you will help
your children recognize, and steer clear of biting and stinging insects.
MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation
operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical
Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient
facilities and services throughout the state. For more information,
please visit mcghealth.org.
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