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Insect bites: what helps and when to worry
Most insect bites are harmless and get better in a few days. Here is how to treat them at home and when to get medical help.
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What it is
Insect bites and stings are common and usually not serious. They often get better in a few days [2]. Bee, wasp, and hornet stings and fire ant bites usually hurt. Mosquito and flea bites usually itch [1]. Some insects can spread diseases. In the United States, some mosquitoes spread West Nile virus. Travelers outside the United States may be at risk for malaria and other infections [1]. Bites from ticks can cause Lyme disease, and mites can cause scabies [2].
Insect bites can sometimes become infected or cause a serious allergic reaction [2]. For example, impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that often starts when bacteria get into a break in the skin, such as an insect bite [9]. It is most common in children between ages two and six [9]. Head lice are different. They are tiny insects that live on the scalp and feed on human blood [10]. Lice spread by close person-to-person contact [8].
What you can do at home
If there is a stinger, tick, or caterpillar on the skin, remove it carefully first [4].
- Brush or scrape a stinger sideways with your fingernail or the edge of a bank card. Do not use tweezers, as you could squeeze poison out [4].
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool to grasp a tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull slowly upwards. Do not squeeze the tick [4].
- Gently remove a caterpillar with tweezers or a pen. Try not to disturb it [4].
After removing anything, wash the area with soap and water [3][4]. Keep insect bites clean to help prevent infections like impetigo [6].
To ease symptoms:
- Put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a clean cloth soaked in cold water, on the bite for at least 20 minutes if it is swollen [3].
- Keep the area raised if you can [3].
- Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is painful [3].
- Use antihistamines to relieve itching. Do not use antihistamine cream if caterpillar hairs were on the skin [3].
- Use hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling [3].
Do not scratch the bite, as it could get infected [5]. Do not use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda [5].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
See a pharmacist if your child aged 1 year or older has a bite or sting and any of these are present [5]:
- The skin around it feels hot or looks red. Redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin [5].
- It is painful [5].
- The area looks swollen [5].
- There is pus or fluid coming out [5].
See a GP if [5]:
- A child under 1 year old has an insect bite or sting [5].
- You think your child was bitten by a tick and has flu-like symptoms, or a round or oval rash that may look like a bullseye [5].
Ask your doctor for an urgent appointment or get medical advice if [5]:
- Symptoms get worse or are not getting better [5].
- The sting was in the mouth, throat, or near the eyes [5].
- There is tummy pain and vomiting [5].
- Your child feels dizzy or lightheaded [5].
- There is a high temperature and swollen glands [5].
- Your child was stung more than once [5].
- Your child has had a serious allergic reaction to an insect bite before [5].
Call your emergency number if your child shows signs of a serious allergic reaction [5]:
- Lips, mouth, throat, or tongue suddenly become swollen [5].
- Breathing very fast or struggling to breathe [5].
- Throat feels tight or trouble swallowing [5].
- Skin, tongue, or lips turn blue, grey, or pale. On brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms or soles [5].
- Sudden confusion, drowsiness, or dizziness [5].
- Faints and cannot be woken up [5].
- A child is limp, floppy, or not responding normally [5].
Common questions
Can I pull out a stinger with tweezers? No. Brush or scrape the stinger sideways with your fingernail or a bank card. Tweezers can squeeze more poison into the skin [4].
How do I know if my child has head lice? Symptoms include a tickling feeling in the hair, frequent itching from an allergic reaction to bites, sores from scratching, and trouble sleeping [7]. Diagnosis usually comes from seeing a louse or nit. Use a magnifying lens and fine-toothed comb to find them [7].
Can an insect bite cause impetigo? Yes. Impetigo often starts when bacteria get into a break in the skin, such as an insect bite [9]. Keeping bites clean with soap and water helps prevent it [6].
Sources
[1] MedlinePlus — “Insect Bites and Stings” (2026), section “Introducción”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/insectbitesandstings.html [2] NHS — “Insect bites and stings” (2023), section “Insect bites and stings”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/ [3] NHS — “Insect bites and stings” (2023), section “Easing your symptoms”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/ [4] NHS — “Insect bites and stings” (2023), section “Removing stingers, ticks or caterpillars”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/ [5] NHS — “Insect bites and stings” (2023), section “Don’t”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/ [6] NHS — “Impetigo” (2024), section “How to avoid impetigo”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/impetigo/ [7] MedlinePlus — “Head Lice” (2025), section “What are the symptoms of head lice?”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/headlice.html [8] CDC — “About Lice”, section “About Lice Key points”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/lice/about/index.html [9] MedlinePlus — “Impetigo” (2025), section “Introducción”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/impetigo.html [10] MedlinePlus — “Head Lice” (2025), section “What are head lice?”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/headlice.html
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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