The need to prevent insect bites and stings are a part of everyday Australian life. Whether you live in the country or the city, they’re something we have to deal with all year round. But depending on the insect and the person bitten, some insect bites and stings can be more than just a nuisance, they can actually be deadly.
First aid treatments for insect bites and sting exist, and most of them are pretty straight forward. However, the ability to prevent insect bites and stings is always better than cure, and this is especially true when someone’s life might be on the line.
Bite and Sting Risks: Insect-Borne Diseases Risks and Other Problems
The most common reason to prevent insect bites and stings is because of the risk associated with allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. While most allergic reactions are harmless and don’t progress beyond swelling, redness, and itching, a severe allergic reaction can be life threatening by causing someone’s throat to close up or even cardiac arrest. Even people without known allergies can develop one after repeated exposures.
All insects come with the risk of disease transmission. When you prevent insect bites and stings, you also stop pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. About 5,000 cases of mosquito-borne disease are reported in Australia each year, with the vast majority caused by Ross River virus. At least 17 species of Aussie ticks bite humans and while Lyme disease is not found in Australia, there is a serious risk of risk of DSCATT (Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks), a series of debilitating symptoms including fatigue, problems with thinking or memory, sensory changes, joint pain, and headache.
All insect bites and stings create the risk of secondary infections by breaking the skin and allowing bacteria in. These can range from simple infections that you can rest away, to more serious ones which require antibiotics, to serious, life-threatening infections.
Common Insect Stings and Bites in Australia
Different bugs have different means to prevent insect bites and stings. There’s also a multitude of different risks and symptoms associated with each one.
Spider Bites
Most spider bites are harmless and cause nothing more than pain, swelling, and itching. The most venomous species in Australia are the Red-back spider and the Funnel-web Spider, both of which require immediate medical attention to receive the life-saving antivenom.
Mosquito Bites
Mosquitos bites are known for the itch red bumps they cause, which are otherwise mostly harmless. However, mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases including dengue, Ross River virus, and the potentially fatal Murray Valley encephalitis.
Bee Sting
Sometimes you can see a bee sting coming, other times you won’t until it’s too late and you feel the sharp, immediate pain. You should be able to see the stinger left in the skin, which should be scraped or flicked out and not removed with tweezers as squeezing can release venom. The biggest risk from bee stings is anaphylaxis, which should be immediately treated with an Epi-Pen.
Wasp Stings
The biggest differences between wasps and bees are that wasps are more aggressive and can sting multiple times. Paper wasps and European wasps are common in Australia and will attack to defend their hives. Again, the biggest risk comes from a severe allergic reaction.
Ant Bites
Ant bites might not seem like a big deal, but this depends on the species. Fire ants, bull ants and jumper ants deliver painful stings that can trigger severe allergic reactions.
Tick Bites
Tick bites can go unnoticed for days due to anaesthetic properties in their saliva; you might not know you’ve been bitten until you see a swollen tick hanging from your leg. They do more than just feed on your blood; tick bites can cause tick paralysis, allergic reactions, and meat allergies.
Minor Bug Bites
Outdoors, midges, sandflies, fleas and March flies create itchy bites that can occur in clusters and are harmless. Indoors, bed bugs leave itchy red welts and usually require an exterminator to get rid of.
Prevent Insect Bites and Stings
The ability to prevent insect bites and stings is your best defence against the illness and diseases they can cause. While some methods work better than others for particular bugs, these methods generally work well to prevent insect bites and stings from any bug.
Leave Them Be
If you see a nest, a swarm, or a larger bug, stay calm and slowly move away from it if you can. Trying to swat at or remove dangerous bugs by yourself can backfire and trigger them into attacking. If you find them in your home, prevent insect bites and stings by calling an exterminator instead.
Wearing Protective Clothing Outdoors
Whether camping, hiking, or going on a picnic, fully cover any exposed skin, by wearing long sleeves and pants, no matter the time of day or year. Wear fully closed shoes, tuck your shirt into your pants and tuck your pants into your socks, especially when hiking through bushland.
Best Insect Repellents
When outdoors, the best way to prevent insect bites and stings is also the most obvious. Use insect repellent that contains DEET as its active ingredient on any exposed skin. Permethrin is also a great choice and can be applied directly to your clothes. If you prefer natural alternatives, products containing picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus also work well.
First Aid: Insect Bite Treatment
Sometimes despite your best efforts to prevent insect bites and stings, the little buggers will still manage to get through. Quick first aid action can help treat your symptoms and alleviate pain, and prevent something small from spiralling into a serious medical problem.
For most insect bites and stings, simply wash the area with soap and water to prevent infection. Over-the-counter pain killers can reduce pain, though using ice isn’t recommended as this can slow healing.
Treatment for Insect Allergies
Most allergic reactions aren’t life-threatening and present with the same symptoms as other bites and stings, redness, itching, swelling, and a rash. These are easily treated with antihistamines.
Serious allergies can cause anaphylaxis and death. If you know you have this level of allergy then you will need to have an adrenaline autoinjector prescribed by a doctor and ready to use. Inject the medicine by pressing the autoinjector against the thigh and holding it in place for several seconds, then call triple zero (000) immediately.
Tick Bite Removal
Tick removal is trickier than you might think; pulling them off with tweezers can break their mandibles off, leaving them in your skin and leading to a serious infection. Instead, kill the tick of first by freezing it with products specifically designed to do so or get help from a medical professional.
Learn First Aid For Any Insect Bite or Sting
Now you know how to prevent insect bites and stings, and what to do when they happen anyway. But when things get really serious, like when someone experiences an allergic reaction without an Epi-Pen, will you really know how to help? By enrolling in a HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course you can not only learn how to treat and prevent insect bites and stings, but a whole host of other medical conditions.
FAQs
Are Centipede Bites Dangerous?
Larger centipedes are capable of biting humans with their strong venom-wielding front fangs, which can cause immense pain and inflammation, as well as the risk of an allergic reaction. Wash the bite with soap and water to prevent infection.
Is it True Some Bug Bites Can Cause Meat Allergies?
Australian Paralysis Tick bites can cause meat allergy in some people. There’s no cure, so affected people should avoid red meat and products containing alpha-gal such as gelatine, some soaps, some medications, and certain dairy products.
What Seasonal Differences Are There in Insect Activity in Australia?
Insect activity rises in the warmer months, from late spring through early autumn. Mosquitoes, wasps, and flies thrive in humid, warm conditions, while spiders and ants often become more noticeable as they move indoors to escape heat or rain.
