California Baby Natural Living | Online Magazine

From raising a simple welt to prompting a possibly life-threatening swelling, a mosquito bite or bee sting has the potential of ruining a perfectly fun time outdoors.

Bites and stings are not the same. Common bites come from mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers, ticks, and spiders. Some insect bites carry disease. Stings considered venomous include bees, fire ants, yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets. Compared to stings, bites tend to be milder. Bites usually itch and may have some redness. Pain and allergic reactions are uncommon. Stings are often less itchy but are more painful, with stinging and burning sensations and more intense swelling and redness. Severe reactions, although rare, are almost always caused by venomous insect stings though bites from black widow or brown recluse spiders are more serious and require medical attention. If there is swelling in the throat and the child has difficulty breathing, the reaction can become life-threatening and requires emergency medical attention.

Although the bites are usually only a mild nuisance, they sometimes spread disease like malaria, yellow fever, typhus, West Nile virus, and Lyme disease. Lyme disease, the most common, is caused from the bite of the Ixodes tick (deer tick) infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Symptoms usually begin within a week following infection. The early stage of infection begins with a painless, red-ringed bull’s-eye rash and flu-like symptoms. Chronic symptoms appear from 2 to 4 months after infection and may include arthritis, Bell’s palsy, nerve symptoms, heart block, and meningitis. The last stage, which can occur up to years following a tick bite, can cause arthritis (knee), mood swings, and disturbances in thinking, mostly in adults. Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotics but adjunctive therapy with homeopathy Chinese medicine, naturopathy, or osteopathy are extremely helpful. Consult your practitioner if your child has any symptoms of Lyme disease.

Prevention

Insect repellents work against biting insects, but are not helpful against stingers. Standard chemical repellents and coils may contain DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), DEET (N, N-diethylmeta-toluamide) permethrin, and other chemicals. DEET is considered quite effective against mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, and is found in most commercial brands. However, DEET has dangerous side effects that range from localized rash to more severe conditions such as twitching, seizures, shortness of breath, and confusion. Permethrin is toxic to the nerves and brain, and more dangerous to children than adults. It is meant to be used on clothing and camping equipment, not to be used directly on the skin.

It is difficult to justify the use of these harmful chemicals on children and adults. If you use these products consider the following recommendations:

Use the product sparingly and avoid applying to your child’s face or hands.
Wash off with soap and water after done for the day.
Do not use DEET in children less than two years old.
Do not use DEET on open cuts or wounds.
Do not apply more than once a day.
Avoid concentrations of more than 10% on children.

As an alternative, consider natural DEET—free repellents. Some of these include the citronella, cedarwood, eucalyptus, lemongrass, castor, rosemary, clove, neem, geranium, and peppermint. They may need to be reapplied more often than the commercial chemical brands, but they are well worth it. Burn citronella candles or incense during picnic outings. For increased protection, apply the natural repellent to clothing, shoes, tents, and nets.

In addition, here are tips for avoiding insects:

Think location, location, location! Avoid areas where insects are more prevalent. As mosquitoes breed in wet areas, don’t stay by swamps or standing water. Ticks are more common in dense woods.

Ways to avoid stinging insects:

Don’t dress your child in bright colors
Don’t use creams with scent
Keep a clean picnic area, free of garbage and odors

Ways to avoid mosquitoes, ticks, and other critters:

Cover up: Dress your child in a hat, and a long—sleeve shirt tucked into pants with shoes and socks. This is more important especially in the evening when most insect bites occur.
After playing outdoors in a wooded area, inspect your child for ticks. The tick can be removed with tweezers; grab the tick at the head. Early removal of a tick may help prevent infection.
Use insect repellent, preferably the natural ones.

Conventional Treatment

The standard approach to treating insect bites and stings is with topical creams for itching, pain, and swelling. These may contain antihistamines, anti—inflammatories, analgesics, and steroid cream. Topical anti—bacterials are prescribed to prevent infection from moderate stings.

Home Treatment

As an alternative, try the following:

If your child has been stung, examine the area. Brush off the stinger (using the straight edge of a credit card or your nail). Avoid pulling out the stinger with your finger, as it may release more venom into the skin.
Clean the area with soap and water. Use Calendula officinalis mother tincture, an antiseptic.
Apply Calendula cream to the bite, after cleaning.
Apply baking soda paste (baking soda with water) over affected areas.
Soak in an oatmeal bath.
Place ice packs on the area to reduce pain and swelling.
Throw some rosemary or sage on the barbeque to help repel mosquitoes.
Garlic (capsule or raw) may reduce the risk of insect and tick bites.
Garlic juice (diluted 1:5 in water) sprayed on legs and arms is known to be effective. As an alternative, consider saturating cloth strips and strategically placing them around your outdoor areas.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) has been reported to repel insects, though this is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is thought to work by providing an unpleasant odor and taste in perspiration. Although some people use this during mosquito season, it is suggested to take at least one day before exposure (100 mg in adults). Food Sources of vitamin B1 are found in whole—grains, green leafy vegetables, legumes, sweet corn, brown rice, berries, yeast, sunflower seeds, oats, avocado, pasta, tofu, artichoke, tuna, and salmon.

Apis mellifica is an excellent remedy for stings, especially bee stings. The bee sting is painful, burning, stinging and feels better with cold applications. The area is red, raised, warm, and swollen. Apis is also a good remedy for hives with the similar presentation.

Carbolic acid is used for extreme symptoms such anaphylaxis and collapse associated with swelling of the face and tongue, especially after an insect sting. Hives with the sensations of burning and itching and blisters cover the body, especially the hands.

Ledum palustre is a common remedy for mosquito bites arid stings, often accompanied with significant swelling. Sometimes the inflammation appears puffy and purple. Typically the bites are relieved with cold applications. According to the late British physician Noel Puddephatt, “Ledum is unsurpassed for dealing with the effects (recent and past) of all animal bites and stings and all punctured wounds. Into this category come dog bites, and bite from other animals, insect bites (mosquito especially) and tick bites with the resulting tick bite fever, scorpion bites and all insect stings and bites.” If your child comes home with a tick bite, or you suspect one, give Ledum 30C twice a day for 3 days.

Urtica urens comes from the stinging—nettle plant. It is often used for reactions to shell-fish, but also for hives following insect bites, stings, and from becoming overheated. The skin stings, prickles, burns, and itches violently. Urtica urens is also used for first— and second—degree burns. The hives are worse with cold.

Dr. Lauren Feder is a physician, board certified in homeopathic medicine, lecturer, writer and author of Natural Baby and Childcare with offices in Los Angeles, CA.

The information is not intended to replace the diagnosis, treatment and services of a physician. Always consult your physician or childcare expert if you have any questions concerning your or your family's well being. For severe or life-threatening conditions, seek immediate medical attention.