YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH: BITES (INSECT)
Ant bites
Some types of ants (e.g. bull ants) are highly aggressive.
Clinical features
If your child has been stung by an ant, he may develop pain and swelling at the site of the sting. Ants can inject a type of venom via their sting, and they are able to sting several times.
Some children may be allergic to ant venom, and may develop a widespread rash, or difficulty in breathing. Some children have even been known to collapse.
Treatment
If your child only has mild pain and swelling, paracetamol may be given in recommended doses to ease the pain. If your child has a severe reaction to the sting, take him to your doctor immediately, or to the nearest children’s hospital. Make sure you remove the insect carefully first and if it is dead keep it for later identification by your doctor.
Bee stings
Bee stings have barbs on the end of them and they stay in the skin together with the venom gland (the bee dies after injecting the sting).
Clinical features
Your child will complain of severe pain at the site of the sting, and usually marked swelling develops rapidly. Children who are allergic to bee venom are at great risk of severe reaction to bee stings, and may develop a widespread rash, difficulty in breathing and may even collapse.
Treatment
Remove the insect carefully and if it is dead keep it for later identification by your doctor. Do not try to squeeze a bee sting out, as this will inject more venom into the wound. Scrape it off if possible. If your child has a severe reaction to the sting, see your doctor immediately, or go to the nearest children’s hospital.
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