Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites - Topic Overview
Insect and spider bites often cause minor
swelling, redness, pain, and itching. These mild reactions are common and may
last from a few hours to a few days. Home treatment is often all that is needed
to relieve the symptoms of a mild reaction to
common stinging or biting insects and spiders.
Some people have more severe reactions to bites or stings. Babies and
children may be more affected by bites or stings than adults.
Examples of problems that are more serious include:
A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Severe allergic reactions are not common
but can be life-threatening and require emergency care. Signs or symptoms may
may occur if the circulatory system cannot get enough blood to the vital
Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, or feeling of
fullness in the mouth or throat.
Swelling of the lips, tongue,
ears, eyelids, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and mucous membranes