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Dr. Catherine Palmier—Treating Kids' Bug Bites Ask the Experts – UHC TV The question we commonly get, especially in the southern part of the United States is how does one treat a bug bite? Well, you know, the first thing you have to consider is, what do you think bit your child and where on the body is it? Depending on where you live, it could be something as simple as a mosquito, but certainly if you live in the southwestern states you have to worry about other things like scorpions and other kinds of bugs. Basic treatment for a bug bite is symptomatic. And, when I say symptomatic is you’re trying to make your child more comfortable. Most of the time with a “generic” kind of bug bite, you’ll see a mark where the insect has bitten your child and usually followed by an area of redness. Sometimes that redness is raised and it can be described as urticaria—or like hive like. Hives are basically a reaction to the chemical the insect injects when they bite your child. Treatment for bug bites is usually to give the child an antihistamine, and the one that’s most handy in most homes is Benadryl. You can follow the package directions for that, followed by a cool compress. But, what you want to watch for in bug bites are generalized symptoms like not just redness around the bug bite but hives or welts turning up on other areas of the child’s body or certainly any difficulty breathing. That signals that your child’s body is having more of a systemic reaction to the bug bite as opposed to a local reaction—just localized redness. Other things you want to watch for are a bite that has a dark center—black or gray could signal that it’s a spider bite, and those are particularly serious. And, the other thing you want to watch for is in certain types of bites like a bee sting that the stinger is not still there. If it is, and it’s easy for you to get to, grab a pair of household tweezers, clean them off well in alcohol, let it dry, and try to get them out. But, if you’re concerned about the bug bite, or if you’re concerned the bug bites got infected, go ahead and see your pediatrician with your child because they can help work out some of these things with you.

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How to Treat Kids' Bug Bites

Question: How do I treat a bug bite?

Answer from: Dr. Catherine Palmier, M.D., pediatrics expert

When treating most bug bites, you just need to make your child more comfortable. However, some symptoms may be a sign of a more serious reaction.

kids, Ask the Expert, Healthy Kids, skin

The content of these videos is for information only and is not intended to be medical advice. Refer to your health plan benefit guide for coverage details, and consult with your doctor to determine what is best for you.

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How to Treat Kids' Bug Bites

Question: How do I treat a bug bite?

Answer from: Dr. Catherine Palmier, M.D., pediatrics expert

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