In the hot season, the incidence of diseases is relatively higher than in the winter. In addition, the incidence of various insects and spiders also increases during this time. As a result, the number of patients with insect bites is also extremely high among the patients seeking treatment during this time. Everyone asks, what should be done first in case of insect bites?
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| Bitten by a poisonous insect? What to do? |
First of all: No matter whether it is a wasp, hornet, or bee, since the venom of that insect will spread throughout the body with the help of our body's circulatory system, the spread of the venom can be prevented initially by constricting the blood vessels and veins. I learned as a child that things contract in the cold and expand in the heat. Following that rule, if you apply ice to the bite site, the constriction of the blood vessels will initially stop the spread of the venom. Since most insects inject venom through their stings, if there is a sting at the bite site, removing it with tweezers will stop the continuous flow of venom from the source of the venom.
Once the initial treatment phase is over, you should seek medical attention. This is because the venom attacks the body in two ways. First, there is a local inflammatory reaction at the site of the bite. The initial symptoms are redness, swelling, pain, itching, etc.
Secondly, if the venom spreads from the bite site to the entire body through the blood vessels and arteries, its effects can be fatal. Starting from a sudden drop in blood pressure and dizziness, various allergic reactions can occur. Some of these reactions are fatal. I have seen cases of suffocation due to laryngeal edema, as well as kidney failure due to a wasp bite. Therefore, after primary treatment, it is important to consult a doctor. The doctor will apply antiallergic and anti-inflammatory medicines as needed. In some cases, adrenaline injections may also be given under close supervision. The right treatment at the right time will completely cure the patient.
Also, during the summer, many people seek medical treatment for skin inflammation caused by contact with a type of pederin insect. In rural Bengal, this is called "pokay latata". Initially, it is important to wash the area with soap and apply ice. Then, of course, antibiotics, antihistamines, and topical steroids may need to be used after consulting a doctor.
March-April to August-September is the breeding season of Indian tarantula spiders. They are very aggressive during this time. In West Bengal, mainly two types of poisonous tarantula bites are found. Kylobrachis in South Bengal, Selenxomia in North Bengal. Their bites mainly cause severe inflammation like cellulitis. Allergic reactions also occur from their hair. The combination of the two makes the suffering extreme. Therefore, it is important to initially clean the area with soapy water and apply ice to the tarantula bite and then seek necessary treatment as per the doctor's advice as soon as possible.
