Avoiding And Treating Bug Bites

Why does it seem some people get bitten by bugs more than others?

Everybody gets bit, and its not that one person is getting bit more than the next person, but one person have you response is much more reactive to that bite, that is why sometimes you are going through with a friend and you fell like one person is getting bit more than the other but that is really happening, everybody is getting bit equally but what you are saying is your body is response to that bite, it's an allergic response where in one person is much more aggressive and reactive and the next person, he could feel nothing. But everybody gets bit, bugs do not want one person more than the other, they like to bite everybody. It is just one's persons body reacts more aggressively.

What is 'scabies'?

Scabies are human mites that have existed for 2500 - 3000 years. And originally, they were described by the Egyptians actually. Scabies mites can lead to a very paritic or very itchy eruption all over the body, typically in the armpits, in the webs of the hands, around the umbilicus and the groin and genital areas. It's infectious. It can be spread from person to person and it's contagious and it has to be treated. To treat yourself, you should see your doctor who can prescribe a medicine for you that can cure you of Scabies.

Should I scratch an itch caused by an insect bite?

When you have an insect bite, often times, if you can avoid to scratch that bite, it's in your best interests. That may lead you not to have things like discoloration, scarring, or skin breakdown as a result of your own scratching and picking. Obviously sometimes your body's immune response to that bite is so dramatic that you can't help yourself but to scratch. In that case, you should get an over-the-counter cortisone and try that. If that doesn't help topically, a doctor can prescribe a stronger cortisone that can often help calm that bug bite down a little bit quickly, more quickly, that can lead you to have that resolved faster. Obviously, moisturization of the skin can also help prevent itching as much as possible.

What is 'swimmer's itch'?

Swimmer's itch is an extremely itchy eruption that's self-limited. It's usually caused when a person swims or is in an area of water that is infected with a parasite or organism called the schistasome. That schistasome can invade the skin. Humans are not a normal host of this organism, so usually this organism will die within the human skin. During that process, it leads to a very reactive phenomenon of the skin that can cause itching and lasts several days. This itching is self-limited and resolves on its own, and these organisms cannot invade the infrastructures such as deep fat, connective tissue, or muscle or bone, and the disease is not communicable to another person.

When should I see a doctor about a bug bite?

There are certain bug bites that can be dangerous. Sometimes a spider bite such as a Black Widow spider can actually cause death if it's severe enough. But if you have a bite that ulcerates, that's increasing in size, that's not getting better quickly, or if you have fevers, chills, nausea or vomiting, you should seek the advice of your doctor as soon as possible.