Bites and stings: first aid and when to get checked
Most insect bites and stings cause pain, redness, swelling or itching that fade within a few days. Wash the spot, use a cold pack and keep an eye on it. Get checked for any animal or human bite, a tick you can't remove, spreading redness, or a rash or fever after a tick bite.
Scrape a bee stinger out with the edge of a credit card; MedlinePlus warns that tweezers may squeeze in more venom.
Remove a tick with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up with steady pressure, the CDC says.
In Illinois, Lyme disease is spread by the black-legged tick, also called the deer tick.
A rash or fever within several weeks of a tick bite is a reason to see a clinician.
Animal and human bites carry a high risk of infection and may need a tetanus shot or a rabies evaluation.
Common bites and stings around Westmont, IL
Warm months bring most of the bites and stings we see. Here are the usual culprits in the western suburbs:
Bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. These stings hurt right away and swell. Yellow jackets are drawn to sweet drinks and garbage cans.
Mosquitoes, fleas and mites. These bites tend to itch more than they hurt.
Ticks. They live in wooded, brushy and grassy areas, so a hike, a ballfield or a backyard can bring one home. You often won't feel the bite.
Spiders. Most spider bites cause a small, red, itchy bump.
Dogs and cats. Pet bites are common, especially in children, and break the skin more than people expect.
The Illinois Department of Public Health notes that infected black-legged ticks have been found in Illinois. Young ticks can be as small as a pinhead, so many people never notice the bite.
What's normal and what's not: bites and stings compared
Typical reactions and what to watch for
Bite or sting
Normal reaction
Watch for
Bee, wasp or hornet
Sharp pain, redness and swelling at the spot
Swelling that keeps spreading, or symptoms away from the sting
Mosquito, flea or mite
Itchy red bumps
Broken skin from scratching that turns red, crusty or oozing
Tick
A small red mark after removal
A growing rash or fever days to weeks later
Dog or cat
A puncture, scrape or tear
Redness, swelling, pus, or a deep wound on the hand
Spider
A small red, itchy bump
Redness that spreads or a sore that gets worse
What a Lyme disease rash looks like
The CDC says the Lyme rash, called erythema migrans, shows up in about 70 to 80 percent of infected people. It starts at the bite site about a week after the bite (anywhere from 3 to 30 days), spreads over several days and can reach 12 inches or more. It often feels warm but rarely itches or hurts. It may clear in the center, but it doesn't always look like a bull's-eye.
Fever, chills, headache, tiredness and achy joints in the weeks after a tick bite can be early Lyme disease, even without a rash.
First aid for bites and stings
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Bee and wasp stings
Get the stinger outScrape it off with a straight edge such as a credit card. MedlinePlus advises against tweezers, which may squeeze the venom sac.
Wash itClean the area with soap and water.
Cool itApply ice wrapped in a washcloth for 10 minutes, then take it off for 10 minutes. Repeat as needed.
Calm the itchAn over-the-counter antihistamine or anti-itch cream can help.
Watch itCheck for more redness, swelling or pain over the next several days.
How to remove a tick
Grasp the tick with clean, fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin as you can.
Pull straight up with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk.
If mouthparts stay in the skin, remove them only if they come out easily. Otherwise, let the skin push them out as it heals.
Wash the bite and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
Put the tick in a sealed bag or container, wrap it in tape or flush it. Never crush it with your fingers.
Write down the date and where you think you picked it up.
The CDC warns against nail polish, petroleum jelly or heat to make a tick let go. It also does not recommend testing the tick itself.
Animal bites
Wash the bite right away with soap and water, press a clean cloth on it if it is bleeding, and cover it. Then get it checked.
When to come to urgent care for a bite or sting
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Usually fine at home
Itchy mosquito or flea bites
A sting with pain and swelling only at the spot
A tick removed whole, with no symptoms afterward
Redness that is fading day by day
Come in to urgent care
Any dog, cat or human bite that breaks the skin
A tick you can't remove
A rash or fever within several weeks of a tick bite
Swelling that keeps spreading or isn't improving
More redness, warmth, pain or pus over the next few days
A bite when your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago
A bite or scratch from a bat, raccoon, skunk, fox or other wild animal needs prompt care. The CDC says rabies treatment should start as soon as possible after an exposure. Call us at (630) 324-6825 so we can guide you to the right place. For everything else, walk in or book a visit online.
What happens at our Westmont, IL clinic
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Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, treats bites and stings for children and adults at two Westmont, IL clinics, open 7 days a week. Our team is led by board-certified physicians.
Exam. Your clinician looks at the bite or sting, asks what happened and checks for infection or an allergic reaction.
Wound care. Bites are cleaned well. Some are closed, and some are safer left open to heal.
Tick care. We can help with a tick you can't get out and talk through your Lyme disease risk.
Tetanus. We check your history and can give a booster through our immunizations service.
Treatment. Your clinician may recommend prescription medicine when appropriate, such as for infection or a strong local reaction.
X-ray if needed. A deep bite on the hand may need imaging, which is available at our 29 N Cass Ave clinic only.
Kids get more bites because they play outside and close to pets. They also scratch, which can open the skin and let germs in.
Keep nails short and cover itchy bites to limit scratching.
Check kids for ticks after outdoor play: scalp, behind the ears, armpits, waistband and behind the knees.
Teach children not to approach dogs they don't know, or to bother any pet that is eating or sleeping.
If your child has ever had a body-wide reaction to a sting, MedlinePlus advises seeing an allergist and carrying an emergency kit at all times.
Scratched bites can turn into a skin infection such as impetigo. If you are not sure whether a spot is a bite, our rash guide can help you sort it out.
How to prevent bites and stings
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Ticks
The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends these steps:
Wear light-colored long sleeves and long pants, with pant cuffs tucked into socks.
Use a repellent with 10 to 30 percent DEET on skin and clothing. Use permethrin on clothing only.
Walk in the middle of trails and stay out of tall grass and weeds.
Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks every two to three hours outdoors.
Keep grass mowed and weeds cut around your home.
Bees and wasps
Skip perfume and floral or dark clothing where insects are busy. Move slowly near hives and nests, and never reach into one. Be careful eating outdoors, especially with sweet drinks or near garbage cans. For a full list of symptom guides, visit Check Your Symptoms.
An infected bite usually gets worse after the first day or two instead of better. Look for redness or warmth that spreads, swelling, more pain, pus, red streaks or a fever. Animal and human bites are especially likely to get infected. If you see these signs, have the bite checked by a clinician promptly.
When should I worry about a tick bite?
See a clinician if you get a rash or fever within several weeks of a tick bite, or if you can't remove the whole tick. The CDC says early Lyme disease can cause fever, chills, headache, tiredness and joint aches, with or without a rash. Tell the clinician when and where the bite happened.
Should I go to urgent care for a dog bite?
Yes, if the bite breaks the skin. Dog bites can carry germs deep into the wound. Urgent care can clean the bite, decide whether to close it, check your tetanus status and talk about rabies risk. Bites with heavy bleeding or bone or tendon showing need the nearest emergency room.
What should I do right after a bee sting?
Scrape the stinger out with a flat edge such as a credit card, then wash the area with soap and water. Apply a cold pack for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off. An antihistamine can ease itching. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips or throat.
Should I save the tick to get it tested?
The CDC does not recommend testing a tick you removed. Lab quality varies, a positive result doesn't mean you are infected, and a negative result can falsely reassure you. Instead, write down the date and place of the bite and watch for a rash or fever over the next several weeks.
What does a Lyme disease rash look like?
The Lyme rash is a red patch that starts at the bite and slowly grows over several days, sometimes to 12 inches or more. It often feels warm but rarely itches. It may clear in the middle like a target, but not always. The CDC says it usually appears about 7 days after the bite.
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