Insect bites and stings: symptoms, first aid, and prevention.

A skin mark alone is rarely enough to identify the cause. Consider where you were, when symptoms began, whether you saw an insect or attached tick, the number and pattern of marks, and whether the main symptom is itching, pain, swelling, or a rash.

Move away from the insect or hazard, check for severe symptoms, remove an attached tick or visible stinger using the correct method, wash the area with soap and water, and use a cold compress for mild pain or swelling.

Call your local emergency service for trouble breathing, tightness in the throat, difficulty swallowing, fainting, confusion, or sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat. Rapidly worsening symptoms also need urgent attention.

Possible infection signs include increasing warmth, pain, swelling, spreading redness, pus or fluid, fever, swollen glands, or symptoms that worsen instead of improving. A healthcare professional should assess these changes.

Clean the bite area and your hands, record when and where the bite happened, and monitor for symptoms. Contact a healthcare professional if a rash, fever, or other illness develops during the following days or weeks.

Many mild reactions begin to improve within a few days, although itching or a larger local swelling can last longer. Seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, unusual, worsening, or not improving as expected.