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The Benefits Of Insect Bites - Health - Nairaland

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The Benefits Of Insect Bites by Druhgzz(m): 9:56pm On Jul 20, 2014
Insect bites can range from a mild annoyance to a potentially fatal incident. Some insect bites, such as mosquito bites, cause raised, itchy bumps but are not potentially dangerous except in areas where tropical diseases are prevalent. All insect bites break the skin and can become a way for bacteria that can cause infections to enter the body.

Why Do Insects Bite?
*.Feeders: Insects like mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks bite to feed on your blood. They inject a tiny bit of anticoagulant material at the site of the bite, to allow your blood to flow without clotting during their brief meal. The anticoagulant is a foreign protein and causes an immune system reaction which you feel as a raised lump and intense itching. Bedbugs, gnats, and lice also feed on human blood.
*.Defenders: Spiders don’t eat blood but may bite as a defense mechanism if they feel threatened. Some spider bites contain venom, like the bites of black widow and recluse spiders, which cause in tense pain and can be a health threat. If you think you’ve been bitten by a spider, seek immediate emergency medical care. Fire ants also bite for defense, and their stings can be extremely painful. Fire ants usually bite in swarms and can cause hundreds of bites in a few minutes, which is potentially dangerous for children. Some flying insects sting for individual defense or to defend a hive. Single stinging insects are most likely to attack if they are cornered, such as if you put your foot into a shoe where a bee is hiding. Even stepping on a dead stinging insect can cause a painful sting.

Insect Bite Reactions
*.Itching: Bites from feeding insects may swell and itch. The swelling is your body’s reaction to the tiny amount of protein the mosquito or other biting insect injects to keep your blood flowing.
Pain: Skin punctured by a stinger, an insect organ specifically designed for attack, is painful. Stingers are found on bees, hornets, yellow jackets, and wasps. Honeybee stingers tear away from the honeybees body after it stings, but the poisonous sac may be left behind and will continue to inject poison long after the honeybee has flown away to die. However, other types of bees, hornets, and wasps do not leave behind their stinger and can sting you multiple times in a row. The site of each sting may become swollen and painful.
Allergic reaction: Stings from insects that leave poisonous venom behind may cause allergic reactions,such as bee stings, that can cause anaphylactic shock and result in death. Swarms of stinging insects can cause so many stings that they can cause a dangerous reaction in the human body in addition to severe pain.

Insect Bite Prevention
*.Eucalyptus will repel many insects, including fleas and ticks. Adding eucalyptus oil to water in a spray bottle provides even coverage for bedding, curtains, carpeting, and more.
*.Cedar woodis a natural insect repellent for moths and other insects. Using cedar mulch around the perimeter of the house may prevent insects from coming inside.
*.Pennyroyalis a pungent plant that can be used to deter insects such as fleas from living in your yard. The plant can also be chopped up and sprinkled around the house to encourage insects to leave the area.
*.Lavender oil, lemongrass oil, and catnip oil may deter biting insects. Make a homemade insect repellent by blending a cup of vodka with two tablespoons of aloevera juice, a teaspoon of olive oil, and one and half teaspoons of aroma therapy essential oils.
*.Petroleum jelly and grape seed oil can provide a barrier over the skin that smaller insects will not bite through.

Insect Bite Treatments
*.Stings: If you’ve been stung by a honeybee, removing the stinger is the first step, as the sac may continue pumping toxin into your body. Don’t use tweezers or pinch the stinger, as doing so may squeeze more venom into your skin. Instead, it is thought to be best to scrap a stinger out of your skin with the edge of a credit card. Scrape in one direction only. Once the stinging object has been removed, treat an insect bite or sting as a minor skin wound. Clean gently with soap and apply an antibacterial ointment or oil. Be aware that some individuals are extremely sensitive to bee venom and stings may trigger a medical emergency. If someone has difficulty breathing or speaking after a sting, call 911 immediately.
*.Fire ant bites: Fire ants often swarm and sting in groups. Brush or shower off the ants. Immediately scrub the affected area with soap and water to remove as much venom as possible.
*.Mosquito bites: Avoid scratching. Soak the bite in warm water to open the pores and help your body release the irritant. Treat the bites with aloevera, lavender oil, calamine lotion, or a paste made of baking soda and water. For multiple bites, soak in hot bath water treated with Epsom salts and/or oatmeal.
*.All bites: Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and helps support the immune system. Taking a single dose of a vitamin C supplement may help reduces welling and inflammation caused from the bite and may help your body fight infection from any bacteria that enter from the site of the bite. Peppermint and eucalyptus oils may help reduce itching.

Insect Bites Can Also Be Treatments
*.Apitherapy: In some cases, insect bites and stings maybe used as a treatment for other disorders and conditions. For instance,honeybee stings have been used by some to treat the symptoms and progression of multiple sclerosis. Called apitherapy, this form of treatment is based on the belief that the venom affects the nervous system in a way that counteracts the disease progression.
*.Immunization: Another insect bite-based treatment may be used to treat malaria. In a study conducted by Radboud University in the Netherlands, exposure to malaria via mosquitoes followed by treatment with chloroquine, which kills malaria, may build immunity to malaria. This means that mosquito bites may be used in the future to build immunity to malaria in at-risk populations.
Re: The Benefits Of Insect Bites by Nobody: 12:34am On Jul 21, 2014
Thanks for sharing smiley
Re: The Benefits Of Insect Bites by Druhgzz(m): 9:12pm On Sep 17, 2014
xcelsia: Thanks for sharing smiley

You're most welcomed!

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