Especialidades JA/Primeros auxilios/Mordedura de insectos

Aunque las garrapatas y sanguijuelas no son técnicamente insectos, nos ocupamos de ellos aquí de todas maneras. La mayoría de las veces las mordeduras y picaduras de insectos no requerirán primeros auxilios. Sin embargo, debe estar consciente de que hay muchas enfermedades transmitidas por insectos como la enfermedad de Lyme, la fiebre de las Montañas Rocosas, la malaria, la fiebre amarilla, la peste bubónica, etc. Esté alerta para cualquier enfermedad después de una picadura de insecto y póngase en contacto con un médico si sospecha de una enfermedad transmitida por insectos.

First aid is aimed at reducing the discomfort caused by an insect bite or sting and preventing infection:

• Get away from the insects to avoid additional bites or stings.
• For stings, scrape the stinger away - do not use tweezers or otherwise pinch a stinger, as this will cause more venom to be injected into the wound.
• Place an ice pack over the affected area to reduce pain and swelling.
• Apply hydrocortizone, calamine lotion, or make a paste from three parts baking soda and one part water and apply that to the affected area.
• Give the patient an antihistamine such as Benadryl.
• Remove ticks by pulling them straight out with a pair of tweezers. Be careful not to break a tick's mouth parts off beneath the skin. Contact the child's doctor who may ask you to save the tick and bring it in for testing. Do not try to remove a tick by touching it with a hot match head or by covering it with petroleum jelly.
• Do not scratch
• Wash the affected area with soap and water.