What to do if bitten by a wasp. How to prevent the most serious problem. Antitoxic serum: pros and cons

A wasp sting is not uncommon when outing into nature, walking in the park or traveling out of town. With the onset of warm days, stinging insects and people intersect more often, the risk of unpleasant situations increases. Children often suffer from wasp stings: curiosity makes them explore many areas where striped aggressors live.

How dangerous is a wasp sting? What to do with the development of anaphylactic reactions? Adults and older children should know the rules of first aid for insect bites.

Characteristic symptoms

After stinging, certain signs are noticeable on the body:

• swelling;
• red-pink shade of the epidermis;
• skin itching;
• throbbing pain;
• when the eyelid is stung, the faces of the tissue are very swollen, the eyes are practically invisible due to noticeable swelling, hemorrhage often occurs in the conjunctiva;
• in children and women, the symptoms of an insect bite are more acute;
• a sting in the tongue causes severe swelling not only of the affected area, but also of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, larynx, the person suffocates.

With increased sensitization of the body, anaphylactic reactions develop:

• pronounced swelling;
• redness of the affected area;
• pale skin;
• nausea;
• severe itching;
• the victim wheezes, there is an attack of suffocation;
• hemorrhage in the eye area;
• loss of consciousness;
• soreness in the chest and peritoneal area;
• a sharp decrease or increase in pressure;
• failure of the heart rhythm.

There is no escape from the neighborhood with wasps. Simple rules reduce the risk of attack by stinging insects.

How to proceed:

• do not approach wasp nests, do not try to destroy them or knock the “ball” off a branch or bush;
• not commit sudden movements in bushes, near trees, where a wasp house can be located;
• during the preparation of sweet preparations, protect the windows with a mosquito net;
• when eating fruits, berries, watermelon, melon, grapes, carefully monitor whether a wasp / bee has landed on a fragrant product;
• if a wasp nest is found in a private house or in a personal plot, call professional exterminators or destroy a dense “ball” using folk methods. It is important to act carefully, to minimize health risks.

Such a nuisance as a wasp sting can happen to anyone. It is important not to get confused, to remember how to act in such a situation. Competent actions, knowledge of first aid techniques, storage of antihistamine compounds and ointments from insect bites in the first aid kit will reduce Negative consequences after being attacked by a stinging insect.

Prophylaxis of tetanus is carried out according to general principles. Assess the bite person's hepatitis B status and immunize the person if necessary. A person who has bitten a patient may be infected with HIV, and therefore the patient needs to urgent emergency prevention HIV infections. When a person is bitten, the hepatitis C virus can be transmitted, which requires special measures (but emergency prevention measures for hepatitis C have not been developed).

When a person is bitten, the patient often needs hospitalization and antibiotic therapy: in oral cavity man contains a large number of aerobic and anaerobic pathogens that can cause severe necrotizing infectious process, especially when bitten in the area of ​​​​the foot or palm.

Antibiotic therapy. All wounds penetrating the dermis require antibiotic therapy. Cultures to identify aerobic and anaerobic flora should be taken prior to starting antibiotic treatment. Treatment can be started with amoxiclav 500/125 mg three times a day by mouth (or intravenous cefuroxime and metronidazole). Consult with a microbiologist.

Bite in the face. If the bite caused serious cosmetic defect the patient should be referred for consultation plastic surgeon. Stab wounds should be carefully treated and the patient given a prophylactic course of antibiotic therapy. The patient is instructed that during the first few days, 3-4 times a day, it is necessary to remove the bandage and remove purulent or bloody discharge.

Bites in the arms. Such a patient should be treated by an orthopedist; recommend additional examination. Carry out a thorough treatment of the wound. The first dose of the antibiotic is administered intravenously, and then continued by oral administration if there are no signs of systemic spread of the infection.

Bites from humans and other mammals are common and sometimes cause severe injury and disability. The hands, limbs, and face are most commonly affected, although human bites may occur on the chest and genitals.

Bites from large animals sometimes result in significant tissue injury, and about 10-20 people, mostly children, die each year from dog bites. However, most bites cause minor wounds.

Risk of infection. In addition to tissue injury, the main danger of a bite is infection with the microbial flora of the mouth. Human bites could theoretically transmit viral hepatitis and HIV infection. However, HIV transmission is unlikely because the concentration of the virus in saliva is much lower than in the blood, and the inhibitors contained in saliva render the virus ineffective.

The risk of contracting rabies from the bite of certain mammals. In the US, monkey bites commonly occur in personnel working with laboratory animals, with little risk of infection with the simian herpes virus, which causes vesicular skin lesions at infected sites that can lead to encephalitis, often fatal.

bites upper limb bear increased risk infections; such a risk is especially inherent in human bites resulting from a blow to the mouth with a fist (bite from fright), as the most common case. In fight bites, the wounds on the skin move relative to the underlying damaged structures when the hand is open, trapping bacteria inside, and the patient often does not seek treatment immediately, allowing the bacteria to multiply. Human bites to other sites do not carry a greater risk of infection than bites from other mammals. Cat bites to the hand also carry an increased risk of infection, as the long, sharp cat teeth often penetrate into deep structures, such as joints and ligaments, and small punctures are often closed.

Diagnosis of a human bite

• Clarification of the position of the limb in which the bite was applied.
• Assessment of damage to the underlying nerves, tendons, bones and vessels, as well as the presence in the wound foreign bodies.

Human bites received during a quarrel are often explained by other reasons in order not to contact the authorities or portray an insured event. Domestic violence is often denied.

Wounds are assessed for damage to underlying structures and for the presence of foreign bodies. Evaluation should focus on careful consideration of function and bite size. Wounds over joints should be examined from the position in which they were made (eg, with a clenched fist) and examined under sterile conditions to assess tendon, bone, and joint involvement and to detect foreign bodies. Pressure wounds may have small scratches, but they should be examined to rule out deeper damage.

Taking material for sowing from a fresh wound is useless for the purpose antimicrobial therapy, but from infected wound you have to sow. For patients with human bites, testing for hepatitis and HIV is recommended only if the attacker is known or suspected to be seropositive.

Mammal bites

The general principles of therapy are the same as for a human bite. The wound is treated, the discharge from the wound is taken for culture in order to detect aerobic and anaerobic microflora, if necessary, tetanus prophylaxis is carried out, and a prophylactic course of antibiotics is prescribed, as indicated earlier. Consider rabies prophylaxis (vaccination and rabies immunoglobulin) in cases where the bite occurred outside the UK or was bitten by a bat or quarantined animal. For advice and obtaining a vaccine and immunoglobulin, you should contact the doctor on duty of the virological unit.

Rabies is transmitted through infected saliva on broken skin or by inhalation of the virus (from infected bats). Clinical signs- characteristic prodrome, as with any viral infection, further paresthesias and fasciculations join. Excitement, clouding of consciousness, muscle spasms, local paresis with subsequent development of stem disorders. After the occurrence clinical symptoms disease treatment is ineffective. An important role belongs to the implementation of preventive measures.

Vaccination against rabies is carried out as a preventive measure (the vaccine is injected into the deltoid muscle of the shoulder) to all persons who are at risk of being bitten by infected animals (veterinarians, animal caregivers, field workers).

Some Old World monkeys, especially rhesus monkeys and cynomolgus, are infected with the herpes virus B (causes an infectious disease in monkeys that resembles herpetic infection in adults). The virus is transmitted by a bite and when the saliva of an infected animal comes into contact with damaged skin and causes a fatal disseminated infectious process in humans. If the macaque that has bitten a person comes from a virus-free colony, valaciclovir 1 g 3 times a day for 14 days should be given pending test results.

Infections in drug addicts using the intravenous route of administration

In the UK, most regular intravenous drug addicts are infected with the hepatitis C virus, and fewer are infected with HIV and the Australian antigen. Often observe bacteremia and septicemia caused by S. aureus. When listening to a heart murmur, the patient should undergo echocardiography to rule out IE. Multiple rounded infiltrates in the lungs are characteristic of tricuspid valve endocarditis with septic emboli.

Necrotizing fasciitis

The patient's condition is usually very serious.

Reveal areas of redness with extreme soreness and sometimes crepitus on palpation. X-ray examination reveals gas in subcutaneous tissue. The task of paramount importance is the urgent debridement of the wound by an experienced surgeon. tightening diagnostic measures before the operation is undesirable, as it does not allow obtaining additional information.

The spectrum of pathogens is often polymicrobial.

Kpindamycin - important component any antibiotic regimen for necrotizing fasciitis. For example, the following combination of antibiotics may be prescribed: ciprofloxacin 400 mg 3 times a day intravenously, cpindamycin 600 mg 4 times a day intravenously, benzylpenicillin 1.2-1.4 g every 4 hours.

Usually, patients require daily debridement in the operating room, and later - a reconstructive operation.

severe acute respiratory syndrome

A novel human coronavirus infection with a high degree of contagiousness through close respiratory contact, occurring predominantly in healthcare workers. Possible fecal-oral and household way pathogen transmission. The disease is manifested by fever, myalgia, various symptoms lung lesions with rapid deterioration in the second week of illness. The disease is rarely seen in pre-pubertal children, and in adults over 60 years of age, the disease is accompanied by a high mortality rate.

Strict patient isolation and careful infection control are required.

At the time of writing the text of this handbook (July 2003), there has been a decline in the epidemic activity of the disease, but it may reappear.

The scope of therapy has not been fully determined. In patients with severe course disease, some improvement can be achieved after the appointment of high doses of glucocorticoids. Ribavirin does not appear to be effective.

bioterrorism

At present, there is a growing awareness in society of the possibility of deliberate use of biological and chemical warfare agents. Historically, for the purpose of biological terrorism, the causative agents of plague, salmonellosis and anthrax due to their ability to exert a nerve-paralytic effect and release biological toxins. The most recent events related to bioterrorism occurred in 1995 in Tokyo (spreading of the nerve agent sarin gas in the subway) and in 2001 in the United States (spreading of anthrax spores resembling White powder, in a written envelope).

Terrorists can use airborne route infection, and contaminate food and water.

The intentional spread of the pathogen may be indicated by such facts as an unusual distribution area of ​​​​the infection (for example, the appearance of cases of anthrax in cities), the appearance clinical picture disease in a person who has not been in contact with a patient with similar symptoms, or the sudden onset of similar clinical symptoms in a group of people infectious disease. Such incidents continue to cause concern.

Any suspicion of deliberate spread of an infectious agent should be reported immediately to the consultant microbiologist and the CCDC (Communication Disease Control Consultant).

The group of diseases, the causative agents of which can be used as means of bioterrorism, include smallpox, plague, tularemia, melioidosis, botulism, glanders ( infectious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei) and viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Treatment of human and mammalian bites

• Careful wound care.
• Planned wound closure.
• Selective use of prophylactic antibiotics.

Hospitalization is indicated if complications require direct monitoring, especially if the patient is likely to refuse follow-up 8 outpatient settings. Hospitalization should be indicated under the following circumstances:

• human bite infected (including clenched fist injuries);
• the bite of an animal, excluding humans, is moderately or severely infected;
• dysfunction is evident;
• the wound threatens or has already damaged deeply located tissues and structures;
• it is impossible or difficult to care for a wound at home (serious wounds on both hands or feet, wounds of the hands that require the creation of a prolonged elevated position).

Priorities in treatment are cleansing, removal of foreign bodies, wound closure, and prevention of infection.

Wound treatment. First, the wound is washed with mild antibacterial soap and water (tap water is sufficient), then irrigated with sodium chloride solution using a syringe and intravenous catheter. You can use povidone-iodine solution. Apply if necessary local anesthetic. Dead and non-viable tissue must be removed.

Closure of the wound is carried out in some cases. Many wounds must initially be open, including the following:

• stab wounds;
• wounds of the arms, legs, perineum;
• wounds inflicted a few hours ago;
• heavily contaminated wounds;
• wounds with severe swelling;
• wounds with signs of inflammation;
• wounds involving deep structures;
• human bite wounds;
• wounds received in an infected environment ( sea ​​water, field conditions, wastewater).

In addition, wound healing in immunocompromised patients may be better with delayed closure. Other wounds (fresh, skin cuts) can be closed after appropriate sanitization.

Hand bites should be bandaged with a sterile bandage when creating a limb of the working position. If the wounds are moderate or more severe, the arm should be kept in an elevated position at all times (for example, suspended from a tripod).

With bites in the face in cosmetically significant places and with potential scarring may require reconstructive surgery.

Infected wounds may require debridement, removal of sutures, application of lotions, splinting, elevation, and intravenous administration antibiotics depending on the type of infection and the clinical picture.

Antimicrobials. Thorough wound cleaning is the most effective and important way to prevent infection, and this is often sufficient. There is no consensus on indications for prophylactic administration antibiotics. Research has not confirmed some benefit, a wide application Prophylactic use of antibiotics can lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms. Medicines do not prevent the development of infection in cases of severe contamination or poorly cleaned wounds. However, many doctors prescribe prophylactic antibiotics for hand bites and some other bites (eg cats, monkeys).

Choice antimicrobials for the treatment of infection, must initially be justified by the type of animal. Culture results, when available, suggest treatment options.

• Human and dog bites For outpatients, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid is preferred for prophylaxis or treatment. Ampicillin + sulbactam is a reasonable empiric choice for inpatients, it covers α - hemolytic streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Eikenetla corrodens - microorganisms most often found in crops with human bites, as well as Pasteurelta (Pasteurella) - its varieties and Capnocytophaga canimorsus, which enter the wound with dog bites. Patients with human bites who are allergic to penicillin may be treated with sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim (Cotrimoxazole) plus clindamycin. For patients with infected dog bites who cannot tolerate penicillin, doxycycline is an acceptable alternative, except in children >8 years of age and pregnant women. Erythromycin can be used, but the risk of treatment failure is higher due to the resistance of the microflora. Other acceptable combinations include clidamycin and fluoroquinolones for adults, or clidamycin and sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim for children.
• Cat bites: Fluoroquinolones are recommended for prevention and treatment due to the prevalence of P. multocida. An alternative for patients allergic to penicillin is clarithromycin or clindamycin.
• Squirrel, gerbil, rabbit and guinea pig These bites rarely become infected, but if they do, they can be treated with the same medications as cat bites.
• Monkey bites: Monkey bites should be treated prophylactically with intravenous acyclovir.

Patients bitten by humans should be treated viral hepatitis and HIV infection according to the serostatus of the patient and the attacker. If the status is unknown, prophylaxis is not given.

A wasp can bite a person anywhere: in nature, in a city park or just on the street. This especially happens in summer period when insects are most active. Both adults and children can suffer from wasp stings. This is especially true in relation to children, because they are interested in everything, and they do not mind touching a striped insect.

Are wasp stings dangerous and what to do if a wasp stings? The article talks about how to provide first aid in case of a bite. Both adults and children should know about these rules, as unpredictable consequences are possible.

First, you can see what the wasp has bitten or feel and hear the characteristic sound of the wasp flying. There are other signs that indicate that it was the wasp that stung. For example:

• Swelling immediately appears at the site of the bite.
• A reddish-pink tint appears within the bite.
• There is itching.
• There is a sharp throbbing pain.
• In case of a bite in the facial area, the tissues swell severely and hemorrhage is possible.
• Children and women are much more difficult to tolerate wasp stings.
• In case of a bite on the tongue, it is possible severe swelling both tongue and mouth.

In addition, in certain cases, the development of anaphylactic reactions is possible. For example:

• There is severe swelling.
• The bite site changes color.
• The skin turns pale.
• There is nausea.
• Intolerable itching.
• Asphyxiation attacks are possible.
• Hemorrhages within the eyes.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Attacks of pain in the chest and abdomen.
• fluctuations in blood pressure.
• Failures in the work of the heart.

Wasp stings are especially painful, so they cause a lot of trouble. It should also be remembered that a wasp, compared to a bee, can make not one, but several bites, if provoked. Therefore, given this factor, wasps should not be teased. But if the wasp still stung, then do not panic. It is important to provide first aid in time, as any situation is possible. So, what to do with a wasp sting:

• If the wasp is still bitten, you should not wave your arms, trying to drive the wasp away. So you can aggravate the situation and instead of one bite, you can get several.
• Wrong behavior can provoke several insects to attack, then it will not be possible to get off with a slight fright.
• After a bite, it is better to leave the unfortunate place slowly, leaving the wasp or wasps alone.
• Wasps flock to sweets, so such situations happen during the period when compotes or jams are prepared for the winter. It is better to do this not on the street, but indoors, otherwise there will be no end to these insects.
• To have fewer problems, you need to know how to behave correctly in different situations.

A wasp sting is not the worst thing. The worst thing is that not everyone knows how to help a person so that negative reactions organism to bite. Often, a person's life depends on competent actions. That's why:

• No need to look for stings, as is the case with bee stings. Wasps do not leave a sting, only if you kill a wasp during a bite.
• It is better for the victim to move to the shade and sit comfortably. In cases of nausea or difficulty breathing, it is better to ensure that the head is in an upright position.
• The bite site is wiped citric acid, vinegar solution or just clean water if there are no other liquids at hand.
• To reduce soreness and swelling, it is necessary to apply cold compress.
• If this happened on vacation outside the city, then you can find a leaf of plantain or dandelion and attach it to the wound, but before that it is better to wash it.
• The next stage is the treatment of the bite site with Finistil-gel, Psilo-balm or Rescuer cream to reduce the risk factor.
• Take an allergy pill. Such drugs should always be in the first aid kit of any person, especially when there are fees before going out into nature. Children need children's drugs.
• All this time you need to monitor the state of human health. If there is a constant deterioration in well-being, then it is better to immediately call an ambulance.
• If a child has suffered from a wasp sting, then it should be shown to a dermatologist.
• The victim should drink plenty of fluids in order to quickly remove the poison from the body.

Interesting to know! On the planet, somewhere around 2 percent of people suffer from excessive sensitivity to the bites of various insects. However, not everyone knows about it before the first bite. If someone has not encountered such a problem as a wasp sting, then it is better to always carry antihistamine. You also need to have an idea of ​​what types of allergens this remedy is most effective against.

When the reaction to a wasp sting is inadequate, then negative consequences are possible, in the form of additional bites, and with the wrong actions, local allergic reactions are possible, which lead to complications.

Sometimes people end up in the hospital only because there was no reaction to the wasp sting and the wound was not treated with anything, which leads to secondary infection.

Therefore, you cannot:

• Scratch the wound, making it even more accessible to pathogens.
• Try to get rid of the poison that has long been in the blood.
• Drink alcohol, which can increase the effect of the poison.
• smoke.
• Cauterize the bite site, which leads to a more extensive lesion.

The bite site is best treated with drugs, in the form of gels or ointments. This will minimize negative consequences. In combination with such drugs, antihistamines should be taken.

Places of bites are permissible to process:

• Psilo balm.
• Fenistil-gel.
• Fluorocort.
• Diprospan.
• Balm "Rescuer" from insect bites.

The use of such drugs leads to:

• To reduce swelling.
• To improve blood circulation at the bite site.
• To reduce itching.
• To reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions.
• To reduce pain.

It is possible to use such antihistamines:

• Suprastinex.
• Fexofenadine.
• Tsetrin.
• Diazolin.
• Claritin.
• Tavegil.
• Suprastin.
• Erius.

May not always be at hand medications so you have to remember folk recipes. If use natural ingredients, then they act just as effectively, without any negative consequences.

What can be used if a wasp has bitten:

• Aloe juice or pulp.
• Plantain or dandelion leaf.
• Parsley greens, if chopped.

How to do:

• Rinse the bite site with clean water, then attach one of the plants to the site.
• Before this, the leaves should be washed well, at least with their saliva.
• Every half an hour, you need to replace the product with a fresh one.

On a note! Do not wrap the affected area with cling film or cellophane, as this will not allow the wound to breathe. Best Option- this is a bandage, gauze or a piece of cotton fabric.

Wasp stings are not as harmless as some people think. If someone has already been bitten by a wasp, and he knows how his body reacts to it, then there will be no special problems, but if a person does not know how his body can react, then the consequences can be the most unpredictable. In case of a bite, you will have to consult a doctor:

• When anaphylactic shock develops.
• When a person was bitten by a wasp in the face: in the eye or in the tongue.
• When swelling develops and breathing is difficult.
• When a person was bitten not by one wasp, but by several.
• When the bite site is very swollen, against the background of redness.
• When blood pressure has dropped or risen sharply and general weakness is felt.
• When the wasp stung the child.
• When the skin has changed color to pale.
• When a person feels a general malaise.
• When a person's heart rhythm is disturbed.

If a person knows that his body does not adequately respond to insect bites, then he should say it out loud and demand that doctors be called immediately.

Chapter from DIY First Aid: If the Ambulance Slows by Dr. James Hubbard is published with the permission of the publisher.

TEST

A young woman sat on the examination couch with a scowl. At lunchtime, she went outside and saw a squirrel. She decided to feed from her hands, lured her, and she grabbed her finger. Fearing rabies, the woman went to the doctor. What should be done in such a situation?

A. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible.
B. Check with your local health department which animals in your area may carry rabies.
C. Treat the squirrel like a pet, not a wild animal.
D. Don't worry too much: Healthy squirrels don't usually spread rabies to humans.

ANSWERS

A. Right. Wash the wound thoroughly. Most often, bites are dangerous not with rabies, but bacterial infection. Thorough washing of the wound will remove many germs and viruses, including rabies viruses.

B. Right. By calling your local health department, you have a chance to save money on a rabies shot - or find out that the risk of getting sick without a shot is too great.

B. Wrong. I can guarantee that you are aware of this. In any case, I hope so. And be sure to tell your children about this - warn them about any wild animals. They must understand that sometimes even dogs and cats behave unfriendly.

G. That's right. Rabies can be in any animal, but the disease usually makes the animal weaker. (Raccoons are one of the exceptions.) Also, when small animals get sick, they usually fall prey to larger animals quickly. In other words, the animal is unlikely to run long enough to be dangerous.

HOW TO PREVENT THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM

Any bite is fraught with a bacterial infection. It is clear that we are all afraid of poison, rabies and other diseases. However, most problems are caused by infections, affecting the skin and soft tissues. Therefore, it is vital to wash the bite area with soap and water and keep it clean.

Of course, bites are best avoided. So protect yourself from insects with an insect repellant like DEET or another favorite remedy such as citronella oil, lemongrass oil, geranium oil, neem oil, or clove oil.

Apply an insecticide-repellant product to your pet. Wear long sleeves and high boots, with your pants tucked into your socks or left on top but wrapped around your leg to help keep out snakes and ticks. Look at your feet and do not put your hands in holes and cracks. If mosquitoes are a problem, place mosquito nets on windows, doors, or the bed.

The venomous snakes of the United States are the pit and coral snakes in a number of varieties. The pitheads have thermoreceptor pits on the sides of the head, located between the nostrils and the eyes. Their heads are triangular, and the pupils are elliptical slit-like. Frequent varieties pitheads: rattler, copperhead muzzle and water muzzle.

Coral snakes have round pupils and yellow, red and black rings on their torso. They can be confused with some types of striated king snakes, which are non-venomous (they suffocate their prey). There are ways to tell them apart, but they don't always work, so it's best to stay away from all three.

HOW TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BITED BY A POISONOUS SNAKE

A bite from a non-venomous snake usually leaves only a series of small scratches from its many teeth. After a bite from a poisonous snake, one to four punctures with fangs also remain (moreover, new punctures may appear on the skin a little later). Bleeding in this case is much stronger, since the fangs penetrate deeper into the skin, and the poison contributes to hemorrhage.

If poison is injected into the wound, swelling will occur in the bite area within 10-15 minutes. It is not always pronounced, but sometimes it is so strong that it completely blocks the blood circulation in the affected limb. If this happens, a small incision may need to be made (to ensure sterility) to restore the blood supply.

Other indications for a venomous snake bite:

• sharp and often burning pain shortly after the bite;
• metallic taste in the mouth or numbness of the tongue;
• tingling sensation or sweating.

Tingling and sweating can also be triggered by hyperventilation due to anxiety. If you are not sure about the cause, slow your breathing or breathe into a paper bag for one to two minutes. This usually relieves the symptoms caused by anxiety - but not the poison.

HELP

If you were bitten by a snake and you are not sure that it was non-venomous, you need emergency medical assistance: the action of snake venom is well blocked only by anti-snake serum.

True, the need for serum is not always there. In about 20% of cases, a venomous snake does not inject venom into the wound at all, and only in 20% of cases injects in such quantities that there is a danger to life. Nevertheless, it’s still not worth sitting idly by: if a serum is needed, its quick introduction can save a life.

Knowing which snake has bitten is helpful: it will help doctors (if you can get hold of them) determine if a serum is needed, but don't spend a lot of time looking and finding out.

And remember that even a dead snake can bite: Snakes are capable of striking half the length of their body, and their shock reflex can persist for 90 minutes after death (and even after decapitation). A good compromise is to quickly photograph the snake. Just don't roam tall grass looking for an offender.

Consider how much effort it will take to get medical help. One side, physical activity can help spread the poison throughout the body. On the other hand, if there is a need for serum, it would be good to get it.

If you have a long journey ahead of you, consider air travel. In the meantime, you can stop the spread of the poison by applying elastic bandage but don't burn! Experts estimate the effectiveness of this measure in different ways - there is a version that an elastic bandage, by holding the poison in one place, thereby increases its concentration and increases the risk of tissue damage. If you go for this step, wrap the bandage tightly, and cover the entire limb with it. Check the bandage regularly and loosen if it interferes with blood flow (if you can't feel a pulse in your wrist or leg).

By immobilizing the muscles, you further stop the spread of the poison. Therefore, if the leg is bitten, apply a splint, and if the hand is bitten, make a scarf bandage. It's by at least prevent the muscles near the wound from pumping the poison into the rest of the body until you get medical attention and access to the serum.

Another thing is if medical care is not available, then you need to act differently:

• Sit or lie down depending on the symptoms. If you experience dizziness or lightheadedness, this may indicate a decrease in blood pressure. At the same time, shortness of breath can provoke pulmonary edema, which can be alleviated by taking sitting position. In general, take the position in which you are most comfortable.
• Keep the bite area at the same level as the heart. If it is placed lower, it will contribute to swelling, and if it is higher, it will increase the flow of poison to other parts of the body.
• Take pain medication if you have it.
• Drink as much as you can. When bitten by poisonous snakes, hemorrhage in the tissue is fraught with severe dehydration. In addition, blood vessels begin to bleed, which contributes to dehydration. If it is possible to give intravenous fluids, use it.
• Wash the wound and keep it clean.

This video explains why snake venom can and should be sucked out:

Snake bites can cause allergies:

Snake venom, like the venom of bees, spiders, ants, and other animals, can cause an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Its symptoms - shortness of breath, rash, lightheadedness - appear within seconds or minutes after the bite, followed by serious breathing difficulties, shock, loss of consciousness and even cardiac arrest. Whatever the reason, an urgent injection of adrenaline is needed (for example, epinephrine or "Epi-Pen" - some allergy sufferers carry this medicine with them). And, of course, emergency medical care is required, if available.

WHAT NOT TO DO

• Do not apply a tourniquet. By stopping the circulation of blood, you create a threat to the tissues. In addition, if you completely concentrate the poison in one place, and then loosen the tourniquet, there will be a sharp release of poison into the body. This is more dangerous than when the poison spreads slowly.

SPIDER BITES

In the United States, there are three types of spiders that are dangerous to humans: the brown recluse, the American stray, and the black widow. Often the culprit goes unnoticed, and the only evidence of a bite is the action of the poison, and each poison has a specific effect: it is clear from the symptoms which spider bit.

Brown recluse spiders love solitude. They hide under rarely used boxes, sheets on the bed, and in general under everything that has not been touched for at least a few hours. At first, the bite causes little or no pain. Only after a few hours does severe itching begin.

signs

The first sign of a brown recluse bite is a painful black dot where the venom kills skin tissue. It can occur in a few minutes, and a few hours after the bite. There is a chance that the bite will not hurt you severe harm, however, sometimes the tissue lesion becomes deeper and wider, up to 10 cm in diameter. The temperature may rise and general well-being may worsen.

Complications

Gradually the dead skin will flake off. If the lesion is deep, the wound may not heal for weeks. As with any wound, there is a risk of infection. Some wounds are so severe that they leave visible scars. In some cases, a skin graft is required.

Treatment

Pain can be relieved with cold compresses. If you apply ice, make sure it is wrapped in a cloth and removed every 10 minutes to avoid hypothermia. Sometimes the pain is quite severe, in which case you can take a painkiller.

Cleanse the wound once or twice a day. If dirt can get into it, apply a bandage. Just don't try to remove the thick and dark scabs of dead skin. Let it flake off by itself: so you don't damage healthy skin beside. If there are signs of infection, antibiotics may be needed.

AMERICAN WAY SPIDER

The bite of the American stray spider is similar to that of the brown recluse, but usually causes less, if any, damage to the skin. It is not easy to identify this spider: its appearance is different. If your skin is damaged, you find a spider and it's not a brown recluse spider, then most likely you were bitten by an American vagrant spider. The treatment is similar.

BLACK WIDOW

The black widow often lives under parapets, porches and woodpile.

signs

A black widow bite feels like a slight burn or needle prick, or not at all. Skin damage is usually minimal. Sometimes only the marks of two tiny fangs indicate a bite - if you can find them.

After some time (from several minutes to several hours), severe muscle pains and cramps begin in abdominal cavity, limbs, chest and back. If you do not suspect a bite, you may not recognize the cause of the symptoms. Moreover, the consequences of such a bite are easily confused with a heart attack, appendicitis and other serious problems. In case of the slightest suspicion, consult a doctor immediately.

Sometimes the pressure is very high. Nausea, vomiting, and sweating are also possible. convulsions and even fatal outcome happen, but rarely. These bites are less well tolerated by children and the elderly.

Antitoxic serum: pros and cons

When people talk about "antidotes" and "antitoxic serums", they mean medicines containing antibodies against certain poisons. Serum - a kind of chemical special forces that neutralize toxins. It cannot repair the damage already done to the body, but it prevents further damage. The earlier it is administered, the less the risk that the poison will have time to hit the organs. So why not give it to anyone bitten by spiders or snakes?

• It can cause a sudden and deadly allergic reaction - anaphylactic shock or a serum reaction. The latter means fever and soreness for several weeks.
• It may be difficult to get it. This has been the case in Florida since 2013 with a serum against coral snake venom. The bite of a coral snake is deadly, and therefore the serum was administered to all bitten. However, it becomes increasingly difficult to capture enough snakes to "milk" them and take the venom for the serum.
• She is very expensive. The amount can be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

However, the serum can save your life. After a bite, it is best to immediately contact medical institution. You will be examined and if there are signs of serious damage, a serum will be injected.

Help

Cold compresses on the bite site will help relieve the pain. For this purpose, muscle relaxants, painkillers and warm baths for the site of cramps are also indicated. The pain usually ends within a few days. Sometimes they give serum - most often to children and the elderly.

MAMMALIAN BITES

An animal bite can damage not only the skin, but also muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and even bones. Bruising may occur. In addition, when biting, germs always get into the wound, so it must at least be disinfected. Do the same as with stab wounds.

In medical settings, wounds from such bites are usually not closed, unless they are too extensive. But even in these cases, the doctor's decision is subjective, since when the wound is closed, the risk of infection increases.

In general, the larger the animal and the more powerful its jaws, the more tissue damage and the greater the risk of infection. However, there are some exceptions. For any bite, it is advisable to seek medical attention.

CAT BITS

Cats are very sharp teeth, which penetrate deep into the skin without causing much external damage. The mouth of a cat usually contains nasty bacterium called Pasteurella multocida, which is fraught with rapid and dangerous infection. The sooner you start taking antibiotics, the better. Oral antibiotics that help with Pasteurella multocida include amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin, Amoxiclav), cefprozil (Cefzil), cefuroxime (Ceftin) and azithromycin (Sumamed, Azitrox, Zitromax ").

BITES IN THE ARM

There are many small veins and muscles on the hand, in addition, less blood enters the hand compared to other parts of the body to help fight infection. Therefore, whatever the size of the animal, a bite to the hand is fraught with serious infection.

Thoroughly disinfect the wound and start antibiotics if available. The antibiotics listed in the previous section are good for staph infections, and in case of infections caused by cat bites. But, as with any infection, they may or may not work.

BITES OF RADIAN ANIMALS

Cases of rabies in the United States are rare - but they do occur, and this disease is fatal and incurable. There is a rabies vaccine, but it must be given before symptoms appear. It makes sense to vaccinate against rabies in advance for animal trainers, speleologists and travelers traveling to countries where rabies is common. In this case, the vaccine is administered three times. People usually don't worry until they get bitten by a suspicious animal. Symptoms can appear both a few days and a month after the bite. Their appearance means that you have been waiting too long.

If you have been bitten, contact a medical facility, animal control department, or shelter and try to find out if an animal of this species may be infected with rabies in your area. If there is such a risk, it is necessary to be vaccinated against rabies. If the animal can be captured, it is a good idea to isolate it for 10 days to see if it shows signs of rabies. Just do not try to catch it yourself: you risk getting an additional infection.

Bat bites are always dangerous. In some regions, rabies is common among raccoons, foxes and skunks. There are even cases of rabies in rabbits. As for pets, great danger represent unvaccinated cats, but unvaccinated dogs and ferrets should also be avoided.

Help

If the wound is washed and disinfected, this will significantly reduce the risk of rabies infection. Rinse very thoroughly and intensively. For rinsing, use the following fluids(listed in descending order of preference):

• povidone-iodine ("Betadine");
• 2% benzalkonium chloride;
• soapy water;
• pure water.

These substances have been proven to eliminate most rabies pathogens and significantly reduce the risk of infection.

If you need to bury an animal that may have died of rabies and specialist assistance is not available, you will need a mask, gloves, and a shovel with which you will take the animal. If possible, wear a waterproof apron, goggles, and a mask. Thoroughly spray the corpse with a 10% (or even more concentrated) solution of chlorine in water. Dig a grave at least half a meter deep so that other animals do not dig it up. If you have polyethylene, cover the animal with it before throwing dirt on top.

What is insidious rabies of bats

Bats are very useful. They eat tons of insects. However, some bats are infected with rabies. Sometimes people become infected with rabies from them even when, it would seem, there were no bites or scratches. The fact is that the small and very sharp teeth of these creatures are able to pierce the skin without leaving a noticeable wound on it.

Therefore, if you had contact with bats(let's say one of them touched you, or you slept in the same room with a bat), get a rabies vaccine. There have been cases when people in similar circumstances became infected with rabies without noticing a tiny wound.

BEES, WAS AND FIRE ANTS

Bees, wasps, and fire ants inject venom that can cause deadly allergic reactions - even if you've never had an allergy before. The bee may leave its barbed stinger and venom sac in the wound, which will continue to exude venom even in the absence of the insect. Remove the stinger as quickly as possible. The wasp sting has no notches - the wasps fly away, taking the sting with them.

Here are some remedies that can relieve pain and itching from bites:

• Cold compress (just remember to wrap the ice in a cloth). Instead of ice, you can take another cold object - for example, a bag of frozen vegetables or an aluminum can of soft drink. Remember that after 10 minutes the compress must be removed.
• gruel from baking soda with water
• Cloth soaked in vinegar
• Baking soda slurry with vinegar
• Wet tobacco.

It is usually not necessary to take medicines by mouth. The exception is the following cases: redness and itching intensify; many bites; there is swelling or urticaria; I've had allergic reactions before. In these situations, you can drink an antihistamine for several days - for example, diphenhydramine, "Suprastin" or one that "does not cause drowsiness" ("Claritin", "Zirtek"). A steroid like prednisone will also work.

Disinfect the bite site and keep it clean to prevent infection. Fire ants often leave liquid blisters - don't touch them, just keep them clean.

ANAPHYLAXIS

Anaphylaxis is a deadly allergic reaction. It can also occur after the bite of an insect, spider, snake and other animals. It can also be caused by drugs or food. Generally speaking, almost anything can cause a severe allergic reaction in a person.

SIGNS

These symptoms may occur some time (from a few minutes to two hours) after exposure to the allergen:

• hives or blisters anywhere on the body;
• swelling of the face, tongue, throat;
• labored breathing;
• loss of consciousness due to low blood pressure;
• tingling in the arms and legs, or a strange taste in the mouth.

HELP

With an anaphylactic reaction, the patient needs urgent help.

• Call an ambulance immediately if possible.
• Enter epinephrine (epinephrine); for this, the prescription drug "EpiPen" is dispensed. Nothing helps with an anaphylactic reaction better than adrenaline. Anaphylaxis is possible even in cases where such a reaction has not been observed before. Therefore, consult your doctor - perhaps he will write you a prescription for EpiPen for emergency cases.
• Borrow lying position. With an anaphylactic reaction, blood pressure drops, and if you lie down, it will increase blood flow to the head and heart.
• An antihistamine drug - for example, diphenhydramine ("Benadryl", diphenhydramine), "Suprastin", "Tavegil" - does not always help, but if there is no doctor nearby, then it's worth a try. Another option is a steroid (prednisone, Dexasone, hydrocortisone). If possible, use both.
• If breathing is difficult, try inhaled albuterol (salbutamol), which is often prescribed for asthmatics.
• If you have previously had an allergic reaction to the bite, you should see an allergist and get tested: a series of injections may reduce the allergy and strength next reaction. This is very useful prevention. Don't put it off.

What to do at home if a person has been bitten by a wasp - this problem is especially relevant in the hot summer months. Young children and the elderly do not always tolerate this without consequences. For a person who is prone to development allergic reaction, wasp sting can be fatal. Allergists estimate that about 10% of people are allergic to wasp venom. According to statistics, 1 child in 100 is at risk of developing anaphylactic shock after a wasp attack.

From year to year, wasps become more aggressive and dangerous, as they collect substances in fields treated with various insecticides, herbicides, etc. No expert study can fully explain the fact why modern insects are so radically different from those that were 50 years ago. Patients are increasingly seeking medical help after contact with a "striped fly" and do not know what to do if a wasp or a bee has bitten.

For healthy person a lethal dose of wasp venom is equivalent to 500 insect bites. But for an allergic person who suffers from a painful reaction to wasp venom, even 1 bite can lead to tragic consequences.

Wasp venom is a clear, colorless liquid with a bitter taste. It contains biological substances a small amount of which can cause a number of pathophysiological reactions.

The composition of the poison:

• 30% dry matter,
• biogenic amino acids
• polypeptides,
• enzymes.

The composition of wasp venom may differ depending on which continent the insects live on. AT foreign countries for example, cross-reactions with ant venom may occur. The aggression of the poison depends on the composition of the antigen, the age of the wasp or bee, and the weather.

The greatest danger is stinging in the oral mucosa. In this case, the insect does not spare the poison, as it is frightened by the cramped conditions. As a result, the tongue swells, or even worse - the larynx. In the case of swelling of the tongue, there is nothing fatal, while swelling of the larynx can lead to suffocation. Also, do not think for a long time what to do if a wasp has bitten in the neck. In this case, immediate medical attention is required.

Symptoms

After a wasp sting, a local reaction occurs in the form of edema on the affected area of ​​the skin. When stinging into the soft tissues of the face, the swelling is more pronounced. It should be remembered that people with weak immunity, young children, the elderly and allergy sufferers are most vulnerable to contact with a stinging insect.

In addition to swelling, the following symptoms may appear:

• pain in the bite area;
• puffiness;
• redness of the affected area of ​​the skin;
• fever, fever (read in this publication how effective they are for children);
• periodic itching;
• rash.

At normal course all these signs disappear without a trace after a few days, while allergy sufferers can suffer from a bite for several weeks.

In addition to the standard signs, a person suffering from allergies may experience tachycardia, severe shortness of breath, chills and even short-term loss of consciousness. This condition is unsafe for human life and requires immediate medical attention.

How to treat a bite

Even if a person does not suffer from allergies, he still needs to know what to do at home if a wasp has bitten, especially a child. The bites are very painful, the pain is stronger than from a bee. Withdrawal pain - the main task. In hot and sunny summers, you also need to know the rules for providing first aid for sun and heat stroke. More details - material.

First aid

Let's find out what to do if a wasp has bitten into an arm, leg (the most common cases) or another part of the body:

1. Wash the affected area cold water to wash away dirt and poison residue. You can also apply a cold compress or a piece of ice.
2. Disinfect the wound - alcohol, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, etc. will do.
3. If swelling and itching increase, then lubricate the affected area with an antihistamine such as Fenistil gel. An alternative is to attach a piece of cloth soaked in vinegar.
4. Take Suprastin, Claritin, Loratadin tablets to avoid allergy complications.
5. In case of anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema, immediately seek medical attention. While waiting for the medical team, the victim needs to take a supine position, placing his legs at a level above his head.
6. At general intoxication The body is encouraged to drink plenty of fluids - it can be plain water or highly sweet tea.

No need to try to pick at the wound to find the sting, because only bees leave it.

What to do if a wasp has bitten a child? First, give an antihistamine according to age category, then disinfect the wound and use folk remedies(lemon juice, onion, vinegar) to neutralize the poison.

How to treat the affected area

Allergy to wasp venom

Insect venom releases histamine and other components that provoke the onset of an allergic reaction. Therefore, you need to know what to do if a wasp has bitten and a person’s arm or leg is swollen.

Allergy is divided into several degrees of severity:

• Easy degree. Redness and swelling at the site of the bite normal reaction organism).
• Average degree. Redness and swelling, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
• Severe degree. Anaphylactic shock develops. In this case, immediate medical attention is required.

An increased risk of developing a severe anaphylactic reaction with allergies most often occurs in people with chronic problems hearts and asthmatics. In the event of a local allergic reaction (swelling around the bite site), the following should be done:

1. Take an antihistamine as soon as possible. It blocks the action of histamine, a substance released by certain body cells during an allergic reaction.
2. Apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. You can use a piece of cloth or an ice pack.
3. What to do if a wasp has bitten a finger and a person experiences excruciating discomfort throughout the arm: analgesics, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, will help relieve pain.
4. In the event of a severe allergic reaction, an allergic person must be injected with adrenaline.

Candidate in the next video medical sciences tell you how to help with a wasp sting.

Allergy tests

To diagnose an allergy to insect venom, a skin test or blood tests for specific IgE antibodies are performed. The only way to alleviate the symptoms of an allergic reaction is the systematic introduction of small doses of insect venom. This procedure is carried out in a hospital or outpatient setting. The doctor regularly injects to maintain normal functioning immune system. This treatment lasts 5 years and guarantees a 90% result.

If it happens anaphylactic reaction, allergy tests with insect allergen type should be performed 2-3 weeks after the bite.

Depending on the reaction of the body, the degree of the allergic reaction is determined. If the first test is negative, it should be repeated after 4-6 weeks. Such manipulations should only be performed by an experienced allergist, who can skillfully prevent the development of allergies during the test.

When to Seek Medical Care

After a bite, you need to listen to your body and monitor your well-being. The reaction of the body to poison is individual for each individual. and proceeds differently. You should seek medical help in such cases:

• the general condition of the victim has deteriorated sharply;
• the swelling does not subside, but, on the contrary, becomes larger (read about the reasons);
• the temperature rises, convulsions appear;
• noticeable pronounced symptoms of allergies;
• several wasps attacked a person at once;
• the insect stung in the soft tissues of the face (tongue, larynx);
• wasp stung in the eye;
• an anaphylactic reaction develops.

Common First Aid Mistakes

• Consume alcohol. Alcohol provokes swelling and exacerbates symptoms.
• Squeeze out the poison. This may lead to the spread of infection throughout the body, which will significantly aggravate the condition of the victim.
• Leave a person alone in a state of anaphylactic shock. In this case, it is necessary to wait for an ambulance and not leave the victim.

Prevention

Nobody is immune from wasp stings and completely avoiding an insect attack is very difficult. However, you can minimize this risk, for this it is recommended to follow some precautions:

• put mosquito nets on the windows;
• during outdoor recreation, carefully check food and drinks before drinking, especially sweet ones;
• use repellents or special candles;
• do not walk barefoot on flowering grass;
• on hot days outdoors give preference to clothes of light, muted colors: bright, colorful things attract the attention of wasps;
• bypass the places where the beehives and garbage cans are located;
• do not overdo it with perfume;
• do not make sudden movements near wasps;
• carefully pick up fruits that have fallen from a tree;
• do not try to kill, hit or drive away insects, because this only provokes their attack.

In a special risk group are people who are allergic to wasp venom, young children, as well as children of parents with allergies. Elderly people should be especially careful when meeting with wasps. Their reaction to the sting may be unexpected.

Wasps are not the only danger that awaits people during outdoor recreation. Scroll down to find out what are the first symptoms and signs heat stroke. you can find out all about the symptoms sunstroke and its danger to children and adults.

conclusions

Symptoms of a wasp sting can range from redness and itching to nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Therefore, it is important to avoid insect attacks, especially for allergy sufferers. But if this nevertheless happened, the affected area must be washed and disinfected, and both pharmacy and folk remedies are suitable to relieve puffiness. Antihistamines relieve the development of an allergic reaction. AT severe cases medical attention may be required.

The following video will show you when you need to without fail see a doctor after a wasp sting.