They can become the nightmare of your vacation: mosquito bites, bees, wasps, bumblebees ... If most of the time a bite is of no consequence, this is not always the case: the tiger mosquito can for example transmit diseases like dengue fever, and bee stings can cause an allergic reaction. To avoid reaching such extremes, the doctor and columnist Damien Mascret distills his advice, this Thursday in "Sans Rendez-vous" on Europe 1, to have the right reflexes.
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How to react in case of mosquito bite?
"First, try not to scrape vigorously, which increases the itching, but rather just rub a little with the palm of your hand. If you are cold, it can relieve. Be careful not put the ice cubes directly in contact with the skin, put a cloth in between for 10 minutes There are also many pharmacy creams or gels based on local corticosteroids (not before six years) or antihistamines (not before three years) which can relieve. be sure to choose the best product, the best is to seek advice from a pharmacist.
What to do in the event of a sting of hymenoptera: wasps, bees, bumblebees, hornets…
These bites are more painful than those of mosquitoes, and our first reflex is to rub the affected area. But it is important not to do it, as Doctor Jimmy Mohamed reminds in his book En attendant le docteur. On the contrary, you must carefully remove the sting, if it is a bee or a bumblebee, taking care not to squeeze the bag full of venom. Take a pair of tweezers and gently remove the sting. If you have a venom pump, a must for first aid kits on vacation, vacuum it up! This will reduce the local reaction around the bite and relieve you.
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Another important thing to know, the venoms of hymenoptera are thermolabile, that is to say sensitive to heat. Depending on what you have on hand, you can approach the tip of a cigarette without burning yourself for two minutes or use a hair dryer. You can also soak the pricked area for 10-15 minutes in very hot water, there too without burning yourself. Once the venom is destroyed, you will instead apply cold to create a thermal shock and relieve the pain. A treatment that also works in case of spider bites.
How to recognize and react to anaphylactic shock?
If, despite everything, the area of the bite becomes infected, this can go as far as anaphylactic shock. you have to react quickly. Generally, the symptoms are quite visible: breathing difficulties, swollen face or tongue, generalized reaction with red patches on the skin. In this case, do not hesitate to call 15. You will be guided by the doctor on the correct course of action. Of course, if you are a known allergy sufferer from Hymenoptera bites, always have an adrenaline self-injection kit with you. "