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Pharmacy Care provides information about self-care, that is how to treat minor medical conditions with products available at the pharmacy. Find out how your pharmacist can help you to manage minor conditions yourself.
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Bites and stings can cause mild irritation or more serious reactions, such as a life-threatening allergy (known as anaphylaxis).
Most people are not allergic to insect bites or stings, but if they experience symptoms of allergic reaction, they need urgent medical attention.
See Your Pharmacist or Medical Professional
Seek urgent medical advice if you have any of the following symptoms after a bite or sting:
you feel unwell and are dizzy or vomiting
you have significant swelling, especially in your face, eyes, lips, tongue or neck
if you have a fever, wheezing, tight chest, difficulty breathing or swallowing
if you have had severe reactions before
See your pharmacist or medical professional:
if the skin around your bite is red or swollen or the skin reaction spreads
if you are stung by spiny marine creatures or have an open wound
if the bite looks infected, with pain, blisters, pus or crusting
if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; some medicines may not be suitable
if you have other medical conditions, such as asthma, or take other medicines
if you have allergies to any medicines
if the person with the bite or sting is a young child
Treatment Tips
contact the Poisons Information Centre (131 126) immediately if you are bitten by a spider. They are open 24 hours a day, every day
most insect bites and stings are not serious
clean the area with water, gentle soap or disinfectant and apply antiseptic cream; do not use vinegar or methylated spirits
check for and remove stings or tentacles from the skin
wash jellyfish stings with sea water to flush off tentacles
apply an ice pack for 10 to 20 minutes to cool the skin, relieve pain and swelling
always wrap ice in a towel to protect skin; do not use ice on hands or feet
bluebottle stings: do NOT wash with vinegar which will make the tentacles discharge more venom
bluebottle stings: hot water is more effective at reducing pain than ice
packs (45 degrees Celsius - no hotter than is tolerable - for 20
minutes)
in tropical north of Australia, if you can't identify a jellyfish sting as coming from a harmless jellyfish or bluebottle, then treat with vinegar and call for medical help
Vinegar stops box jellyfish and Irukandjii releasing more venom
if you are bitten by a bee or wasp, do not push the sting that pierces your skin, as it could release more venom. Instead, gently remove it by pushing it out from the sides; a fingernail or blunt knife can help
if you react badly to bites or stings, such as from bees, cover up your body to avoid them or use insect repellent
if you have a severe allergy, carry an EpiPen (a PHARMACIST ONLY product) and wear a medical alert bracelet (such as Medic-Alert); ask your doctor for more information
Advice for avoiding mosquito bites
try not to go outside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
wear densely woven, light-coloured clothing and spray insect repellent on exposed parts of the body if going outside
use a bed net while sleeping
avoid wearing perfumed products
if you are going overseas to a country where mosquito-borne illnesses (e.g. malaria, Dengue fever) are common, higher-strength insect repellents may be necessary, as well as malaria tablets. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor
Treatment Options
talk to a health professional before taking pain relievers, unless you have been stung by a common insect that is not poisonous, such as a bee, or you do not have allergies
people with skin reactions to stings and bites should keep oral antihistamines with them to take as soon as they are stung
some products should not be applied to open wounds or extensive areas of skin; see product directions
caution is needed with some products during pregnancy; check with your pharmacist
Oral antihistamines
skin reactions occur when the body releases histamine, leading to swelling and itching
antihistamines block the action of histamine and relieve itching. There are two main types:
older, sedating antihistamines that cause drowsiness
newer, non-sedating antihistamines that do not typically cause drowsiness
although antihistamines can reduce your reaction, the bite mark may last longer
oral antihistamines treat multiple bites and stings more effectively than having to apply topical preparations all over the body
these products may help if the itch is severe and interferes with your sleep
these products can cause drowsiness, sometimes even the next day, so it is important you do not drive or operate machinery and you avoid alcohol
these products are not recommended in infants under two years old (a prescription is needed for this age group); check product directions for other age groups
sedating antihistamines are not suitable for everyone; check with your pharmacist
if you have other medical conditions, such as glaucoma, epilepsy or prostate problems, or you take antidepressants, check with your pharmacist before taking
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