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Insect Bites and Stings
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Skin Hair Nails

Insect Bites and Stings

Most insect bites are harmless, but some can cause pain, itching, or transmit disease; simple preventive measures can protect you.

Overview

Most insect bites are harmless, though they sometimes cause discomfort. Bee, wasp, and hornet stings and fire ant bites usually hurt. Mosquito and flea bites usually itch. Insects can also spread diseases. In the United States, some mosquitoes spread West Nile virus. Travelers outside the United States may be at risk for malaria and other infections.

Prevention

To prevent insect bites and their complications:

  • Don’t bother insects
  • Use insect repellant
  • Wear protective clothing
  • Be careful when you eat outside because food attracts insects
  • If you know you have severe allergic reactions to insect bites and stings (such as anaphylaxis), carry an emergency epinephrine kit

Frequently Asked Questions

Seek immediate care if you develop trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or a widespread rash—signs of anaphylaxis. Also go if the sting site becomes very painful, red, and swollen with fever, suggesting infection.
pply a cold compress for 10‑15 minutes, then use over‑the‑counter antihistamine cream or oral antihistamine (e.g., diphenhydramine). A paste of baking soda and water or calamine lotion can also soothe itching.
Wear long sleeves and pants treated with permethrin, apply EPA‑registered DEET or picaridin repellent to exposed skin, set up screens or netting around sleeping areas, and avoid standing water where mosquitoes breed.
If you notice hives beyond the bite, swelling that spreads beyond the immediate area, throat tightness, wheezing, nausea, or a feeling of faintness, use your epinephrine immediately and call emergency services.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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