Insect Stings and Bites

Fire ants

They can produce rather painful bites, grabbing on with
their mandibles and pivoting around, producing blisters that can
take over a week to heal.
The most common treatment is with cold
packs and maybe pain medicine. In the event of a severe reaction,
a good antihistamine is indicated.

Spiders

There are over 20,000
species of arachnids present in North America, and relatively few
of them are dangerous. Those that are, are spiders that bite and
then introduce venom into the wound, such as the Black Widow and
Brown Recluse.
The Black Widow has the worst bite of those present
in the United States is rarely painful immediately, but the
reaction becomes apparent within an hour. Symptoms include muscle
cramps, numbness, headache, vomiting, and fever. More often than
not, in healthy adults, the reaction will pass in two days.
However, in the case of children or the elderly, or an unhealthy
adult, the reaction can be fatal. Pack the wound with ice, and
get the victim under competent medical care immediately.Brown
Recluse bites are a little tamer. The first symptom, a painful
red blister surrounded by a blue-white “bulls eye” discoloration,
appears from one to five hours after exposure. Eventually, the
victim will develop fever, chills, weakness, and a red skin rash,
with severe tissue damage at the bite site. Consultation with a
competent physician is advised. In the meantime, apply ice. If
there is an underlying allergy, then the reaction should manifest
itself within half an hour.
Scorpions

Most scorpions in North
America are more-or-less harmless. The average sting may cause
local pain and swelling, but that’s about it. An antihistamine, a
pain medication, and a cold pack are about all the average victim
needs. Certain species in Arizona and New Mexico, such as
Centruoides sculptuatus, have a sting that causes immediate and
severe pain and swelling, followed by numbness. At times, the
injected toxin can cause respiratory failure, requiring CPR and
immediate medical attention. Atropine may be used if respiratory
difficulty, muscle cramps, or blurred vision occur, but narcotics
increase the toxicity of the sting and should be avoided.

Catfish

Apply warm water (as warm as the patient can stand) to destroy
the poison, and irrigate with soap and clean/sterile water. Oral
antibiotics may be used if available, due to the likelihood of
infection. It is worth noting that such stings do not come from
Ictalurid catfish, which are the ones commonly pursued as game
fishes.

Sting ray

The wounds tend to bleed noticeably and have
pieces of the fish’s tail embedded, increasing the likelihood of
infection. Pain generally increases over the first hour or so
after stinging. Immediately rinse the wound and remove any
visible pieces of the tail, as these will likely continue to
release venom. Then, apply hot water (as hot as the patient can
stand) to destroy the toxin. Once the tail fragments have been
removed and hot water has been applied, the wound can be closed
and elevated. If the wound is still dirty, leave it open and
periodically apply more hot water. Assume shock, since these
wounds can be VERY painful.

Cnidarians (anemones, jellyfish,
coral, hydrae, et cetera)

These animals have stingers in their
tentacles called cnidae which cause anything from prickling to
severe burning, shooting pain. Pour ocean water on the wound.
Then try to remove the tentacles with gloved hands. Then, pour
alcohol (or preferably formalin, if available) over the affected
area. Ammonia or vinegar (or even urine) can also be used, but
are not as effective as urine or alcohol. However, pure water
should not be used. Powder the area with baking powder or flour or
talc, and then gently scrape the mess off without cutting the
nematocysts. Finally, apply a topical anti-inflammatory such as
Hydrocortisone as needed.

General insect bites (mosquitoes,
blackflies, et cetera):

These may be prevented by the use of
insect repellant and mosquito nets, as needed. The bites rarely
cause severe injury, but can be annoying as hell. A topical agent
such as calomine lotion or Benadryl can be used for temporary
relief, or oral antihistamines or pain medication in severe
cases.
Mosquito-borne diseases have been more-or-less eradicated
within the United States, but are a concern abroad. Malaria
(carried by mosquitoes of genus Anopheles) can be prevented by
weekly use of chloroquine or mefloquine weekly while in a
hazardous area along with use for a certain period before and
after-ask your doctor. (Note: Malaria was spotted in some areas
of Texas in 1997. This indicated that if mosquito abatement
efforts are interrupted for any length of time, there could be a
resurgence of the disease.
Yellow fever is fairly severe, but
vaccines are available that are quite effective and long
lasting.
Bees/Wasps/Hornets

Stings from these insects tend to be
instantly painful, with lingering pain. Relief can be found with
cold packs and a topical anesthetic. In the event of more severe
pain, an oral pain reliever is also recommended, along with
benadryl to treat delayed swelling. Immediate swelling is a sign
of a possible severe allergic reaction, and should be given an
antihistamine and monitored for a possible asthma attack or
shock.

In all of these cases, allergic reactions are possible, and
antihistamines should be a part of the first-aid kit in
anticipation. In addition, if a member of the party is known to
be allergic to any of these, injectible epinephrine and training
in its use are also advised.