Identifying Common Insect Stings in Kids

Warmer weather means that your kiddos spend more time outside! This also means that your child’s risk of being stung or bitten by pesky insects increases. But how do you know which insect has stung your child? Check out our tips to easily identify different insect stings and bites in children. 

• Bee Stings: A bee sting comes with a few telltale signs which include immediate redness, pain, and swelling of the sting site. You may also find a small stinger in the center of the stung area.
• Wasp Stings: Similar to bee stings, wasp stings cause immediate pain. Wasps typically leave their stingers behind, so check the affected area for stingers. 
• Yellow Jacket Stings: Yellow jackets live in the ground and can sting multiple times. They don’t leave stingers behind, but they cause almost the same symptoms as bee and wasp stings. 
• Mosquito Bites: The side effects of mosquito bites show up a bit later after the bite takes place. Generally, you will notice itchy, red, and swollen places on the skin a few hours after the initial bite. 
• Ant Bites: Like bee stings, ant bites have a pretty immediate reaction. Your child will notice a sharp pain or burning sensation as an ant bites them. Then small, itchy, red bumps will appear on their skin. While most species of ants bite, fire ants are the most aggressive and cause the most pain.
• Spider Bites: If a spider bites your child, you may not notice until hours later. Spider bites often turn red with fluid in the center. A red or purple ring may also appear around the bite. This looks like a bullseye. 
• Tick Bites: Tick bites can be very small and will remain in the same spot that they bite. If your child spends a lot of time in wooded areas, you should check them for ticks frequently. Ticks can hide in the hair and may not be easily seen.

Treating Bee and Insect Stings in Kids

While there are many types of insect stings your child could sustain, treatment methods are generally the same. 

KidsStreet recommends these at-home treatments for insect and bee stings in kids: 

• Wash the area thoroughly (and gently) with soap and water. 
• Remove any stingers left behind by a bee, wasp or other insect.
• Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to the sting site to help with itching.
• Apply a cold pack or an ice cube to the area. 
• For mosquito bites, apply baking soda and water to soothe itchiness. 
• Administer over-the-counter medications for pain such as children’s ibuprofen. 

Having trouble determining the best treatment for your child’s insect sting? KidsStreet Urgent Care can help! We offer diagnosis and treatment for bee and insect stings in our urgent care services.