Dieser Beitrag wurde geschrieben von Dr. Annalena Dehé & Dr. med. Lukas Dehé

Insect bites in children: What to do?

Find out how you treat insect bites effectively to provide your child quick relief. The practical tips from 12mintes will certainly be a great help. Read more ...

Dr. Annalena Dehé & Dr. med. Lukas Dehé

First aid is close to our hearts; we are emergency physicians by passion and parents of twins.

Summer is just around the corner, and unfortunately, so are insects and, above all, mosquito season. It’s almost impossible to avoid: mosquitoes often attack our babies. In most cases, insect bites are harmless and heal without any problems. In very rare cases, children may have a severe allergic reaction to insect venom as early as their first few years of life - particularly bee or wasp venom. In this article, you’ll find practical tips to help you get perfectly prepared for summer and protect against insect bites!

Table of contents

  • Treating insect bites in children
  • Insect bites on the neck and face
  • Removing a bee stinger
  • Protecting children from insect bites

Treating insect bites in children

Other children only develop an allergy over the course of their lives, gradually over time and with each exposure, such as an insect sting from, for example, bees, wasps or hornets.

In the vast majority of cases, which are generally harmless, the sting site shows

  • redness with warmth as well as
  • pronounced itching,

which is triggered by the venom and the associated inflammatory reaction.
Scratching or otherwise disturbing the sting site can further worsen this local
soft-tissue reaction.

Mosquito bites in children – what helps?

After a mosquito bite - especially in the case of small children,
who are not aware of the consequences of scratching - it may be helpful
to cool the bite briefly,

  • e.g. with a chilled compress or
  • under cold running water.

Afterward, the bite can be treated with a cooling insect bite gel. After a day of playing in the
sandbox or in the woods, it makes sense to additionally clean the bite area with a non-alcohol-based disinfectant.

What to do about insect bites in children – 4 tips

Here are 4 tips on how parents should respond after what initially seems like a harmless insect bite:

  • Cool the insect bite briefly (relieves itching and swelling)

  • For contaminated skin, disinfect the puncture site (use a non-alcohol-based disinfectant)

  • Check whether a stinger remains in the skin; if one is present, it should be removed immediately

  • If there are signs of inflammation or if the child has scratched themselves, disinfect these areas as well (use a non-alcohol-based disinfectant)

Special case: Insect bites in the neck or face area

With stings to the face, especially the neck, as well as if an insect is accidentally swallowed, there is always a risk of swelling in the airways. As soon as swelling occurs in this area, it is a critical emergency: the emergency services or an emergency doctor should be called immediately.

What parents can do: In an acute situation, parents can try the following, depending on the location of the sting:

  • Keep the swelling to a minimum by applying something cold (e.g., ice cubes) or drinking a very cold beverage.
  • If available, antiallergy medication such as antihistamines can also be administered if there are signs of an allergic reaction.

Other signs of an allergic reaction may include severe swelling with skin redness and/or hive formation. This reaction may initially be limited to the area around the sting and then spread throughout the body as it progresses.

Removing a bee stinger: Here’s how!

In bees, the so-called venom sac is located at the very tip of the stinger. After a bee sting, you should always check whether the stinger is still embedded in the skin - usually, it is. Wasps, on the other hand, can sting repeatedly with the same stinger. If the bee's stinger is still embedded in the skin, it should be removed immediately, as venom continues to be pumped from the venom sac into the body.

Here's how to remove a stinger:

  • Grasp the stinger, for example with tweezers, as close to the skin as possible at the sting site, and not too close to the tip of the stinger.

  • Remove the stinger with a quick, jerking motion along the angle of the sting.

  • Then check whether the stinger has been completely removed or is still lodged in the puncture site.

How can you protect children from insect bites?

There are various recommendations for preventing insect bites.

The “right” Clothing Line

It is advisable to favor long-sleeved and long-legged Clothing Line, even though this cannot provide complete protection.

Insect repellent spray

Please note that insect repellents are not approved for every age group. Some insect repellents can cause allergic reactions, so you should always test them on a small, neutral area of skin before applying them over a larger area. Do not spray repellents directly onto babies’ skin. It is better to lightly spray only their Clothing Line. If you are unsure, you can of course consult a pediatrician.

Insect screens

Windows can be fitted with these screens.

Mosquito nets

This aid for cribs and strollers also provides a blackout effect.

We wish you a summer without insect bites!

Our medical experts take the utmost care to formulate medical content accurately and clearly. This article is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice. Nor does it claim to be exhaustive. In a medical emergency, please call 112.

Dr. Annalena Dehé & Dr. med. Lukas Dehé
Annalena and Lukas are not only parents of twins themselves but also experienced emergency physicians who know what matters during medical emergencies. For many years, they have worked as emergency physicians on emergency response vehicles and a rescue helicopter, helping wherever they are needed most.

Mehr Informationen über Dr. Annalena Dehé & Dr. med. Lukas Dehé findest du hier.

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