Insect Bites and Stings

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Images
• Health Check Tools
• Test Your Knowledge

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

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.

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

Start Here

• Bug Bites and Stings (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Insects and Scorpions at Work (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Prevention and Risk Factors

• DEET (Environmental Protection Agency)
• Find the Repellent that is Right for You (Environmental Protection Agency) Also in Spanish
• Getting Rid of Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets, and Other Stinging Insects (Pennsylvania State University, College of Agricultural Sciences)
• How to Prevent Mosquito and Tick Bites (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Preventing Fleas (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Treatments and Therapies

• Insect Bites and Stings: First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• What to Do about Bug Bites and Stings (Nemours Foundation)

Related Issues

• About Vector-Borne Diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Stinging Insect Allergy (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) Also in Spanish
• Travelers' Health: Avoid Bug Bites (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Specifics

• Bee Sting (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Bug Bites and Stings: When to See a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
• Fire Ant Allergy (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
• Your Safety Around Yellow Jackets (Department of the Interior)

Images

• Bug Bite or Sting Condition (VisualDX)
• Flea Bite (VisualDX)

Health Check Tools

• Virtual Allergist (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Test Your Knowledge

• Stinging Insect Matching Game (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Flea Infestations (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Insect Bites and Stings (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Weather-Enhanced Machine Learning for Time-Resolved Risk Stratification of Clinically Managed Hymenoptera-Related...
• Article: Epidemiology and clinical features of Hymenoptera stings in East Azerbaijan, northwestern...
• Article: Analysis of the human health threat caused by the red imported...
• Insect Bites and Stings -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Children

• Hey! A Fire Ant Stung Me! (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Hey! A Flea Bit Me! (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Hey! A Gnat Bit Me! (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Insect Bites and Stings in Children (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Using Insect Repellents Safely (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• What to Do about Bee Stings and Other Insect Stings (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Wings and Stings (Child Who Has Asthma or Other Breathing Challenges) (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Bug Bites and Stings (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Bee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket sting (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Fire ants (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Fleas (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Insect bites and stings (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Wasp sting (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish