BITE PROOF

Summer approaching!! The kids might want to get out and play. The insects are ready too!! Here are some tips to remind you on prevention and treatment of insect bites.

Mosquito Prevention:
Mosquitos breed in stagnant water, so don't let water settle anywhere, even in flower pots or trash cans. For infants, 2 months and older, its is safe to use a mosquito repellent cream that contains DEET or Picaridin in upto 20 percent concentration. Reapply the cream or lotion every two hours when they are playing out or if there are mosquitos at home, and wash it off ASAP.

Treatment:
Clean the bite area with soap and water atleast twice a day. An anti-biotic ointment can help prevent infection mixed with 1 percent hydrocortizone cream will relieve itching. Don't use any anti-itch tonics or capsules.

Bee Prevention:
If your child is heading out to play or on a trip to a garden, don't use scented lotions or soaps, bright or  flowery design clothes. Bees and other bugs get attracted to sweet smells and bright flowers, even if they are just designs on dresses.

Treatment:
If the child has a bee sting, scrape the area with a credit card to remove the stinger. Wash the area, don't use any bee-sting treatments, they tend to irritate the skin more. Cool compress relieves itching and swelling.

Tick Prevention:
Mostly found in the Western countries. --Let not your child play in the woods. Cover the child's skin well using socks over pants and give him/her a hat to wear..just to avoid any sting. Apply an insect repellent that contains DEET , on the exposed skin. After returning to home, inspect the child's body for tiny, dark spots. Look closely: you might even find the tick's legs moving stuck in the child's skin.

Treatment:
If you see the tick's legs in the child's skin, use sterilized tweezers to grab the tick close to the skin, pull upward, without twisting to detach the entire tick from the child's body. A tick bite is usually not dangerous, but if rash and fever develop even 4-10 days later, immediately see a Doctor.