Insect Bites & Stings Allergy

Insect bites and stings are a particular annoyance during the summer months, however, for some, the thought of being bitten or stung may cause considerable anxiety. An allergic reaction to a bite or sting can cause symptoms ranging from rashes, hives, swelling or stomach pain, to shortness of breath, fainting or full anaphylaxis.

If you have noticed any symptoms that suggest an allergic reaction after being stung or bitten by a bug and think you may be suffering from an insect bite allergy, at Midland Health we can offer a wide range of allergy tests to confirm the diagnosis. Book your GP appointment at our clinic today to discuss allergy testing and treatment options with your doctor, during your GP Consultation our experienced Doctors will advise which test is most suitable for you.

Before doing any allergy tests, we will set up an initial consultation with one of our doctors, who will ask you about your medical history to find out whether you have any predisposition to various allergic conditions that could be hereditary. During the Consultation, our experienced doctors will advise you on the most suitable allergy test for you.

Insect Bite Allergy Symptoms

When you get bitten or sprung by an insect, the normal reaction of the body is to develop a small swollen lump on the skin that gets red, itchy and sometimes painful. If you are not allergic, the swelling should go down on its own and the symptoms should disappear within a couple of days. Sometimes it may take just a few hours to see an improvement and other times - a little longer, but the symptoms will be contained within the immediate area of the bite and will only cause minor discomfort. 

If you have an insect bite allergy, you will exhibit symptoms more severe than those expected of a normal bug bite. You could have two types of allergic reactions:

• Mild/localised allergic reaction: If you are suffering from a mild insect bite allergy,  the symptoms are the same as the normal bug bite symptoms - swelling and redness of the skin, pain and itchiness. However, the difference is that the affected area of the skin goes beyond the exact spot where you got bitten or stung and is a lot larger than normal (more than 10 cm). In this case, symptoms generally pass within a week. 

• Severe/generalised allergic reaction: If you have a severe allergy to insect bites or stings, you may experience severe symptoms immediately. Those include swelling of the face and the mouth, difficulties breathing, abnormal heart rate and dizziness. This is called anaphylaxis and is considered a medical emergency. If those symptoms occur, seek medical help immediately. 

If you or someone else around you is showing signs of a severe allergic reaction and you have an EpiPen at your disposal, use it and call a doctor immediately after. If you don’t have epinephrine available, call 999 immediately, as this could be a life-threatening situation. 

Insect Bite Allergy Treatment

There is no specific treatment for insect bite/sting allergy, so the condition cannot be cured. However, it can be managed successfully using allergy shots (immunotherapy) and the insect bite allergy symptoms can be treated using various methods, as well. 

Mild allergy symptoms may be treatable with antihistamine tablets or topical medication, such as special creams. If you are diagnosed with a severe insect bite allergy, you may be required to carry an epinephrine pen in case of anaphylaxis. 

During your appointment at Midland Health, your GP will talk you through your options to put your mind at ease.

Insect Bite Allergy Diagnosis

Usually, people will seek insect bite allergy testing after having experienced worrying symptoms caused by a bug bite or sting. Your Midland Health GP will discuss your concerns and ask you questions about your medical history to find out probable signs of an allergy. 

If your doctor suspects you might have an insect allergy, they may offer allergy testing at the Midland Health clinic.

Our GPs can administer allergy testing so you will be in the care of your doctor the whole time

Speak to us today to book your appointment at Midland Health!

FAQ