You should let your doctor know right away if you have a more concerning reaction after a wasp sting. Most times, these reactions will subside on their own in about a week. Symptoms to note: More concerning reactions to wasp stings, that may indicate some level of allergy to the venom, include extreme redness and swelling that increases for two or three days after the sting. Usually, the pain and swelling recedes within several hours of being stung. A tiny white mark may be visible in the middle of the welt where the stinger punctured your skin.

Often, a raised welt will appear around the sting site. Typical wasp stings present as sharp pain, redness, swelling, and itching or burning at the sting site. What it looks like: Wasp stings can be uncomfortable, but most people, without wasp sting allergies, recover quickly and without complications. Ready to get to the bottom of your bug bite mystery? Here are pictures of the most common bug bites to keep on your radar. ( Spiders, bed bugs, and fleas don’t hibernate in the winter, sadly.) There are ways to deter the critters from coming your way, especially if you use insect repellent or bug spray, but there’s no perfect solution to ward off the pests.Īlthough it’s not always possible to know which bug is to blame for your latest bite (or bites), you can often get a pretty good idea based on your skin, the site of the sting, and a few other clues. You may notice that bug bites pick up in the summer, when you’re outside more often and exposing more skin, but they can occur any time of year-especially if you happen to be preyed upon inside of your home.

It’s possible you could be having a severe allergic reaction, suffering from an insect-borne disease, or experiencing an infection.

Mild itchiness and pain are normal reactions to insect bites and stings, but if you experience anything more severe than these, including shortness of breath and swelling away from the original site, you should contact a doctor or seek medical attention immediately. Everyone’s immune system reacts to bug bites and stings differently, producing unique symptoms in each victim, from swelling to itching to pain. In fact, experts say that it’s hard to positively identify the offending insect unless you actually catch it in the act. Unfortunately, experience shows us that almost all bug bites look strikingly similar. Have a nasty bite you can’t attribute to a specific house bug or outdoor pest? We’re sharing bug bite pictures to help you properly identify the offender, and how to best treat the wound. And often, you haven’t the slightest clue which critter could have been the culprit. Some ache, some beg to be scratched, and the worst of the bunch do both. Whether you first notice a sharp pinch, a nagging itch, or a painful sting, discovering a brand-new bug bite-sometimes instantly, but often only days later-is no fun.

Bite & Release by Cory Cyr