Insect bite: inflammation

Mareike Müller is a freelance writer in the medical department and assistant doctor for neurosurgery in Düsseldorf. She studied human medicine in Magdeburg and gained a lot of practical medical experience during her stays abroad on four different continents.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

Swelling and redness are typical symptoms of an insect bite. Inflammation occurs especially when the insect bite is scratched open. Invading bacteria then set in motion inflammatory processes. An infected insect bite should be treated by a doctor, as severe courses are possible.Read everything about insect bites & inflammation here.

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. T63

Insect bite: inflammation with consequences

Inflammation after an insect bite mainly arises from the fact that those affected scratch the itchy puncture site. Children in particular cannot suppress scratching and accordingly have infected insect bites (e.g. infected mosquito bites) more often than adults. The scratching creates open wounds that bacteria can penetrate and cause inflammation. But the insect bite itself can also cause inflammation.

An insect bite inflammation is characterized by the fact that pus can be seen at the puncture site and the lymph nodes of the affected extremity or neck are swollen. In addition, the swelling, pain, and redness at the puncture site are more severe than with a normal reaction to the sting. An inflamed insect bite can cause the following clinical pictures in the further course:

• Impetigo (superficial inflammation of the skin)
• Phlegmon (inflammation of the connective tissue)
• Folliculitis (inflammation of the roots of the hair)
• Lymphangitis (inflammation of the lymph vessels, "blood poisoning")

You should always have a doctor treat insect bites!

Blood poisoning after an insect bite

If an insect bite (such as a mosquito bite) becomes infected, "blood poisoning" (sepsis) can develop. This is a complex, whole-body inflammatory response caused by pathogens that spread throughout the body. Signs of this include a high fever (often with chills), accelerated breathing, accelerated pulse, confusion and poor general condition.

Blood poisoning from an insect bite is rare, but should not be underestimated. Every sepsis is life-threatening! If blood poisoning from mosquito bites, wasp bites or other insect bites is suspected, the patient must therefore be taken to a hospital immediately. There he is carefully monitored and treated appropriately - often with anti-bacterial drugs (antibiotics), because sepsis is usually triggered by bacteria. The rapid treatment of an insect bite infection with subsequent blood poisoning can save lives.

Tags:  prevention hair home remedies