Oh, summer, we love you! The sunny days and warm breezes can make any event or family function much more fun and pleasant. One thing we don’t like, however, is the increase in bugs and creepy-crawlies out and about.

Most bugs aren’t harmful and are just annoying, but some of them can bite or sting—and it hurts!

Our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team explains more about some different bug bites to help you identify what got you, so read on to learn more.

What Does a Tick Bite Feel Like?

We all know about ticks. They can be found at any point in the year, but they are much more common in the summertime. Unfortunately, ticks are really small and are hard to feel as they crawl across your skin. They actually have a numbing agent in their saliva that helps them sneak by undetected as they embed into your skin.

If you receive a tick bite, you will probably know exactly what it is when you discover it because the tick will still be attached to you. The surrounding area might be red, inflamed or raised. Ticks can carry Lyme disease, so getting it off of you quickly should always be your main priority.

Tips for Tick Removal

• Use a clean tweezers and pull slowly and steadily away from the skin.
• Do not twist as you pull.
• Take a picture of the tick.
• Dispose in the garbage in a piece of tape or flush in the toilet.
• Wash your hands and the bite site thoroughly.

Are Mosquito Bites Dangerous?

The vast majority of mosquitoes in the United States are harmless, albeit very annoying. Some can be carrying diseases like West Nile or the Zika virus, but the majority will just bite you to drink your blood without causing you further harm. Mosquito bites appear as red and itchy bumps. Most are only a few centimeters in diameter, but some people can have more severe reactions and their bites can swell up to the size of a quarter or more.

Bee and wasp stings are a bit more serious. If you get stung by something, try to remove yourself from the area as quickly as possible. Sting sites typically swell up or become inflamed immediately, so you can expect the area to be red and painful for a while. Keep a close eye on how you feel, as allergic reactions to stings can become medical emergencies in mere minutes.

Signs of an Allergic Reaction to a Sting

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the throat and tongue
• The appearance of hives or flushed skin
• Loss of consciousness or fainting

If you are ever worried about an animal or insect bite, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Hixson.