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First Aid & Emergencies

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Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites - Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

If you have the following, evaluate those symptoms first.

Tick bite: Go to the topic Tick Bites.


	Yes

Have you used an epinephrine shot to treat an allergic reaction or been accidentally stuck with an epinephrine shot?


	Yes

Have you been bitten, stung, or had contact with a poisonous spider, scorpion, or puss caterpillar?


	Yes

Have you developed mild difficulty breathing or wheezing following a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you have hives following a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you have pain, burning, or numbness at the site of bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you have tiny purple or red spots (petechiae) on your body following a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you have muscle spasms or muscle stiffness after a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you have a blister, painful sore, or purple discoloration at the site of a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you have new swelling?


	Yes

Have you had multiple bites or stings, other than from mosquitoes?


	Yes

Have 2 or more flu-like symptoms developed within minutes or up to 3 weeks of a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you think you have a skin infection at the site of a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?


	Yes

Have you used an epinephrine shot to treat an allergic reaction?


	Yes

Have you been accidentally stuck with an epinephrine shot?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have you been bitten by a black widow spider?


	Yes

Have you been bitten by a brown recluse spider?


	Yes

Have you been stung by a scorpion?


	Yes

Have you had contact with a puss caterpillar (woolly slug)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have mild difficulty breathing or wheezing?


	Yes

Do you have long-term (chronic) mild breathing problems that have gradually gotten worse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is most of your body covered in hives that came on suddenly or over the past 3 hours?


	Yes

Do you have hives that come and go but are still occurring after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Do you have persistent hives that have not gone away after 24 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have you had severe pain, burning, or numbness for longer than a few minutes?


	Yes

Do you have moderate pain, burning, or numbness not relieved by home treatment?


	Yes

Do you still have mild pain, burning, or numbness after using home treatment for 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Do you have shaking chills?


	Yes

Do you have a decreased level of activity or a vague feeling of illness (malaise)?


	Yes

Do you have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?


	Yes

Do you have new joint pain or muscle stiffness?


	Yes

Do you have many new tiny, flat purple or red spots (petechiae) without other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?


	Yes

Do you have a headache or lightheadedness or think you may faint?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Do you have shaking chills?


	Yes

Are you drowsy (very sleepy, hard to wake up, or less alert)?


	Yes

Is your blood pressure higher than normal?


	Yes

Do you have muscle spasms or stiffness without other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Do you have shaking chills?


	Yes

Do you have a decreased level of activity or a vague feeling of illness (malaise)?


	Yes

Do you have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?


	Yes

Do you have new joint pain or muscle stiffness?


	Yes

Have you had a blister, painful sore, or purple discoloration at the site of a bite or sting for 24 hours, but you do not have any other symptoms of illness?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, eyelids, or ears (but no trouble breathing), and the swelling is not where you were bitten or stung?


	Yes

Do you have sudden swelling that is rapidly increasing, such as swelling across 2 large joints (for example, from the elbow to the shoulder)?


	Yes

Do you have swelling that has gradually increased across 2 large joints, such as from the elbow to the shoulder?


	Yes

Do you have swelling of the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet, and that is not where you were bitten or stung?


	Yes

Do you have moderate swelling (an area about the size of your palm) that has not begun to improve after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Is your eyelid still swollen completely shut 24 hours or longer after being bitten or stung near the eye?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you drowsy (very sleepy, hard to wake up, or less alert)?


	Yes

Do you have swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, eyelids, or ears (but no trouble breathing), and the swelling is not where you were bitten or stung?


	Yes

Do you have sudden swelling that is rapidly increasing, such as swelling across 2 large joints (for example, from the elbow to the shoulder)?


	Yes

Do you feel lightheaded or think you may faint?


	Yes

Do you have muscle spasms?


	Yes

Do you have a headache?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Do you have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?


	Yes

Do you have diarrhea?


	Yes

Has your baby (younger than 1 year old) had 2 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?


	Yes

Has your child between the ages of 1 and 10 years had 5 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?


	Yes

Has an adult or a child older than 10 years had 10 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have 2 or more of the following flu-like symptoms begun within a few minutes to a few hours after a bite or sting?FeverShaking chillsVomitingMuscle cramps or spasmsJoint achesHeadacheSwollen glandsA vague feeling of illness (malaise)Rash


	Yes

Have 2 or more of the following flu-like symptoms begun within 3 weeks of a bite or sting?FeverShaking chillsMuscle cramps or spasmsJoint achesHeadacheSwollen glandsA vague feeling of illness (malaise)Rash

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have red streaks extending from a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you have pus in or around a bite or sting?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a bite or sting for 24 hours or longer?


	Yes

Have you had swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpit, or groin for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you worried that the bite area has gotten dirty or has germs on it and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it.


	Yes

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?


	Yes

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

If you have the following, evaluate those symptoms first.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: January 26, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.