Beating the Bug Blues

As the weather warms up, your kids will spend more time outside—and increase their chances of coming in contact with an unpleasant insect. Learn what to do if your little one suffers from a pesky bite or sting.

“It’s difficult for parents to tell if their child has been bitten by a tick because the bites are painless and don’t itch,” says Terri Tessmer, RN, BSN, Answer Line nurse for St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Check kids thoroughly after they’ve played outside, especially around the ears, belly button, hair and private areas. If a tick is found, remove it by using tweezers and grasping it as close to the skin as possible. Pull it gently upward without twisting.”

To prevent tick bites, have your kids wear long sleeves and pants when playing in the woods, and apply insect repellent with 10 to 30 percent DEET to exposed skin and clothes. Don’t use insect repellent containing DEET on kids younger than 2 months.

If your child is stung by a bee, remove the stinger by scraping the skin with a thin, flat object, such as a credit card. Once the stinger is removed, dull the pain by applying a mixture of baking soda and water. To prevent stings, have your kids avoid wearing brightly colored clothes and using shampoos or lotions with strong scents.

For more information about handling insect bites or stings, call 314.454.KIDS (5437) or toll-free 800.678.KIDS.