Insect-borne Diseases - familydoctor.org (2024)

FAQs

Does Benadryl help with insect bites? ›

Take acetaminophen (one brand: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (one brand: Advil) for pain and inflammation. Take diphenhydramine (brand name: Benadryl) for the itching and swelling. Apply a cold compress to the bite. Apply an anti-itch cream to the bite.

Calamine lotion, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and even a cold compress can ease the itch. "It's going to soothe and kind of calm down that intense burning and inflammation that they're feeling in their skin." And, while it's not always easy, it's important to keep the itching to a minimum.

Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas are among the arthropods responsible for transmitting many of the myriad bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause vectorborne diseases―as are some mammals. In terms of infectious disease transmission, mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous animals on earth.

Biological vectors, such as mosquitoes, sand flies, fleas, and ticks, are generally blood-sucking parasites that acquire the pathogen through a blood meal on an infected host.

Benadryl cream and hydrocortisone cream are OTC options for treating itchy skin. But they work in different ways. There appears to be more research supporting hydrocortisone's effectiveness overall. This is because it targets itching in several ways.

Short-term use of nonprescription corticosteroid cream may offer short-term relief of itchy, inflamed skin. Or try calamine lotion or creams with menthol (Sarna, others), camphor, capsaicin, or a topical anesthetic, such as pramoxine (adults only).

She also suggests mixing water and baking soda into a paste and applying it to the bite to draw the venom out.

Apply the following medicine to the bites: Hydrocortisone 1% (Over-The-Counter) 2x/day. Use this no longer than 2 weeks. To keep the bites/rash from becoming infected, apply an antibiotic cream (OTC) (such as Neosporin) to the bites 2x/day. The antibiotic cream can be used at the same time as the hydrocortisone cream.

The small, long-legged insect that annoys, bites, and leaves you with an itchy welt is not just a nuisance―the mosquito is the world's deadliest animal.

Which insect can be annoying and it may carry diseases? ›

Mosquitoes hang out anywhere people, food, or pools of still water are found. Generally they aren't anything to worry about: They bite, you itch, end of story. But sometimes, infected mosquitoes can give people diseases. You may have heard about West Nile virus, which is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.

Body lice are small blood-sucking insects that live inside clothing, particularly the seams. People who live in unhygienic and crowded conditions, where personal hygiene is neglected and clothes are not changed, are most susceptible to body lice infestations.

Bugs, including mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and flies, can spread diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and Lyme.

Insect-borne diseases are viral and bacterial illnesses from insect (bug) bites. The most common insects that pass on disease are mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks, and fleas. For example, mosquitoes are known for spreading the Zika virus, Yellow Fever, and Malaria.

Airborne transmission: Pathogens can also spread when residue from evaporated droplets or dust particles containing microorganisms are suspended in air for long periods of time. Diseases spread by airborne transmission include measles and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Apply to the affected skin calamine lotion, baking soda paste, or 0.5% or 1% hydrocortisone cream. Do this several times a day until your symptoms go away. Take an anti-itch medicine by mouth to reduce itching.

Use an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream, such as hydrocortisone, or a homemade baking soda paste(link is external and opens in a new window). Do not use topical antibiotics, like mupirocin, unless there are signs of an infection or instructed by your doctor.

Use a Topical Antihistamine Like BENADRYL^® (Diphenhydramine HCl) For adults and children 2 years of age and older, consider BENADRYL^® topical products for temporary relief from pain and itching. Ask a doctor for children under 2 years. Apply to the affected area not more than 3–4 times daily.