Some Bug Bites that Cause Swelling
Posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2010
by Ben Mester
Plan B Publishing
Bug bites that cause swelling can be particularly distressing if you don't know what kind of bug bit you, and if the lump doesn't seem to want to go away. No one enjoys waking up in the morning to find a swollen, tender lump on their body that wasn't there the night before. Bugs are unfortunately most active at night, when human beings are often most defenseless. Just like rats, mice, and other pests, bugs are generally nocturnal and can strike us when we're unaware.
But before we talk about which kinds of bug bites that cause swelling, we should discuss a little bit about why bug bites cause swelling. Depending on the level of sensitivity of the skin, it should generally only swell because a foreign chemical is introduced. This is not necessarily a poison. Some bug bites, such as mosquito bites, inject a chemical solution into the area which keeps the blood they're drawing out from coagulating and clotting so that they can process it. This chemical isn't considered a poison, but it causes swelling nonetheless. Many other kinds of bugs bite even though they aren't poisonous, and these bites shouldn't cause swelling, unless the skin is overly sensitive.
If you've gotten a bug bite and aren't sure where it came from, this list should help you determine. It goes from most common to least common.
1. Mosquito Bites. Like we discussed already, mosquito bites cause swelling due to a chemical they inject into the skin in order to keep the blood from clotting. Mosquito bites aren't dangerous unless the mosquito is infected with malaria, which is a blood borne disease that's very dangerous. But in the United States and other modern countries, malaria is very rare. It generally thrives in jungle climates.
2. Spider Bites. Spider bites in general are very common, but the type of spider can be varied. Common household include Daddy-Long-Legs, which don't bite, and Wolf Spiders. Wold spiders come in generally small and medium sizes, and though they are poisonous, they aren't nearly among the more poisonous varieties of spiders. These bites will generally give a person a pinkish or red bump on the skin that lasts a few days. The size of the lump generally corresponds to the size of the spider.
There are many other kinds of spiders that live nearby homes. These however, are usually more dangerous and leave more than just some simple swelling. These include Black Widows, Brown Recluse, and Funnel Spiders. If you're bit by any of these, you'll definitely know about it, and you'll also want to go and find some pretty quick medical attention. An ordinary household spider bite shouldn't get worse than a small lump. So if yours does, seek medical attention.
3. Bed Bug Bites. Bed bugs are tiny parasites that live in beds. There are different varieties of bugs that could be labeled bed bugs, but the one generally thought of is the one that feeds on human blood. Bed bug bites are very similar to mosquito bites in that the swelling comes from the anti-coagulant chemicals that's injected into the region to keep the blood from clotting. Bed bugs are much less common in urban environments than they once were. These have mostly been wiped out in the modern world. Bed bugs, like mosquitoes, are able to draw out their victims blood without the victim feeling it or waking from their sleep.
4. Ants
5. Bees, Wasps, and Hornets
6. Centipede Bites. Centipede bites are often very painful. The centipede leaves a pair of puncture wounds through two pointed attack claws that inject a non-fatal poison into its victim. Centipedes are usually only encountered while in the great outdoors, and they often attack a person's foot who is wearing sandals and has just stepped on half of their body. If the victim is wearing sandals and steps on a small portion of the body of a large centipede, the rest of the body can swing upward and sting the foot of the victim. A centipede sting will not only leave you with some swelling, you'll most likely feel a significant amount of pain right away. Centipedes inhabit mostly the southwestern states.
7. Scorpions. Most everything about scorpions is similar to centipedes. The method of attack, the type of poison, and the region are all very similar.
Thanks for stopping by and reading about different bug bites that cause swelling. For more on pests, check out my article on battery powered electronic rat traps
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