We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Insects, such as bees, ants, fleas, flies, mosquitoes, wasps, and arachnids, may bite or sting if you get close. The initial contact of a bite may be painful. Most bites and stings trigger nothing more than minor discomfort, but some encounters can be deadly, especially if you have severe allergies to the insect venom. Prevention is the best medicine, so knowing how to recognize and avoid biting and stinging animals or insects is the best way to stay safe. Different regions of the United States are home to many of these creatures. The season also matters. For example, mosquitoes, stinging bees, and wasps tend to come out in full force during the summer. The form a bite takes depends on what type of insect bit you.

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Error: This is required. Error: Not a valid value. Hot weather can be dangerous for babies because they are easily affected by the heat. They need to drink regularly, wear light clothing and be kept cool. If you think your baby is suffering from the heat — that is, they look unwell, are refusing to drink, have a lot fewer wet nappies than usual or are vomiting — see a doctor or call healthdirect to speak to a registered nurse on known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria.
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Bug bites and stings are, for the most part, no more unpleasant than a homework assignment — kind of annoying but basically harmless. Occasionally, though, an insect bite or sting can cause serious problems. So you should know when a simple ice pack can bring some relief and when a visit to the local hospital is in order. For most people, being stung by a bee is a minor nuisance. The affected area may get a little red or swollen and it may be slightly painful, but that's about it.
Insect bites usually itch. A sting is when an insect uses another body part, such as a barbed stinger at its tail end, to pierce the skin and inject venom like a poison. They usually do this in self-defense. Stings are more painful than bites. Bites and stings usually are just annoying, causing temporary discomfort and pain, but no serious or lasting health problems.