Most bug bites will heal with a little first aid at home. Know the warning signs that something further needs to be done. If your bug bite is causing an allergic reaction, infection or you can see signs of disease you need to seek medical attention.

Anaphylaxis is a very serious allergic reaction that can come from a bug bite, causing nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, and can even be fatal. Angioedema is another serious allergic reaction that can come from a bug bite or sting that causes your body to swell, especially your lips, face and around your eyes. Both of these reactions are cause to seek further medical attention. If you cannot breathe or are having trouble breathing, call 911.

If you have hives, swelling or feel very sick you should call your doctor just to be sure nothing worse is happening. If symptoms get worse any time after your notice the bug bite like pain not improving, a scab that gets infected, or red streaks coming from the bite (another sign of infection) you need to call your doctor.

Lyme disease, West Nile Virus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are all diseases you can get from bug bites. The “bull’s eye” rash is the common sign of Lyme disease but this does not always appear so look for fever headache fatigue that could turn into an infection spreading to the joints, the heart and the nervous system. West Nile Virus shows up with symptoms similar to the flu and can cause further infections. Rocky Mountain spotted fever starts with fever, nausea, vomiting, severe head ache, muscle aches and lack of appetite. The typical red, spotted rash usually shows up several days later or not at all. All of these diseases are cause to seek medical attention.

The signs are not always clear as to when you should see a doctor because the tell-tale signs are not always there. A doctor visit can’t hurt too much but it may save your life if you do have something spreading that you don’t know about.

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