Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Insect Bites and Stings
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the injury?
Treatment for tick bites is as follows:
If the sting appears to have been made by a honeybee, try to remove the sting sac. This can be scraped out of the wound with a fingernail or plastic card. Care should be taken not to pinch the sting sac with fingers or tweezers. This will cause more venom to be released.
Other steps that should be taken after a bite or sting are as follows:
Bites by black widow or brown recluse spiders require immediate
medical attention because the venom kills the skin tissue around the bite.
Also, it is important that the person have an up-to-date
Insect bites or stings can cause anaphylaxis in some people. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that causes breathing difficulties and possible cardiac arrest. If a person appears to be having trouble breathing, call for medical help immediately. In the meantime, keep the person's airway open, and do not let the individual lie down. If he or she carries injectable medicine for treatment of anaphylaxis, it should be given right away. If the person stops breathing, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, at once.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Medicines used to treat insect bites or stings may cause drowsiness and other minor side effects.
What happens after treatment for the injury?
Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.