We are right in the heart of the summer season here in Cleveland, and we are hoping you are enjoying spending time outside in the warmth just like us. While you are out and about, chances are that you will encounter a few bugs here and there. It is the South, after all

Bugs are often just a nuisance and can be swatted away, but sometimes they can bite or sting and leave painful marks behind.

Our AFC Urgent Care Cleveland team explains some common bug bites and how to identify them, so read on to learn more.

How Common Are Tick Bites?

We are all familiar with ticks and tick bites. While they are much more common at this time of year, you can actually be bitten during any season. Ticks are really small and have a numbing agent in their saliva, which can make it really hard to feel them latch on and embed into your skin. If you notice a bug bite, chances are that it will be obvious that it is a tick bite because the tick will still be attached to your skin!

Work on removing it as quickly as possible. Not all ticks are carrying Lyme disease, but the ones that are need to be embedded into your skin for at least 36 hours to transmit the disease to you. The longer it is in your skin, the higher the risk.

Tips for a Quick Tick Removal

• Use a clean tweezers and pull slowly and steadily away from the skin.
• Do not twist as you pull.
• Take a picture of the tick.
• Dispose in the garbage in a piece of tape or flush in the toilet.
• Wash your hands and the bite site thoroughly.

Are Mosquito Bites Actually Stings?

We have all gotten a mosquito bite before, and while it may feel like a quick pinch or sting, they are actually biting you to ingest your blood. Once the mosquito is off of your skin, a red and itchy bump will appear. They normally are only a few centimeters in diameter, but some people have a more severe reaction to mosquito bites and the bump can swell up to the size of a quarter.

If you actually get stung by something like a bee or a wasp, this type of situation is a bit more serious. Remove yourself from the area as quickly as you can and inspect the sting. Stings typically become red, inflamed and can cause burning or searing pain at the site. If you don’t know what stung you or if you have never been stung before, watch yourself closely for signs of an allergic reaction and seek medical attention immediately if you begin to experience any symptoms.

Signs of an Allergic Reaction

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the throat and tongue
• The appearance of hives or flushed skin
• Loss of consciousness or fainting

If you are ever worried about an animal or insect bite, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Cleveland.