Bites:

Bites stem from puncture with a proboscis (head appendage) or fangs, or from chewing with mouth parts. Depending on the source, bites range from being immediately painful to completely unfelt, and health consequences may be caused by:

• local trauma
• the injection of various substances (irritants, venoms, poisons, toxins, anaesthetics, enzymes, anticoagulants)
• disease transmission
• secondary infection
• systemic allergic reactions (rare).

Stings:

Stings from insects are administered from ovipositors (organs used for laying eggs that may also inject various noxious substances) or modified ovipositors (e.g., barbed stingers of bees and wasps). Stings are almost always immediately painful.

Reactions range from local irritation and swelling to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.

PC

• Pruritis
• Pustules - A ring of small pustules is indicative of fire ant sting
• Bullseye-shaped rash - following tick bites, indicative of lyme disease
• Rash on palms and soles - following tick bites indicative of Rocky mountain spotted fever
• Linear raised rash
• Systemic signs: Fever, Myalgia, Diaphoresis (sweating to an unusual degree), tremor, nausea and vomitting, headache, pain

Examination