Treatment

To treat a mild reaction to an insect bite or sting:

• Move to a safe area to avoid more bites or stings.
• Remove any stingers.
• Gently wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply to the affected skin a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice. Keep it on for 10 to 20 minutes. This helps reduce pain and swelling.
• If the injury is on an arm or leg, raise it.
• Apply to the affected skin calamine lotion, baking soda paste, or 0.5% or 1% hydrocortisone cream. Do this several times a day until your symptoms go away.
• Take an anti-itch medicine by mouth to reduce itching. Options include nonprescription cetirizine, fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy, Children's Allegra Allergy), loratadine (Claritin). These types of medicines are also called antihistamines.
• Take a nonprescription pain reliever as needed.