*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or view any of our Previous A to Z Features.

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[Previous Feature]

This Week - Z : Zapping Insects

Bites from some insects can also cause illnesses, such as Lyme disease from ticks, scabies from mites, and malaria from mosquitoes in certain parts of the world.

Symptoms of an insect bite or sting

The main symptoms of an insect bite or sting are:

pain where you were bitten or stung
a small, swollen lump on the skin

The lump may look red. It may be more difficult to see on black or brown skin, but you should be able to feel it.

If you're not sure it's an insect bite or sting

How to treat an insect bite or sting

You can often treat an insect bite or sting without seeing a GP.

Removing stingers, ticks or caterpillars

If anything is left on or in your skin, the first thing you need to do is remove it carefully.

Easing your symptoms

If there's nothing in your skin, or you've removed it, wash your skin with soap and water to help lower the chance of infection.

The bite or sting should get better in a few days. There are some things you can do to ease your symptoms.

Do

put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a clean cloth soaked in cold water, on the bite or sting for at least 20 minutes, if it's swollen
keep the area raised if you can
take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is painful
use antihistamines to relieve any itching (but do not use antihistamine cream if you had caterpillar hairs on your skin)
use a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling

Don't

do not scratch the bite or sting, as it could get infected
do not use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda to treat the bite or sting

See a pharmacist if:

You or your child aged 1 year or older has an insect bite or sting and:

skin around it feels hot when you touch it or looks red - redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin
it's painful
the area looks swollen
there's pus or fluid coming out of the bite or sting

A pharmacist can recommend treatments, such as antihistamines and steroid creams, and give the same antibiotics as a GP if the bite or sting is infected. They can also give advice or direct you to other medical help if you need it.