This summer, prevent insect bites and learn what to do if you end up with a bite or sting despite your best efforts. Dr. Candida Suffridge, MD, PhD, Family Medicine physician at Baylor Scott & White Georgetown Central Clinic offers the following:

Most of us have some type of reaction when bitten or stung by an insect. This often includes swelling, redness, and itching confined to the area of the bite or sting. Physicians say the most common insect bites are from mosquitoes, ticks, black flies, horse flies and chiggers, which seem to love Central Texas!

The itching caused by these bugs is a reaction your body is having to the protein found in the insect’s saliva. Most of these bites are not dangerous, they just feel uncomfortable. However, there are precautions you can take to help prevent any bites or stings this season as bugs come out in full force.

An anaphylactic reaction is not common, but is very serious. Once you have any of these symptoms, from then on it is important to carry an EpiPen and seek specialty care to identify to which insects you are allergic.

Dr. Candida Suffridge, MD, PhD, can talk anytime about insect bites and bug bites. Please contact Katherine Voss at [email protected].