Insect Allergy

Allergic reaction, Anaphylaxis, Diagnosis, Insect bites, Insect stings, Treatment, Venom immunotherapy.

Root Cause of Disease

The allergic reactions to insects like ticks, mites, flies etc., are called insect allergies. Biting insects like mosquitoes, kissing bugs, bedbugs, fleas, etc., can cause allergic reactions. Non-biting insects like cockroaches and mites also can cause allergies.

Symptoms

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling (in area of sting and sometimes beyond)
• Flushing
• Hives
• Itching
• Anaphylaxis (less common), a potentially life-threatening reaction that may impair breathing and can cause the body to go into shock.

Causes

There are many kinds of insects or “insect-like bugs” that can cause an allergic reaction:

Stinging Insects

Bees, wasps, hornets, yellow-jackets and fire ants are the most common stinging insects that cause an allergic reaction. When these insects sting you, they inject a toxic substance called venom. Most people stung by these insects recover within hours or days. In others, this venom can trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Biting Insects

Mosquitoes, kissing bugs, bedbugs, fleas and certain flies are the most common biting insects known to cause an allergic reaction. Most people bitten by insects suffer pain, redness, itching, stinging and minor swelling in the area around the bite. Rarely, insect bites may trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction. A bite from a Lone Star tick can cause people to develop an allergy to meat. These ticks carry alpha-gal (a sugar). When a tick bites a person, it transfers alpha-gal into the bloodstream. The person’s immune system then reacts to it. Alpha-gal is also found in mammal meat (beef, lamb, pork). If you have allergy symptoms after eating meat, see an allergist.

Household Pests

Non-stinging and non-biting insects can also cause allergic reactions, particularly cockroaches and insect-like dust mites. These two insects may be the most common cause of year-round allergy and asthma. Unlike a cockroach, a dust mite is too small to see with the naked eye. The cockroach and dust mite’s waste and body cause allergic reactions. They also can trigger asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.

Home Remedies to treat Insect Allergy

Remedy – 1: Tulsi

Materials: Tulsi

Tulsi is proven to be the safest skin cream that can be used and the benefits are massive. Tulsi reflects on your skin when you consume it as well as apply it. This wonder herb is used to treat acne, skin infections, lighten dark spots and improve skin texture. Here is a list of benefits that tulsi does to your skin.

• Tulsi helps in skin brightening.
• Tulsi helps in curing acne face marks.
• Tulsi mixed with eggs and mixed can help in tightening skin pores.
• Tulsi helps in curing skin infections and any sort of skin allergies.

Procedure:

• Consume Tulsi leaves raw, plucked fresh from the plant, add it to your tea or make it out of it.
• Tulsi tea: To make tulsi tea, boil 1 cup of water and pour it over 1 tsp of fresh tulsi leaves, 1/2 tsp of dried tulsi leaves or 1/3 tsp of tulsi powder. Cover the water in a pot or mug and let it seep for 15-20 minutes. Then strain the leaves, add honey if desired and enjoy.

Remedy – 2: Neem

Materials: Neem

Neem is one of the most essential herbs used in Indian households to treat a lot of skin ailments, and itchy skin is one of them. Neem has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that helps soothe itchy skin. Bathing with neem water cures itching and rashes in children who get chicken pox or hand foot mouth (HFM) disease. Neem water bath is an ideal home remedy for itching in the whole body.

Procedure:

If general irritation is causing your rash, like from an allergy, aloe vera might work to soothe itching and inflammation. It might improve the appearance of the rash, too. However, proper studies are lacking to support its use over conventional treatments. Also keep in mind aloe vera can’t “cure” an allergic reaction.

Procedure:

Using aloe vera for any type of rash is pretty simple. Liberally apply aloe vera gel all over the area where you notice symptoms. Use products made of pure, 100 percent aloe vera to avoid introducing other allergens or ingredients that could further irritate your skin. Aloe vera gel takes a few minutes to dry. Let your skin absorb it completely before you put clothes on over the area. You can reapply the aloe vera gel every couple of hours to see whether it helps your symptoms. Twice per day should be enough to see results, if aloe vera is going to be effective for your particular rash.

Product link: Aloe Vera

Other Remedies

Oatmeal

This home remedy works very well for hives. It has soothing, anti – inflammatory and anti – irritating properties which can give you a relief from the itching and it can help your skin to heal in a quick way. You should combine one cup of baking soda with 2 cups of ground oatmeal. You should add this mixture to a bathtub filled with warm water. Stir it well. Soak in this water for at least fifteen minutes. You should enjoy this soothing bath two times per day until you have noticed that your condition has improved.

Also you can mix together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 2 cups of oatmeal and enough water to form a paste. You should apply this paste on the affected skin for fifteen to twenty minutes. Wash it off using lukewarm water. You should follow this home remedy once per day.

Apple cider vinegar

This is also a very effective home remedy for hives. Also it has antihistamine properties which can give you a quick relief from the inflammation very quickly and this will regulate the immune response of your body. This plays a key role in restoring your overall skin health. You should add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to a bathtub filled with warm water. You should soak in it for 15 – 20 minutes once per day. Also you can dilute apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water and you should use it to wash the affected skin 2 or 3 times per day.

Also you can mix 1 – 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in one glass of water. You should add a little lemon juice and honey to improve the taste. You should drink this home remedy 3 times per day. You should follow some of the mentioned home remedies every day until your condition improves.

Baking soda

This is also a very popular home remedy for hives. It has anti – inflammatory properties that can reduce the inflammation as well as itching. In a bathtub filled with warm water you should add ½ to one cup of baking soda. You should mix it well and then you should soak it in water for twenty to thirty minutes. Also you can put 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl.

You should add enough water to make a thick paste. You should spread this paste on the affected area. Let it stay there for ten minutes before you rinse it off with warm water. You can use either of these home remedies once per day or as long as you need.

Preventions

• Avoid wearing sandals or walking barefoot in the grass. Honeybees and bumblebees forage on white clover, a weed that grows in lawns throughout the country.
• Never swat at a flying insect. If need be, gently brush it aside or patiently wait for it to leave.
• Do not drink from open beverage cans. Stinging insects will crawl inside a can attracted by the sweet beverage.
• When eating outdoors, try to keep food always covered.
• Garbage cans stored outside should be covered with tight-fitting lids.
• Avoid sweet-smelling perfumes, hair sprays, colognes and deodorants.
• Avoid wearing bright-coloured clothing.
• Yard work and gardening should be done with caution. Wearing shoes and socks and using work gloves will prevent stings on hands and feet and provide time to get away from an unexpected mound.
• Keep window and door screens in good repair. Drive with car windows closed.
• Always keep prescribed medications handy and follow the instructions if you are stung. These medications are for immediate emergency use while en route to a hospital emergency room for observation and further treatment.
• If you have had an allergic reaction to an insect sting, it’s important that you see an allergist.