What should you know about worst insect bites?

A bite can cause a small itchy bump, but some reactions produce a larger area of heat, redness and swelling. Scratching may break the skin and allow infection to develop. A dark mark can remain after inflammation settles; this is called [Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation](/conditions/post-inflammatory-hyperpigmentation/).

The bite itself does not identify the insect reliably. The pattern, timing and progression matter more, especially when several lesions appear after sleep, travel or outdoor exposure.

Wash the area with soap and water, use a cool compress, and avoid scratching. Remove a visible bee stinger by gently scraping rather than squeezing it. Keep the skin covered if scratching is difficult. A pharmacist or clinician may discuss [Antihistamine Treatment](/treatments/medical-dermatology/oral-antihistamine-therapy/) for itch or [Topical Corticosteroids](/treatments/medical-dermatology/topical-corticosteroids/) for inflammation.

Do not apply unknown household chemicals or tightly bind a swollen limb. Marking the edge of redness can help you notice whether it is expanding, but it does not replace assessment.

Call emergency services for trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, faintness, confusion, or rapidly spreading hives. Seek prompt medical care for redness that expands, increasing warmth, pus, fever, severe pain, a bite near the eye, or a reaction that is worsening rather than settling.

Ask whether the reaction looks allergic or infected, which treatment suits your age and medicines, how long swelling should be monitored, and whether you need an emergency plan for future bites. Describe where and when the bite occurred.