Gadfly and horsefly bite
Horseflies are a special type of insect that requires the blood of animals or humans, as well as their body, for their life cycle. Reproduction of this species cannot be without these conditions. This is why all mammals and humans are so susceptible to horsefly bites in the summer. Some types of these insects are popularly called horseflies.
Content:
- Blind Blind Bite Symptoms
- Swelling from a horsefly bite
- Consequences of horsefly bites
- Horsefly bite allergy
- What to do with a horsefly bite?
- Treating horsefly bites
Symptoms of horsefly bites
Horseflies are a type of flies with a fairly large size. Therefore, it is very difficult not to notice his approach. But the tactics of these insects are very peculiar - while some individuals distract the victim, the latter imperceptibly creep up or fly up to it, making a bite to suck blood and deposit larvae.
Due to the powerful sucking apparatus of gadflies and the aggressiveness of their saliva in relation to the tissues of the body, it is impossible not to notice the very moment of the bite. It feels like a sharp burning pain at the site of the bite, accompanied by severe itching. In a short time, edema appears in the form of a nodule, which gradually spreads to the surrounding tissues. Hyperemia (redness) of the skin occurs, which causes burning and severe itching.
Allergic skin rashes can often occur, especially in allergy-prone people. With multiple bites, an increase in body temperature and general reactions in the form of general weakness and poor health are possible. Single bites never cause general reactions.
Swelling from a horsefly bite
One of the most important manifestations of a horsefly bite is edema. In its origin, the basic role belongs to the components of horsefly saliva, which enter the skin during a bite. The degree of development of edema depends on the specific type of insect and the immune activity of the body.
The ingestion of antigens contained in saliva leads to a massive release of inflammatory factors by immunocompetent cells circulating in the intercellular space of the skin and its microvasculature. The severity of edema is determined by the initial number of responsible immune cells in the affected tissues (leukocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes). All of them produce inflammatory mediators that disrupt vascular permeability, which causes the release of the liquid part of the blood into the tissue with the development of edema.
Clinically, the edema after a horsefly bite in the first minutes of damage looks like a papule formed around a puncture of the skin. It spreads very quickly to the surrounding intact tissues. Swelling usually does not extend beyond the affected segment. Edema after a horsefly bite persists for several days and is accompanied by reddening of the skin and severe itching. In rare cases, the papule does not turn into widespread puffiness, but into a bump at the site of the bite.
Consequences of horsefly bites
In typical cases, horsefly bites disappear without a trace after a few days. The only discomfort is the constant itching of the bitten site. But in some situations there are exceptions. The negative consequences of horsefly bites are:
- Allergic reaction of the general type (An allergic reaction can occur immediately after a bite, but cannot occur the next day. It manifests itself mainly as a skin rash. It passes after a while on its own, and if you apply appropriate treatment, then faster);
- The formation of large and painful nodes at the site of the bite (The formation of nodes at the site of the bite is the result of bacteria entering the skin with infected horsefly saliva. Sometimes, gadfly larvae find themselves inside such nodes, because in the classic version, bites are made by females to deposit offspring.);
- Infection and suppuration of the skin and soft tissues
- Swollen lymph nodes;
Horsefly bite allergy
Allergic reactions to horsefly bites are quite common. Most susceptible to this condition are individuals with a burdened allergic history. People who have not met with manifestations of allergies are much less likely to be prone to its primary appearance when bitten by a horsefly. Children are another risk group for allergies from such bites. The smaller the child, the higher the risk of allergies. Small children are not able to limit the bite site only to the skin of the affected area due to an imperfect immune system. This leads to the ingress of allergic components of horsefly saliva into the systemic circulation and the development of a general reaction of the body. Adults with immune imbalance and immunodeficiencies are subject to the same effects.
Clinical manifestations of allergy with a horsefly bite do not differ from general allergic manifestations of a different origin. First of all, these are skin rashes. Elements of the rash occur on the limbs and trunk. The face suffers much less often. The rash looks like small punctate redness that diminishes with pressure on them. There are practically no other allergic manifestations in the form of a drop in blood pressure, shortness of breath, tachycardia and disturbances in the general condition from a horsefly bite. Local allergic reactions at the site of the bite are represented by swelling of the skin and its redness.
On the subject: All the information you need about allergies
What to do with a horsefly bite?
Blindflies rarely bite a person. But, if this happens, then you definitely need to navigate the possible options for first aid. The algorithm of actions is represented by the following set of activities:
- Pressing down on the bite with a hard object. This will reduce the rate at which the allergic components of the insect saliva spread and reduce pain;
- Cooling of the affected area. Pursues the same goals as pressing down;
- Wash the bitten area with cool water and regular toilet or laundry soap. You can even apply a compress based on it. To do this, a damp cloth or gauze napkin is moistened in water and rubbed abundantly with soap, after which it is placed on the site of the bite;
- Skin treatment with any antiseptic solution (alcohol, brilliant green, iodine, fucorcin, peroxide, decasan, chlorhexidine);
In natural conditions, where horseflies bites most often occur, it is far from always possible to use the listed methods. Only prudent people take a first-aid kit with them as an irreplaceable assistant in unforeseen situations. Everyone else will have to make do with what is at hand. And it can be:
- Plantain juice and leaf. To do this, a fresh plantain leaf is ground until juice is obtained and applied to the site of the horsefly bite;
- Dandelion juice and stem. Processed by analogy with a plantain leaf;
- Onion. You can apply to the bite either a crushed onion mass, or a crushed petal, or its juice;
- Compress of concentrated saline solution. Almost every vacationer who has received a horsefly sting can find salt and water. If nothing else is at hand, then it is enough to dilute a spoonful of salt in a glass of water and place such a compress on the bitten area;
- Vodka lotions. The option of combining them with dissolving salt in vodka is also perfect;
- Baking soda solution. A large spoonful of soda is diluted in plain or boiled water. You can also add a spoonful of salt. The resulting solution is applied as a wet-drying dressing;
Treating horsefly bites
Treatment of horsefly bites is required in cases where first aid measures were either not carried out at all, or did not have the desired effect. In most cases, treatment measures are required for children and people with impaired immunity, systemic diseases and a history of allergic reactions. In all other cases, additional therapeutic measures are not necessary.
Treatment of horsefly bites consists of the use of local therapy with ointments and medicinal lotions, as well as systemic therapy for internal administration or parenteral administration. Differentiated tactics of using the entire therapeutic arsenal looks like this:
- Antihistamines - loratadine, diazolin, claritin, suprastin, tavegil, cetrin. Tableted and injectable forms are used. Shown only in case of allergic reactions and severe edema;
- Glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory ointments - prednisolone, hydrocortisone, sinaphlan, cremegen, trimistin, triderm. An excellent alternative treatment for allergic skin edema and bumps formed after a horsefly bite. You can both lubricate the affected area, and apply an ointment in the form of a 3 to 4 hour lotion;
- Compresses with Dimexidum. Contraindicated in case of an allergic reaction. The main indication for their use is local edema and infiltration from the bite. Dimexide must be diluted with water 1: 3-4. Hydrocortisone, heparin, diphenhydramine and other drugs can be added to the resulting solution;
- Surgical treatment. It is advisable in case of a complicated course of horsefly bites. These include wound suppuration, the formation of painful bumps and the deposition of gadfly female larvae into the skin. The purpose and essence of the operation: under local anesthesia with novocaine or other anesthetic, a small skin incision is made. After that, all tissues with dubious vitality and clear signs of suppuration are removed. The operation ends with the application of an ointment bandage to the wound.
Author of the article: Danilova Tatyana Vyacheslavovna | Infectionist
Education: in 2008 received a diploma in General Medicine (General Medicine) at the Pirogov Russian Research Medical University. Immediately passed an internship and received a diploma of a therapist
