Don’t let the bites bug you
Almost all the natural hazards we come into contact with outdoors are pretty benign compared to the creatures that inhabit the Australian bush.
This amazing weather brings so many opportunities – swims off the local jetty, picnics by the river, walks in the bush. Seeing our local tiny beach packed every evening, reminds me how lucky we are in New Zealand.
We are also lucky that almost all the natural hazards we do come into contact with outdoors (biting insects, sea urchins and jellyfish) are pretty benign when you compare them to the creatures that inhabit the Australian bush.
Mind you, over the years, many peaceful nights have been disrupted by restless children, irritable and itchy after being bitten by sandflies. Of course the best thing is to avoid getting bitten in the first place, but this isn’t always possible. Here are some pointers on how to treat the most common bites and stings, and what to do if you think it is more serious:
Jellyfish
There are a few different types of stinging jellyfish in New Zealand, and at times our waters seem to be full of them. The Lion’s Mane variety can grow to 2 metres across, varies from white to deep blue in colour, and has long, almost invisible tentacles. The mauve stinger is much smaller, and only has a few stinging tentacles. The Portuguese Man of War (more commonly known as the blue bottle) is frequently found washed up on the shore – it is actually not a true jellyfish, so if you get stung by it you should treat it differently than other stings.
The first and obvious thing to do if you get stung is to get out of the water. Don’t try to pull any tentacles off your skin immediately, but apply some wet sand or a towel soaked in sea water to the area that has been stung. DON’T use fresh water as it actually activates the stingers, making the symptoms much worse. If you can warm up some sea water (or anyone is brave enough to pee in a container for you) pour this on. Don’t use vinegar as it can make blue bottle stings worse.
Wait a few minutes after doing this, then gently wipe the tentacles off with a dry towel. If you can access any gloves, this will avoid your hands getting stung in the process. For everything except blue bottle stings, apply cold compresses or ice packs to the area and elevate it for 24 hours to reduce the risk of inflammation and infection.
If you know the sting was from a blue bottle, you should do almost the opposite, immersing the area in warm water (around 45 degrees Celsius) for 20 minutes.
If you get pain or swelling of the area, Panadol and an-over-thecounter antihistamine (such as cetirizine or loratadine) can be helpful, and topical hydrocortisone cream can reduce the redness and itch.
Wasps and bees
If you can see the stinger in your skin, scrape it out immediately – this will reduce the amount of venom released. Use a fingernail, credit card, or blunt edge of a knife. Apply cold water or ice to the area, and take an antihistamine as soon as you can. Lots of people get a local reaction to stings, with redness, swelling and pain around the area – this is normal, but if it persists or gets really large see a doctor as you may need a short course of steroid tablets to treat it.
Kina
If you are unlucky to step on a kina, wash the area with fresh water to get rid of any debris on the skin surface then immerse it in warm water. It is crucial to remove all the spines – if they are visible, careful work with tweezers can do the trick, but if any have broken off in the skin it is likely you will need to see a doctor for treatment. Leaving the spines in can lead to serious infection, so your doctor may prescribe antibiotics as a precaution. Make sure your tetanus vaccine is up to date.
Mosquitoes and sandflies
Prevention is the key here. Invest in a good repellent, and encourage your kids to wear long-sleeved clothing if you can, especially in the evening. For itchy bites, it is important not to scratch them (easier said than done) – scratching damages the skin’s protective surface and increases the likelihood of getting infections. Apply topical hydrocortisone cream to reduce the redness and swelling, and again an oral antihistamine will make things much less itchy.
For serious reactions
If anyone experiences a serious reaction, call 111 immediately. If you have an antihistamine to hand, give it – it won’t treat the reaction, just slow it down slightly. Symptoms include:
❚ nausea or vomiting
❚ sudden widespread rash
❚ swelling around the eyes, lips or mouth
❚ difficulty breathing
❚ dizziness or fainting
❚ pallor or sweating
❚ Dr Cathy Stephenson is a GP and forensic medical examiner.