Insect Bites And Stings And Spider Bites: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Have you had multiple bites or stings, other than from mosquitoes?

See significance of multiple bites or stings if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Are you drowsy (very sleepy, hard to wake up, or less alert)?

Yes

Do you have swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, eyelids, or ears (but no trouble breathing), and the swelling is not where you were bitten or stung?

Yes

Do you have sudden swelling that is rapidly increasing, such as swelling across 2 large joints (for example, from the elbow to the shoulder)?

Yes

Do you feel lightheaded or think you may faint?

Yes

Do you have muscle spasms?

Yes

Do you have a headache?

Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?

Yes

Do you have diarrhea?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Has your baby (younger than 1 year old) had 2 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?

Yes

Has your child between the ages of 1 and 10 years had 5 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?

Yes

Has an adult or a child older than 10 years had 10 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	February 01, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine and Envenomation Specialist
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer