Some of us seem to be bitten much more than others – and in unlucky cases this can lead to an allergic reaction or chronic illness. Pharmacists explain how to avoid the worst insects have to offer
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downside to hot weather is all the bugs that can feast on or sting us. Is there anything you can do to avoid this? And what should you do if you are attacked? Here’s what pharmacists have to say about the best ways to prevent and treat stings and bites.
The British Pest Control Association has warned of a rise in wasp activity due to recent heatwaves. “I am definitely seeing more wasps around at the moment,” says Claire Nevinson, the superintendent pharmacist for Boots UK. “We have seen an increase in people presenting with infected insect bites since April.”
“It is a bit of a shock when you are stung by a wasp,” says Ian Budd, an independent prescribing pharmacist for Chemist4U. “It is painful and, if you’re unlucky, it can trigger an allergic reaction. Hornets and bees are less aggressive. Horsefly bites can cause inflammation and sometimes infection, because it is difficult to stop scratching them. Then there are midges, and we do have mosquitoes in the UK, not the kind that carry malaria but they can still cause issues. And we have ticks, in grassy and wooded areas, some of which carry Lyme disease.”
