Bites and Stings
Bites and stings are common after spending time outdoors, especially during warmer months, while travelling, hiking, on beach holidays, or in gardens and rural areas. Mosquitoes, midges, ants, ticks, bees, wasps, and other insects can cause itching, redness, swelling, pain, irritation, or raised bumps on the skin.
About Bites and Stings
Bites and Stings Overview
Most bites and stings are mild and improve with simple care. However, some can cause stronger reactions, lead to infection, or require medical advice if symptoms worsen, spread, become painful, or do not improve. Tick bites, wasp stings, and bites that cause significant swelling or allergic symptoms may need closer attention.
Mobi Doctor can help with non-emergency online assessment for common bite and sting concerns, including itching, swelling, redness, mild allergic skin reactions, suspected infection, or uncertainty about what to do next. A doctor can review your symptoms, medical history, allergy risk, travel location, and the appearance of the affected area before advising on the safest next step.
Seek urgent local medical care if you have trouble breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face, dizziness, fainting, severe pain, fever, rapidly spreading redness, pus, or a bullseye-type rash after a tick bite.
Choose a bite or sting below to learn more about symptoms, possible causes, when online advice may help, and when urgent care is needed.
Common types of Bites and Stings we treat
Pick the symptom or sub-condition that best matches what you're experiencing.
Can this be treated online?
Many insect bites and mild stings can often be assessed online, including mosquito bites, allergic skin reactions, itching, redness, swelling, mild pain, and suspected infected bites. Treatment advice may include antihistamines, creams, symptom relief, and guidance based on your symptoms.
Prescriptions & safety
Our licensed doctors may prescribe medication, issue repeat prescriptions or provide referrals where clinically appropriate and medically safe following an online consultation. Prescriptions are never guaranteed or issued automatically, and treatment decisions are always based on the patient’s symptoms, medical history and clinical assessment.
Some medicines, controlled substances and higher-risk treatments cannot be prescribed through online consultations. In certain cases, patients may instead be advised to seek in-person assessment, testing or emergency medical care where appropriate.
When to seek urgent in-person care
If you are experiencing any of the following with your bites and stings, call 112 or go to your nearest A&E immediately. Online care is not appropriate for emergencies.
- Breathing difficulty or wheezing
- Facial swelling or throat swelling
- Signs of severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis
- Rapidly spreading redness or severe swelling
- High fever with worsening skin symptoms
- Severe pain, blistering, or blackened skin
- Dizziness, fainting, or confusion after a sting or bite
- Rapidly worsening symptoms or signs of serious infection
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
Ready To Speak With A Doctor?
Worried About An Insect Bite Or Sting? Get medical advice for swelling, itching, redness, painful bites, allergic skin reactions, and suspected infected bites or stings. Online assessment may help determine whether home treatment, medication, or further medical care is appropriate.
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