OVERVIEW

What is a bite wound?

Many animals (including humans) may bite when frightened or provoked. Bite wounds can range from mild to severe, from superficial abrasions to deep, large wounds.

What is a sting?

Some insects have venomous stingers that penetrate the skin and cause reactions (redness, itching, hives).

Sometimes venom is injected through the stinger. The toxicity of the venom varies—mild cases may cause only minor skin reactions, while severe cases can be life-threatening. Additionally, venom can trigger severe allergic reactions in some people, leading to shock or death.

SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms of bites and stings?

Click on specific conditions to view: bee stings, scorpion stings, snake bites, spider bites, centipede bites, cat scratches and bites, animal and human bites.
Or search directly for your concern to learn more details.

CAUSES

What are the causes of bites and stings?

Bites are usually caused by attacks from various animals, including common domestic pets, captive animals, and wild animals (such as venomous snakes), as well as human bites.

Stings are generally caused by attacks from insects, animals, and other organisms, such as bees, wasps, scorpions, jellyfish, etc.

DIAGNOSIS

How are bites and stings diagnosed?

Most bites and stings can be diagnosed by doctors through medical history inquiry, symptom assessment, and physical examination.

For deep wounds, doctors may recommend X-rays or other imaging tests to check for hidden teeth or foreign objects in the wound.

TREATMENT

What are the general treatment methods for bites and stings?

Clean the wound thoroughly as soon as possible, provide proper wound care, and apply ice in the early stages.

Are bites to the jaw, face, or oral cavity more severe?

Generally, yes. These areas have complex tissue structures and rich blood supply, making treatment relatively challenging. Additionally, scarring in these areas can significantly impact the patient's future quality of life.

Moreover, if an animal carrying the rabies virus bites the head or face, the incubation period for rabies is shorter compared to bites on other body parts. If an animal bite occurs on the head or face, seek medical treatment immediately.

DIET & LIFESTYLE

Is applying urine or liquor useful for bee stings and mosquito bites?

The composition of urine varies from person to person, so do not apply urine randomly after being stung. Medical alcohol can disinfect, but this does not mean liquor can disinfect. If no better medicine is available, a moderate amount of liquor can be applied.

PREVENTION

How to prevent babies from being bitten or stung?

• Remove insects from the home.

• Use mosquito nets over sleeping areas.

• Take appropriate insect repellent measures (choose commercially available repellents according to instructions). Click to view: mosquito repellent products, ant killer.