Serious bug bites

Pediatrician Alan Nager, MD, shares advice for parents on the best steps to take if you are concerned about a serious bug bite on your child
Concerns About A Child's Bug Bite
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Serious bug bites

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The problems associated with insect bites are interesting because the medical literature is reap with those kinds of insects that cause tissue destruction, toxins throughout the body, and can really lead to life threatening injuries that require intensive care unit care. That is a bit of an extreme because more often, we see insects, flies, spiders that typically cause a localized reaction in the skin. Something like a little blister or a papule. Occasionally, those get the surrounding redness and the skin becomes infected. That is called cellulitis and requires the use of an antibiotic. There are spiders, like Black Widow's, that can cause more tissue damage, more systemic findings related to the toxin that gets into the child's system. Some of those do require an antidote or a special medication, to counteract the effects of a toxin. If a parent is really concerned about an insect bite or the surround area around that insect bite, they should seek medical care right away. If anything, they should be able to get instruction on how to care for the localized area. If by chance it happens to be one of the poisonous insects, the antidote can be given right away to prevent further destruction of tissue and other systemic problems.

Pediatrician Alan Nager, MD, shares advice for parents on the best steps to take if you are concerned about a serious bug bite on your child

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Alan Nager, MD, MHA

Pediatrician, Emergency Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Dr. Alan Nager is Head of the Division of Emergency and Transport Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Dr. Nager received his undergraduate degree in Public Heath and Child Psychology, his graduate degree in Healthcare Administration, his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School and his training in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.  He has lectured extensively on a variety of emergency medicine topics, appeared numerous times in the media, and published extensively on topics such as dehydration, trauma, mental health, disaster preparedness, etc. He has also authored a children’s book entitled, Angels in Action: One Day in the Emergency Department.

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