🐞 Bug Bites, Bees, and Ticks: What Parents Need to Know

Mosquitoes, bees, and ticks are part of summer in New Jersey—but they don’t have to ruin your family’s fun. At Bee Kind Pediatrics, we get frequent questions this time of year about bug bites, stings, and Lyme disease. Here’s what every parent should know to stay calm, prepared, and proactive. ⸻ 🦟 Bug Bites: When to Treat & When to Worry Most mosquito bites are just itchy nuisances. But sometimes, they need attention. Treat at Home: • Small, red, itchy bump • No spreading redness or pain • No fever or systemic symptoms What to do: • Use cold compresses and calamine or hydrocortisone cream • Consider oral antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine or diphenhydramine) if very itchy • Keep nails short to avoid scratching and infection or keep covered 🚩 Call Your Pediatrician If: • Swelling worsens 48–72 hours after bite • Redness spreads or feels warm (possible infection) • Child has fever, fatigue, or appears ill • Bite is near the eye or mouth, or is interfering with movement ⸻ 🐝 Bee and Wasp Stings: Know the Signs of Allergy Most kids will cry, swell a bit, and move on—but some have allergic reactions. ✅ Mild Reactions: • Localized swelling, redness, pain • Treat with cold compress and antihistamine 🚨 Signs of Allergy (Anaphylaxis): • Hives beyond the sting site • Swelling of lips, tongue, face • Difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea to name a few What to do: • Use EpiPen immediately if available • Call 911 🩺 Tip: If your child has had a moderate to severe sting reaction, we may recommend epinephrine auto-injectors and a referral to an allergist. Bonus there are now needless options for bigger children! ⸻ 🕷️ Ticks & Lyme Disease: What NJ Parents Should Know New Jersey is a Lyme disease hotspot, and deer ticks are active from spring through fall. 🔍 How to Spot a Tick Bite: • Tick may still be attached (remove with tweezers close to the skin, pulling straight out) • Small red bump at site (not always noticeable) • May go unnoticed until symptoms appear ✅ When to Watch After a known or suspected tick bite, monitor for 3–30 days for signs of early Lyme: • Bull’s-eye rash (erythema migrans): flat or slightly raised, expands over days • Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches • Swollen joints, especially knees • Behavioral changes or new neurologic symptoms (rare) ⸻ 💊 When to Treat Tick Bites Proactively Not all tick bites need antibiotics, but some do, especially if: • The tick was a deer tick • It was attached ≥36 hours • It was removed within the past 72 hours • The child is ≥8 years old ➡️ In those cases, we may prescribe a one-time dose of doxycycline to prevent Lyme. If your child is younger than 8 or the bite doesn’t meet criteria, we’ll monitor instead—but you should always reach out to your pediatrician to discuss next steps. ⸻ 🧴 Prevention is the Best Protection • Use EPA-approved insect repellents (DEET 10–30%, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus) • Dress in long sleeves and pants when hiking or playing in wooded areas • Tick checks every night—especially scalp, armpits, groin, behind knees • Keep grass and shrubs trimmed ⸻ 💛 Final Word from Your Pediatrician Bug bites and tick exposures can be stressful—but they’re also very manageable when caught early. As a concierge pediatrician, I’m here to help guide you through every bite, bump, and rash. Whether you need quick treatment or just peace of mind, I’m only a call or text away. Stay safe, and keep enjoying your New Jersey summer! Warmly, Dr. Blair A. Rolnick MD Board-Certified Pediatrician Bee Kind Pediatrics – Concierge Care for Families in NJ