Bug Bites

Here in South Texas, biting bugs seem to be present all year round. Most bug bites can be treated the same, regardless of the initial bug that did the biting. Some children have very prominent localized reactions to bug bites, where the area of the bite swells up really big and might even look bruised! For these children, if you are lucky enough to be aware of the initial bite right when it happens, if the child is at least 6 months old, the best way to prevent the very prominent localized reaction is to give Claritin/Zyrtec (2.5 ml if they are 6 months to 2 yrs old, 3.5 ml if they are 3 yrs to 4 yrs old, 5 ml if they are 5 yrs to 6 yrs old, or 10 ml if they are 7 yrs and older) immediately and then apply topical hydrocortisone cream/ointment 2-3 times a day and topical Benadryl cream 2-3 times a day. This should help mosquito bites, spider bites, chigger bites, flea bites, etc resolve more quickly and without quite as much inflammation.