INSECT BITES Treatment

People who say that insects like biting them base their belief on the fact that their skins are severely affected, whereas their more fortunate neighbours appear to escape. It is more true to say that all are bitten but only the hypersensitive ones react badly to the bites. Those who are susceptible should certainly use insect repellents (dibutylphthallate cream), and experience may justify the taking of antihistamines in anticipation of exposure to attack by insects. Established bites should be treated with calamine lotion or corticosteroid applications as well as by any measures required to deal with secondary infection. Papular urticaria of children is usually due to insect bites; but the mother will seldom countenance this explanation because it is regarded as an implied criticism of the standard of hygiene in her household. The local use of Crotamiton cream and an anti-histamine elixir by mouth is usually effective. If this fails, the child should be admitted to hospital; here cure takes place spontaneously though when the child goes home a relapse is only too likely to occur.