How do I deal with a snake-bite? Is it safe to touch all caterpillars? Which is the most dangerous scorpion? With what can one treat a bee sting?

MyHealthPortal welcomes you to the animal kingdom.
First - lets start with some golden rules:

• Do not walk barefoot outside.
  
  

• Wear boots or closed shoes, not sandals, when hiking.

• When out in the wilds, check and shake your sleeping bag, sheets and blankets before going to sleep. and shake your sleeping bag, sheets and blankets before going to sleep.
  

• Similarly, check your boots and clothes before dressing in the mornings.

Insect bites and stings

• Bites from insects that feed on your blood, such as mosquitoes, tend to result in itchy spots or lumps. Usually these don’t need any treatment, and clear up within a day or so.
  
  
• A sting can be very painful and usually results in swelling, but is not normally dangerous unless the person is allergic to the venom and develops a dangerous "anaphylactic (severely allergic) reaction".
   
  
• Urgent medical attention is needed for anyone who shows signs of having a severe allergic reaction or who has been stung by several insects at the same time. You should also seek medical aid if the victim has been stung in the mouth or throat (as the swelling can interfere with breathing). Sucking ice or sipping cold water can help minimise swelling in the mouth or throat. People who know they are prone to such allergic reactions frequently carry a device known as an epi-pen which injects epinephrine in such an emergency to counter the effects of the reaction.
  
  
• Some insects transmit communicable diseases (e.g. malaria). Some insects can sting and transmit disease without the person even being aware of the bite, particularly when camping or staying in basic lodgings. The use of insect repellent, protective clothing and mosquito netting is advisable in many parts of the world - and allies are vital for malaria prevention.
  
  
• If a sting is still visible in the wound, it should be plucked out with tweezers, or scraped out with a fingernail or something blunt like a credit card, whilst avoiding squeezing the venom sac that can be seen on bee stings.
  
  
• Do not use aftershave, perfumes or scented deodorants- they're 'mozzie magnets'.
  
  
• Pain from stings can be relieved by applying a cold compress (a cloth soaked in iced water), or a cream or gel containing a local anaesthetic such as benzocaine, which is contained in products such as Wasp-eze. A cream or ointment containing hydrocortisone can help reduce swelling. These remedies can be bought at a pharmacy.

Severe Allergic Reaction

If any of the following symptoms occur, you MUST suspect a seriousallergic reaction and seek medical assistance immediately:

1. Red, blotchy skin
2. Swelling of the face and neck
3. Difficulty in breathing
4. Rapid pulse
5. Swollen lips and eyes
6. Itchiness all over
7. A rash
8. Fainting
9. Severe anxiety

Finally, it is best to avoid insect bites and stings, so use a mosquito net around the bed at night. If you are taking your own net, it should be dipped in permethrim before your departure so that the mosquitoes do not bite through it Insecticide repellent containing the chemical DEETmay be used, but with great caution on young children as it is absorbed through the skin and can be toxic. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine recommend a non-toxic alternative called Mosiguard which is effective and safe for the whole family. It is available in several presentations and may be purchased from all major pharmacies.

Animal bites

Animal bites can lead to infections which may be serious - sometimes even fatal. Animals in general tend to avoid human beings, but they can attack, particularly if they're with their young. In areas of endemic rabies, domestic dogs, cats or other animals should not be petted. Wild animals should be totally avoided.

Rabies is an acute viral infection of the nervous system. Once symptoms develop, the disease can kill the victim. Rabies occurs in animals in Europe and North America as well as in less-developed countries. You can contract rabies if you are bitten, scratched or licked by an infected animal - so it is essential not to touch any animals, however tame they may appear. For travel in remote areas which are rabies-endemic, it may be wise to consider a course of pre-exposure rabies injections. Whilst a course of these will not preclude the necessity of a post-exposure course, once a bite has occurred, it will buy you some extra time and shorten the subsequent course required. Post-exposure treatment usually prevents the disease developing - if it is given early enough.

If you or a member of your group is bitten by an animal:

• Wash the bite immediately using soap, or flush with clean water, for at least five minutes. Apply antiseptic if possible. Cover the area with a dry dressing.
   
• Get medical attention FAST. You may need rabies vaccinations - and the course of injections must be started immediately if no pre-exposure vaccine was taken.
  
  
• Note the details of the incident and description of the animal.
  
  
• If it is a domesticated animal, try to identify the owner, and check if it becomes ill within a fortnight of the bite. Find out whether it is up-to-date with rabies vaccine.
  
  
• Tell the police - get a formal report for insurance purposes.
  
  
• Consult your doctor or GP on return.

Snake bites

The adder, or viper, is the only poisonous snake in the UK. Adders are found in dry, open country from late February until mid October (the rest of the time they hibernate). An adder is easily recognised by the dark zigzag stripe down its back. Adders are generally shy of humans, and will move away if approached and only bite if threatened, picked up or trodden on by accident. Adders are widespread over the whole of mainland Britain, on Anglesey, and the Isle of Wight. These snakes can be found in many open habitats, but heathland and moorland are particularly renowned as good adder habitat.

Adder bites - most will occur in the summer months in people walking through areas of long grass or heathland. Fatalities are rare, the last recorded fatality in the UK was 30 years ago.

Following an adder bite, pain will immediately be felt at the bite site and local swelling will occur. Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, confusion and/or drowsiness and even loss of consciousness are additional symptoms.

In the event of a snake bite in the UK:

• DO NOT attempt to kill or capture the snake involved.
  
  
• Keep calm, and try to immobilise the affected area if possible. A sling or firm bandage may be applied – but not a tourniquet.
  
  
• Seek medical attention.
  
  
• DO NOT attempt other treatment, e.g. cutting the area of the bite, sucking out venom or applying a tourniquet.
  
  
• DO NOT give aspirin.
  
  
• DO NOT elevate the limb.
  
  
• Medical treatment for the bite will usually involve the administration of antihistamines. Anti-venom is not generally used for adder bites, as the risk of an allergic reaction to the anti-venom is greater than the risk of serious consequences of an adder bite.
  
  
• DO NOT give alcoholic drinks to the affected person: alcohol increases blood flow and may accelerate spread of venom.

The treatment of snake bite anywhere else in the world is along the same lines. If you are trekking, do not allow the person who has suffered the bite to walk. Instead, find transportation, call for assistance or carry the victim.

Scorpions and spiders

Scorpions are nocturnal animals and, therefore, typically only emerge at night. They often hide in dark cracks and vegetation. Ideally, sleeping accommodation should be on a ledge that is at least 20cm high to prevent scorpions getting into sleeping bags etc..

Pain at the site of the sting can sometimes be limited with an ice cube.

Pain killing injections (morphine-based painkiller) may be required and a doctor should therefore be consulted. In the case of more marked symptoms, treatment must be given as for snake bites, and the patient must receive medical treatment as quickly as possible.

Tick bites

Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures that attach to the skin and feed on blood, usually on animals such as horses and deer. A tick found attached to the skin should be removed with tweezers by grasping as close as possible to the skin to avoid leaving the head behind. The tick's mouthparts may remain in the skin, but this does not matter.

In some parts of the country (e.g. the New Forest) ticks may carry a bacterial infection which can cause Lyme disease. Catching the disease from a tick is very unlikely, but if illness develops (rash and a flu-like illness) days or weeks after a bite, it is important to see a doctor. The disease can be treated with antibiotics.

Venomous fish stings

Venomous fish stings may be common in coastal tropical waters. You should wear thick rubber-soled shoes when walking on a muddy or sandy seabed. Both catfish and stingrays are found on seabeds. Both are capable of painful stings. The stonefish is even more venomous. Found in coral reefs, it usually lies motionless. When stepped on by an unprotected foot, the venomous spines along its back cause intense pain. The most effective pain treatment is to immerse the affected limb in hot (uncomfortably hot, but not scalding) water, or a solution of ammonia in warm water. An injection of local anaesthetic may be required to relieve the pain.

Sea Urchins

Sea urchins are spherical creatures with many sharp, brittle articulated spines. Stings are not venomous, but extremely painful. To avoid infection, the spines must be removed. This may be carried out by a doctor at your location or, if there is no doctor available, you might apply Magnesium sulphate paste or overripe papaya to the location of the sting for 24 to 48 hours which should enable the spines to be removed. Any seriously embedded spines may need to be surgically removed and antibiotics will probably be required.

Jellyfish stings

Only a small number of jellyfish have stings which can penetrate human skin. The most dangerous is the box jellyfish or sea wasp found in tropical seas. It is translucent and very difficult to see in the water. The Portuguese man o’ war is larger, though lass dangerous. It has numerous minor tentacles. Stings by most jellyfish cause local swelling with discomfort which lasts a few hours. Box jellyfish stings can cause collapse of the circulatory system which can be fatal.

To treat a jellyfish sting, apply copious amounts of commercial vinegar (a potential life-saver in the case of a sting from a box jellyfish). Put dry sand or powder on the sting, and then scrape off the tentacles and slime. Do not rub the site of the sting with wet hands or a wet cloth as this will only aggravate it. In the case of collapse as a result of a sting, call for medical assistance and observe the victim for signs of cardiac arrest when resuscitation will need to be carried out.

There are many dangerous creatures out there, but being aware of them and their habitat and taking a few basic precautions can minimise the possibility of a dangerous bite occurring or save someone’s life by knowing what action to take in the event.