[Age/Sex]
It happens to both males and females at every age.

[Symptoms]
1. Red swells arise on your skin.
2. The swell usually arises a few minutes after an insect bites or stings you, but it is possible that it does not arise until 6 to 12 hours later.
3. There are two types of skin reactions as follows.
1) It is painful as if a bee stings you.
2) It is itchy because of histamine that comes out of the stung skin like when a mosquito bites you.

[Causes]
When mosquitoes, acarids, fleas, ants, bees or other insects bite or sting you.

[Precaution]
1. If you have found a cause, get rid of it if you can.
2. If you cannot avoid being exposed to bees, prevent them from approaching to you with diethyltoluamiae (DEET).
3. According to a recent report, Vitamin B group helps prevent insects from biting people.

[Check-up]
1. Check yourself to see what is wrong.
2. See a doctor.

[Symptoms]
Most of the symptoms disappear after 2 to 3 days, but if you scratch the skin bitten by an insect, the symptoms may last for several weeks.

[Treatment]
1. General Therapy
1) Apply a poultice to relieve itchiness and help a cure. In order to cure a pain or inflammation, use hot water. In order to cure an itch, cold water is more effective.
- If you have had anaphylaxis after an insect bit you, see an expert.
2. Medical Therapy
1) If the symptoms are slight, you can take medicines as follows.
(1) An oral antihistamine to treat itchiness
(2) Topical steroid
(3) Follow instructions of a medicine to reduce inflammation and itchiness.
(4) Use only mild steroid that does not contain fluorine on your face and groin.
2) If the symptoms are serious, an expert can prescribe medicines as follows.
(1) Strong topical steroid or strong oral steroid
(2) Injection of epinephrine or cortisone to prevent or treat anaphylaxis

[Cases where you have to see an expert]
1. When you have anaphylaxis.
2. When the symptoms do not disappear after general therapy of your own or two or three days after medical therapy.
3. When rubefaction, edema or slight fever appear on the bitten skin.
4. When your temperature goes up to 38.3 degree.