SUNDAY, July 23, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- Despite their small size, insects and their bites can be very dangerous, spurring harmful allergies and infections.
The Baylor Health Care System (BMC) has some tips to help keep families safe from summer bugs:
And don't scratch. "In our day and age, with more serious strains of methicillin-resistant staph (a bacteria resistant to many antibiotics), these infections can become serious quickly," said Dr. Robert Kotas, a BMC pediatrician in Garland, Texas.
Kotas recommends contacting a pediatrician if you are unsure about where a child's bite came from.
In an effort to prevent bug bites, BMC recommends the use of insect repellent that contains DEET, an insect repelling ingredient, properly adhering to the label directions. Also, wearing long pajamas to bed can prevent bug bites at night.
More information
To learn more, head to the Nemours Foundation.