What may increase your risk for problems after a bite or sting?

Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medications, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

• Age over 60
• Baby or young child
• Past serious reaction, such as:
  • A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
  • Skin sensitivity
  • Serum sickness
  • Toxic reaction
  • A large skin reaction
• Recent travel
• Surgery to remove the spleen

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Smoking or other tobacco use

Medications

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, including captopril (such as Capoten), enalapril maleate (such as Vasotec), or lisinopril (such as Prinivil, Zestril, or Zestoretic)
• Beta-blockers, such as Inderal or Lopressor
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Medications to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medications used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy

Diseases

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Lung disease, such as asthma or COPD
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Sickle cell disease