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Bug Bites Directory
Bug bites are fairly common. Some bites, such as one from a fire ant or a sting from a bee, cause immediate discomfort. Others trigger itching or go unnoticed. Bug bites or stings are seldom dangerous, but in some cases they can lead to a life-threatening allergic reaction, severe symptoms, or a serious medical condition, such as malaria or Lyme disease. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about bug bites, what they look like, how to treat them, and much more.
Medical Reference
Summer Safety for You and Your Kids
Learn more from WebMD about summer safety, including everything from preventing sunburns to treating bee stings to recognizing Lyme disease.
Allergic Reactions to Insect Stings
Learn more from WebMD about mild to severe allergic reactions to insect stings and how to treat them.
Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
The forecast for Lyme disease, plus the early symptoms, a photo of the bull's-eye rash, how it's treated, and, most importantly, how to prevent it.
Am I Allergic to Bee Stings?
Know the telltale signs that it’s more than just a sting.
Features
Summer Safety Tips
Follow these safety and first-aid tips and avoid calling 911 later.
Summer Bummer: Skin Suffers
Infections, Insects, Sun, Pool Water -- They All Wreak Havoc on Skin
How to Avoid Summer's Health Woes
Experts explain strategies for preventing 6 common maladies from ruining your summer fun.
How to Be Repellent -- to Bugs
Want to avoid bug bites this year? Get them before they get you.
Video
Treating Bites and Stings
Learn how to prevent the allergic reactions caused by bugs.
Allergy-Triggering Bugs
Lots of people are scared of bugs, but if you have allergies, these are the 3 worst pests.
Powassan Virus
The Powassan virus is spread by ticks. Could it be worse than Lyme disease?
What Attracts Mosquitoes?
Are you a mosquito magnet? Research shows carbon dioxide, heat, alcohol, and genes could play a role.
Slideshows & Images
Common Allergy Triggers
From pollen and pets to food and bugs, find out the most common things that can trigger allergy symptoms.
Picture of Tick Bites
Ticks are small spiderlike animals (arachnids) that bite to fasten themselves onto the skin and feed on blood.
Picture of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by the deer tick. Lyme disease was first recognized in 1975 after researchers investigated why unusually large numbers of children were being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Lyme, Connecticut, and two neighboring towns. This picture shows the characteristic bullseye rash caused by a tick bite.
Picture of Black Widow Spider Bite
The black widow spider produces a protein venom that affects the victim's nervous system. Some people are slightly affected by the venom, but others may have a severe response.