With warm weather right around the corner, insects will begin to wake up from hibernation and begin looking for a meal. Many insects that carry diseases feed on humans and other warm-blooded animals for survival and are called vectors. Vectors such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitos are unharmed by the pathogens they potentially carry but can transmit bacteria or viruses when they bite a host.

Mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus, fleas can carry Bubonic Plague, and ticks can carry Lyme Disease. It is important to protect yourself if you know you will be in an environment where insects will also be at. Some ways to prevent getting bitten by a pathogenic insect are to wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, tucked into socks or boots, and use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing to protect yourself from being bitten by mosquitoes, sandflies, or ticks. Temperature, humidity, and the time of day affect the likelihood of being bitten, so know when you need extra protective clothing and insect repellent.

After being in an environment where ticks and other insects are popular, make sure to check yourself for bites. Bug bites can be annoying, but most are harmless and you’ll just have a few days of itching. But some bug bites need treatment, including bites from a poisonous insect, bites that cause a serious condition like Lyme disease, and bites or stings from an insect you’re allergic to. Some bug bites can also become infected. If your bite does become infected, you’ll usually need to see a doctor for treatment. However, most infected bug bites can be treated with a course of antibiotics.

If your infected bug bite seems to be getting worse, visit a doctor when you develop a fever, signs of lymphangitis such as red streaks extending from the bite, the pain on or around the bite gets worse over a few days after you’ve been bitten, or the infection doesn’t get better after using an antibiotic ointment for 48 hours. Make sure to keep the infected area clean and covered, you can also use an icepack to reduce swelling and hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching.

Protect your family this summer by preventing bug bites. Wearing protective clothing and spray could prevent awful diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus. Visit your doctor if the infection gets worse or you are unsure what to do.