Is a gadfly bite dangerous? The consequences can be the most unpredictable. The bite of this insect must be taken seriously. The gadfly belongs to the family of dipterans. This is one of the representatives of its kind, harmful to human health. The gadfly, having chosen a victim, sticks to the skin and can drink blood for more than five minutes. And therefore, a bite must be taken seriously, taking into account the individuality of the human body, since they are carriers of the strongest toxins and carry rare diseases with the blood. What to do with a gadfly bite? Let's find the answer to this question.
Habitat
The accumulation of gadflies occurs near water bodies, wetlands, forests, or on the territory of cattle grazing. More often the insect bites children due to the delicate structure of the skin, less often adults.
The first signs of a bite
The gadfly bite is accompanied by severe pain. A seal is formed. Immediately, there is a sharp burning and itching sensation, reddening of the skin and in less than five minutes, extensive edema and rash may occur.
What else is characteristic of a gadfly bite? The tumor in this case is very large. Often the bite site is stained White color, and a bright red border forms at the edges. These consequences appear due to the penetration of toxins and anticoagulant elements contained in the insect's saliva under the skin. Therefore, this is accompanied by prolonged bleeding from the wound and varying degrees allergic reaction.
In addition to obvious skin signs, there is also a deterioration in the general condition of a person - malaise, symptoms of intoxication and disturbances in the work of the respiratory system.
Human behavior after a bite
The person should try not to panic. Take a half-sitting or lying position. If there is a predisposition to complications after an insect bite, be sure to squeeze the affected area or apply a cold compress to slow down the absorption of toxins into the blood. And in any case, do not scratch the wound, this will only intensify the symptoms and worsen further treatment.
First aid for a gadfly bite
If human body reacts without complications, it will be sufficient after a gadfly bite to wash abundantly, without strong friction, the affected area with soapy water. After washing, apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the bite site, then treat the wound halo with fucortion or brilliant green. If several gadflies are stung at once, the victim must definitely drink antipyretic and analgesic drugs. In the absence of medications, it should be borne in mind that juice from the stems of chamomile, dandelion, field onion, mint, aloe, black nightshade or plantain has anti-inflammatory properties. These plants disinfect the bitten area, relieve pain and speed up healing. And children need to be given antihistamine tablets - this will reduce the risk of further infection and relieve itching.
If complications are not observed, then until complete healing it will be enough to treat the wound with anti-inflammatory and healing ointment for several days. Failure to comply with these simple rules care for a bite, skin suppuration occurs, and sometimes phlegmon or an abscess forms.
Gadfly bite: consequences
Many doctors associate a person's allergic reaction with the work of the gastrointestinal tract. When the intestines are unstable, large protein molecules - allergens - enter the bloodstream. And therefore, when with external environment toxins enter the bloodstream, a violent reaction immediately occurs, sometimes with a lethal outcome. In cases of complications after a bite on the skin, in addition to the symptoms described above, blisters appear, the skin becomes numb, a rash and a black scab form on a large area of the body. And sometimes there is also necrosis of the affected area of the skin. For the body, the consequences can be different. In any case, if the temperature rises, hospitalization is required in a medical institution. Since this is the first sign of edema of the internal organs.
In chronic diseases, combined with a toxic gadfly bite, nausea, wheezing and shortness of breath may develop. If the area near the eyes is affected, there is a decrease or complete loss of vision, and a bite in the area of the tongue will cause swelling of the larynx, which is fraught with asphyxia.
The body's reaction to an insect bite
The very reaction of the body to a gadfly bite is systemic and quite unpredictable. Edema can occur both at the site of the lesion, and cover with lightning speed most body. In this case, special attention should be paid to the respiratory system and before arriving at the hospital, if necessary, do artificial ventilation of the lungs and chest compressions. With a sluggish development of the reaction through indefinite time there is nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, general malaise, drowsiness, numbness of the limbs and a decrease in blood pressure. With such symptoms in the human body, there may be a focus of hemorrhage in vital organs. In this case, constant monitoring of the patient is mandatory. These are vital signs and laboratory tests.
Treatment of complications
What complications does a gadfly bite carry for the body? Treatment for complex cases is complex. Signs are varied - tachycardia, anxiety, nervousness, difficulty breathing, impaired concentration, and a rash all over the body. First of all, this is the introduction of antitoxic drugs containing immune sera. The secondary stage is the use of diuretic drugs. Therapy with crystalloid solutions and glucocorticoid hormones. And also, if necessary, you need to enter anti-shock drugs. The person is under the supervision of doctors for more than a week. Appointed therapeutic diet to normalize the intestines and take vitamin complexes. All treatment is aimed at removing toxins, removing puffiness of organs and generally increasing immunity.
Anaphylactic shock
In rare cases, anaphylactic shock occurs. In this case, there is a sharp drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and a halt in the work of all vital organs - the heart, lungs and kidneys.
Gadfly - a carrier of diseases
What is the danger of a gadfly bite? Treatment with its bite should be carried out, since this insect is a mechanical carrier of diseases such as tularemia and filariasis, in rare cases, anthrax. In the future, it will be useful for a person to pass the appropriate tests to identify and prevent these diseases.
There are also general rules prevention of a gadfly bite. When going to the country house or nature, do not wear bright clothes, do not use saturated perfumes. To reduce the risk of an insect bite in nature will help Natural resources... This insect does not like the smell of wormwood and tansy. The aroma of burnt chamomile stems also scares off gadflies, and it is worth using indoors mosquito nets... While in nature, clothing should be as closed as possible, and in hot weather, use creams and sprays to protect against insects. Spend more time in the shade, the gadfly is a sunny insect and in shaded places its activity decreases.
Gadfly is large fly... People call him horsefly. In fact it is different insects... Horsefly feeds on blood, and there are enough of those for the gadfly nutrients, which are stored at the larval stage, so the gadfly does not live long. It is very easy to recognize a gadfly. While on vacation, horseflies and gadflies constantly buzz overhead, creating sharp circular movements.
You can recognize that a gadfly bite has the following signs:
- Two small holes are visible on the skin. During the bite, the person feels severe sharp pain.
- The blood from the wound does not stop for a while.
- The skin around the bite instantly turns red and itches unbearably. This is due to the insect injecting toxic substances under the skin.
- Edema forms around the bitten area, which increases in size.
After a bite, the wound can fester, giving the victim a certain painful sensation at the slightest touch. If you do not provide timely medical care, the situation is aggravated, the abscess grows.
During piercing skin a fly, admits poisonous substances into it, which penetrate the bloodstream and are carried throughout the body. This reaction can be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- The temperature rises above 38 degrees.
- A headache occurs that can last for a long time.
- The patient has bouts of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea opens.
In addition to such signs, a severe allergic reaction appears.
Allergic reaction
How to recognize that a patient has developed an allergy to a gadfly bite. In medical practice, there are cases of death after the bite of a bloodsucker. This happens due to extensive allergies and the lack of timely qualified assistance.
Allergy looks like this:
- The swelling spreads to healthy areas of the skin.
- Not only the center can itch, but also the skin all over the body.
- The pain does not go away even after a long time.
- The vertical position of the patient is very difficult, while the head is very dizzy, nausea and vomiting occur.
- The patient is indifferent to the environment.
- The motor apparatus is paralyzed. It is difficult for a person to move, every movement causes a sharp pain throughout the body, rapid fatigability. Spontaneous release of urine and feces is possible.
Insect bite treatment
Most often, bites occur in nature, and even a minimal antiseptic is not at hand.
It is still worth providing first aid. For this, herbs that grow right under your feet are suitable.
Traditional medicine recipes
The most effective remedies are:
- Plantain. Fresh leaves must be plucked and washed with water, removing dust from them. Next, prepare gruel from them and apply to the wound. Useful substances will relieve itching and prevent swelling from spreading. After the product has dried, the procedure is repeated.
- Dandelion. It is no less effective for a gadfly bite. Rinse dandelion leaves with water, grind and put on a bite, press down with a cloth bandage or bandage. This natural antiseptic will prevent inflammation and also minimize the spread of infection inside the body.
- Baking soda will help. Prepare an alkaline solution: take 1 tsp for 250 ml of water. soda, stir. Apply applications to the damaged area.
- If there is dry ice on hand, then it is applied to the hearth for about 10 minutes with short breaks.
In addition to the listed folk remedies and herbs you can use sour cream, kefir, tomato, potatoes.
Before you start self-medication, you need to follow some rules. First, wash the bite with soap and water. This will eliminate bacteria that are on the surface of the skin. Next, you need to remove the toxic liquid from the upper layers of the skin with light pressure. Thus, part of the poisonous substance will not penetrate into the body. This will reduce the degree of intoxication. Then use the tools at hand.
Important! In case of a bite by a blood-sucking insect and after providing first aid, try to get the patient to the doctor as soon as possible so that there are no complications.
Medicines
- After a wound is found, even if the patient does not have an allergy, antihistamines must be used. This helps to reduce swelling and itching. Of these funds, you may need: Suprastin, Tavegil, Tsetrin, Loratadin, etc.
- In addition, the wound can be treated with hydrogen peroxide or Chlorhexidine solution.
- To reduce pain, use pain relievers: Nimesulide, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen. In addition, they will have an antipyretic effect.
- In order for the wound to heal faster, not to putrefaction, use: Bepanten, Fenistil and other wound healing creams, gels and ointments.
If such treatment did not help, and the wound began to fester, symptoms of severe allergy appeared, you should contact an infectious disease specialist. The doctor will examine the bitten site and prescribe more effective treatment.
Prolonged stay of the wound on the skin, as well as its non-healing, occurs from the presence of a gadfly larva under the skin. Its presence is determined visually by the doctor. In order to eliminate it, it is necessary to interrupt the flow of oxygen under the skin. For this, a tight bandage is applied to the surface, before that the skin is abundantly lubricated with any fatty cream.
Important! Limited air access will force the fly larva to crawl to the surface, after which it is carefully pulled out with tweezers. After removing the small worm, a rather noticeable hole forms on the skin, which must be treated with antiseptic agents.
All manipulations can be done at home, but under the supervision of a doctor, so as not to introduce additional infection into the wound.
Prophylaxis
To prevent gadfly bites, follow the recommendations:
- When resting in nature, use repellents that will drive away the annoying insect.
- Do not leave the car and tent open, as flies clog in the space and can bite at night.
- Strictly monitor children, as a gadfly bite is especially dangerous for them.
- When packing on vacation, take with you the essentials (first aid kit) to provide first aid.
- Wear light colored clothing. Colored and dark items attract insects.
- Mosquitoes dislike odorous grasses such as wormwood and tansy. Several branches can be placed next to you and the children.
Conclusion
A gadfly bite is very dangerous for a person, you should not ignore it. The symptoms are dire, as are the consequences.
If you do not have the funds at hand to help the patient, do not waste time, and immediately take the patient to the nearest medical center.
After an insect bite, edema occurs, due to which a person has a lot of troubles. Redness and itching may begin. It is necessary to take timely measures to eliminate these unpleasant symptoms. If the leg is swollen after an insect bite, then the method of treatment depends on what kind of pest it was. Read more about this in the article.
Insect bites are the most inconvenient for allergy sufferers, as they experience an allergic reaction, and the itching does not disappear for several weeks. But it can affect all people.
To facilitate the process, you need:
- Treat the bite site with ammonia.
- Wipe the sore spot with vinegar diluted with soda, vodka and lemon juice.
- Take an allergy remedy.
- Use a cooling ointment.
- Seek medical attention if swelling persists.
Midge bite
After midge bites, it is necessary to treat the sore spot with ammonia. If itching has formed, then you can use the funds traditional medicine... For example, you need to treat a sore spot with a cotton swab treated with vodka or cologne. Often, bird cherry leaves are effective, which should be applied to the bite for 15 minutes. You should always take with you creams, lotions that will protect against insects.
Why is my leg swollen after an insect bite? A tumor is called a natural reaction of the body, since when it is bitten, foreign substances that destroy cells enter it. In the damaged areas, blood accumulates and the volume of intercellular fluid increases. With inflammation, lymph accumulates in the soft tissues, so they increase in volume.
Signs
When a person is affected by insects, the following symptoms appear:
- Redness.
- Sealing.
- Pain.
- Swelling.
Necessary actions
If my leg is swollen after an insect bite, what should I do? You need to do the following:
- If there is a sting in the skin, it should be pulled out.
- The wound is treated with iodine or hydrogen peroxide.
- Then ice is applied to relieve the swelling.
- You need an anti-allergenic agent that is used internally.
- An ointment is applied to the wound to remove itching.
These actions are sufficient. But often there is an intolerance to the poison. Then you need to see a doctor. And before his arrival, use an anaphylactic package, which consists of:
- Antihistamines.
- Injections with adrenaline.
- Harness.
Folk methods
If after an insect bite and turned red, you can use folk remedies:
- After the midge, the skin must be treated with iodine or alcohol.
- If it was a gadfly or horsefly, then ammonia and soap are required in a ratio of 3: 1.
- You can eliminate the tumor with aloe leaf or plantain.
Horsefly bite
Horsefly is a large fly that has sharp and hard cutting stilettos in its proboscis. After a skin lesion, you need to rinse the place warm water with soap, and then dry it with a towel, but do not rub. The wound should be treated with hydrogen peroxide, and then smeared with brilliant green.
If a child's leg is swollen after an insect bite, then there is also effective means... Severe pain is usually felt for more than 30 minutes. It is advisable to provide an anesthetic. In this case, the affected area should not be scratched. Plantain must be attached to this place.
If the leg is swollen after an insect bite in nature, then you can use medicinal herbs and flowers. In addition to plantain, dandelion helps. With it, it will be possible to relieve pain and itching. The wound only needs to be lubricated with juice.
If there is onion, it can also be used for bites. When the itching and pain persist, antihistamines are needed. At a high temperature, nausea, you need to see a doctor.
Mosquito bite
A man is bitten only by female mosquitoes. They need this to obtain protein from the blood and to lay eggs. When pierced by the proboscis, the female releases saliva, which contains substances that interfere with blood coagulation. People have a reaction in the form of itching or redness. If the leg is swollen after an insect bite, effective measures must be taken.
When bitten by a mosquito, you should not scratch the bitten area, as this can cause an infection. The skin should be washed with soap and water to remove germs and impurities. It is necessary to prepare a remedy: soda (2 tsp) is mixed with water (1 spoon). The solution is applied to the affected area. Wait until dry.
Help essential oils eg eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint. If the edema is severe, then remedies should be taken to eliminate the edema. Will help "Diphenhydramine", "Hydroxyzin".
Gadfly bite
These insects strike in a peculiar way: some individuals distract a person, while others creep up, bite and lay out the larvae. It is difficult to detect an insect upon contact. First, there is pain, itching, and then swelling. Rashes are formed in allergy sufferers. When this happens, first aid is needed.
If your leg is swollen and sore after an insect bite, you must perform the following procedure:
- Press down on the bite site with a hard object so that the allergy does not spread.
- The skin should be cooled and then washed with soap and water.
- Then it is treated with an antiseptic, brilliant green, alcohol or iodine.
You can use plantain or dandelion juice to wipe the affected area. If salt is present, compress can be performed. If the leg is swollen after an insect bite, then ointments and medicinal lotions are used. For this, the following means can be used:
- Glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory ointment, with which it will be possible to eliminate swelling and bumps on the leg. It should be applied at intervals of 3-4 hours.
- An antihistamine taken as a tablet or injection.
- Compresses with "Dimexidum" are used to get rid of edema. The product is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3, after which the solution is applied to the painful area of the skin.
- When pus, painful bumps appear, surgical intervention is needed. Under antiseptics and novocaine, the skin is cut, and suppurative tissue is removed from the wound. Then the doctor applies a bandage.
Wasp sting
Wasps sting in soft tissue leaving a hole in the skin. The sore spot turns red and blood flow begins. If the sting remains in the wound, pry it off with nails or remove it with tweezers. It is not necessary to press on the skin in order not to increase the swelling. The wound must be washed with antibacterial soap, and then treated with any means:
- Peroxide.
- Vodka.
- Tincture of calendula.
- Ammonia.
You can use the antiseptic "Chlorhexidine", "Miramistin". Disinfection of the bite is imperative, as there can be a lot of bacteria in the sting. After using alcohol, a gauze bandage is applied to the wound, and then a patch is glued.
Bee sting
Often people are bitten by bees. First aid is as follows:
- The bite site should be examined. If there is a sting, it must be removed. Moreover, this must be done carefully. This is done with tweezers or eyebrow tweezers.
- Then you need to disinfect the bite site using an antiseptic.
- It is necessary to use an antihistamine, for example, "Suprastin".
- To relieve itching, you need to dilute the salt gruel and apply a compress. Ice wrapped in a napkin helps.
If the leg is badly swollen after an insect bite, then you need to see a doctor. This will eliminate negative consequences.
What shouldn't be done?
To prevent allergies, you need to follow simple rules:
- The bite site should not be rubbed. This becomes the reason for the spread of substances over a large area.
- Redness from midges should not be treated by any means related to household chemicals... This can cause allergies.
- You should not comb problem areas, because you can infect a wound that will fester.
- If hormonal ointments have been prescribed by a doctor, they must be applied to the skin near the wound. When such funds are applied to the bite site, a burning sensation occurs and healing slows down.
- In case of complications, antibiotics and antihistamines should not be neglected. You should not self-medicate, a doctor should prescribe medication.
Prophylaxis
To exclude insect bites, you need to follow simple guidelines:
- Residents of private houses need to eliminate excess vegetation on the site.
- There should be mosquito nets on the windows.
- If you are planning a trip to the forest or just to nature, you need to take protective sprays and creams.
- Long-sleeved clothing should be worn when planning a hike in a green area. Legs should also be closed.
- You should not go for a walk late at night when there are a lot of insects.
Thus, insect bites cause a lot of inconvenience. It is necessary to provide assistance in a timely manner. And if, nevertheless, edema appears, you need to treat it with proven means.
On sunny summer days, large, annoying gray insects that look like flies hover around the cattle grazing in the meadows. These are the gadflies - Diptera insects that feed on the blood of animals, birds, people.
The ancestors of modern horseflies are found in the fossil sediments of the Oligocene.
Horseflies are found everywhere, except for areas with a very cold climate - Antarctica, Iceland, Greenland. There are more than 200 genera of horseflies in the world and about 200 species of these insects live in the CIS.
Horseflies are insects with complete transformation. Moreover, the insect spends different phases of development in different environments. The adults spend most of their life in the air, the larvae in the water, the eggs above the water, and the pupae on the ground.
Adult insects also differ. Horseflies have sexual dimorphism - females and males are easily distinguishable. The huge compound eyes of the female are separated by a frontal stripe, while in the male it is absent. And the main difference is the way these insects feed.
Males are peaceful vegetarians who feed on nectar and pollen from plants. Before fertilization, females also feed on sweet plant sap, pollen and sugary secretions of aphids and worms. But after fertilization, the insect prefers blood. In order to lay eggs, the female needs blood.
From its proteins, it forms a protective membrane and a nutrient medium to ensure the development of the embryo in the egg. This type of development is called "gonotrophic harmony". Depending on the size, the female sucks from 20-200 mg of blood. After each portion, the female lays a clutch of eggs and after a while is ready for a new bloody feast and breeding. During its life, horsefly can lay up to 3.5 thousand eggs.
A lot of blood is needed, since the size of the future generation will depend on its amount. Therefore, the female looks for a victim at every opportunity. The horsefly has a piercing-sucking oral apparatus... With sharp stilettos, the female pierces even the thick skin of horses and cows, camels and deer.
Some tropical species can drink blood from crocodiles and turtles. The secret of the salivary glands contains a complex complex of proteins, enzymes, toxins. Saliva has an anticoagulant effect, therefore, after a horsefly bite, the wound bleeds for a long time.
The toxin causes a local allergic reaction, which is expressed in edema, hyperemia and subcutaneous hemorrhage. There are no analgesic substances in saliva, and the proboscis of the insect is very thick, so a horsefly bite causes severe pain. In addition, a long proboscis with a deep bite can touch the nerve endings, which also causes pain.
Together with the blood, insects suck in pathogenic microbes that caused the death of the animal. During a bite, a horsefly can transmit the causative agents of anthrax, filariasis, tularemia, trypanosomiasis to a person.
Horseflies have large compound eyes that shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. With the help of sight, the female finds the victim. Mostly it attacks large objects, so sometimes it also hunts non-living ones, but rather large ones - cars, steamers, trains.
Insects also have a developed sense of smell. At a considerable distance, the female smells the smell of sweat and a wet body. Horseflies often hover around bathers, fishermen, and field workers. In some areas, during harvesting, agricultural workers are forced to work at night to escape horsefly bites.
Consequences of horsefly bites
A horsefly bite leaves a deep bleeding wound, which is accompanied by:
- painful sensations;
- local edema that can spread to a large area;
- subcutaneous hemorrhage;
- redness;
- itching and burning.
With a tendency to allergic reactions, the bite can cause a severe reaction - anaphylactic shock. An allergic-toxic reaction is caused by an immune response to the introduction of foreign proteins and toxins.
A secondary infection is also dangerous, which gets into a deep wound and damage to the skin after scratching the itchy area. As a result, dermatitis, phlegmon and even tissue necrosis at the site of the bite appear.
For animals, horsefly bites are no less dangerous, since the insect is a carrier of many diseases in cattle. Bites lead to a decrease in milk yield in cows, weight loss, anxiety. Some animals suffer from festering, non-healing wounds from horsefly bites.
To minimize the effects of intoxication, you must:
- thoroughly treat the bite site with soapy water;
- disinfect with alcohol, Chlorhexidine;
- burn with hydrogen peroxide, iodine or brilliant green;
- moisten a gauze cloth folded several times with boric alcohol or a solution of soda and bandage tightly to the site of the lesion in order to reduce the severity of edema, itching and prevent the toxin from spreading;
- the bite site must be cooled by applying ice to the tumor, a cloth moistened with cold water or make a wet-dry bandage;
- the skin is lubricated with a lotion based on camphor and menthol. It cools swelling, relieves itching, and promotes tissue regeneration. Antipruritic, antihistamine ointments Belosalik and Beloderm, balm " Golden Star»Can also be used to eliminate edema;
- to soften compaction, relieve itching and swelling, fast healing of the wound, use non-hormonal ointments - Skin-Cap, Solcoseryl, Levomikol, Gistan, La-Cree, Fenistil-gel;
- if you have an allergy, you need to take an antihistamine medicine - Loratidin, Citrine, Diazolin, Suprastin, Ksizal, Telfast, Erius.
- an acute reaction requires a serious approach. To eliminate an allergic-toxic reaction, use:
- systemic antihistamines and topical agents - Baneocin ointment, Flucort, Gistan N, Advantan, Diprospan, Sinaflan, Atarax tablets, Berlikort, Dexazon, Diazolin;
- glucocorticoid drugs for severe edema - Cortisol, Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, Kenalog, Celederm.
Treatment with glucocorticoids requires medical supervision. In case of a very severe course of the pathology, hospitalization and antiallergic therapy, purification of the blood from toxin may be required.
A secondary infection may require antibiotic treatment. An ambulance should be called immediately if a horsefly bite causes:
- severe headache and muscle pain;
- the rapid spread of edema;
- shortness of breath;
- tachycardia;
- febrile symptoms;
- dyspeptic disorders.
In nature, the first-aid kit does not always have the medications necessary for treatment. In this case, recipes of traditional medicine will help fight edema.
Traditional methods of dealing with horsefly bites
In addition to the well-known and proven remedy - a soda dressing, a hypertensive saline dressing can be applied to the bite site. A solution of 100 ml is prepared for her warm water and 2 tbsp. tablespoons of salt.
You can use gruel from plantain leaves, mint, parsley. Crushed berries of sea buckthorn, viburnum, elderberry will help eliminate itching and reduce swelling. For this, you can use a cabbage leaf, grated raw potatoes, juice or a ladle of onions, apple cider vinegar.
A decoction of the bark of oak, willow, birch and poplar buds can be used for compresses and baths. Budra, drop cap, field bindweed, nesting, geranium, oregano, hyssop have regenerating properties. Decoctions, infusions are prepared from them and used for baths and dressings.
The essential oils of lemon balm, clove, lemon, ylang-ylang, pine have antipruritic, decongestant and reparative properties. They can be used to massage the bite and applied with a base oil under the dressing. In order to avoid horsefly bites, you need to adhere to some preventive measures.
Prevention measures
Leaving for nature or staying for a long time in places where there are a lot of horseflies, it is necessary:
- protect the body with clothes with long sleeves and trousers - horseflies usually bite open places;
- wear light-colored clothes made of natural fabrics in summer to reduce perspiration;
- after bathing, immediately dry off and put on clothes;
- repellents can be applied to clothes - DEET, Carr-Day-Martin, Oksarep, Biofly, Happy horse, Centaur;
- on the skin of the hands and face, you can apply essential oils of clove, fir, eucalyptus, lavender, mint;
- you can throw repellent herbs into the fire - mint, tansy, wormwood.
Pharmacy and folk remedies help get rid of the effects of horsefly bites in 1-2 days. But it is better to avoid bites and bypass the places where horseflies accumulate - cattle yards, pastures, wet places near rivers and lakes.
In summer, the townspeople massively rush from their stone jungle, hot by the sun, closer to nature: on summer cottages, camp sites, picnics, etc. Spending at least a couple of days, serenely lying on the green grass or swimming in a warm river - is this not happiness?
But sometimes nature turns to us with its cruel side, sending, for example, hordes of blood-sucking insects that bite our delicate skin. But if you can somehow come to terms with ordinary mosquitoes, then the bite of a huge hornet or horsefly can lead to very sad consequences.
What to do if you are bitten by a hornet?
Compared to many insects, the hornet looks intimidating. A huge wasp 3-4 centimeters long, wiggling its mandibles threateningly, is capable of frightening by its mere appearance. If you are unlucky and the hornet has bitten you - at least three to four days of swelling and very painful sensations after that are provided.
By the way, hornets do not bite people, but sting, piercing the skin with a hard sting hidden in the abdomen, and injecting a strong poison into the wound. They do this not out of natural malice, but for self-defense, if they believe that their nest is in danger. Therefore, having noticed several hornets while walking in a meadow or forest glade, it is best to move away from this place. By themselves, these insects are not aggressive and do not attack without reason.
If, nevertheless, it was not possible to avoid a hornet bite, you must first of all:
- during the first 2-3 minutes after the bite, try to suck out as much poison as possible from the wound, later it is useless to do this, since the toxins have already penetrated into the tissues;
- attach a piece of refined sugar moistened with water to the wound - this folk remedy helps to neutralize some of the toxins;
- take an antiallergenic drug pill as soon as possible - suprastin, claritin, etc.; 
- apply ice or cold compress to the bite site;
- lubricate the bite site with fenistil;
- if the temperature rises above 38 degrees or severe tissue edema, consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Hornet venom is dangerous to humans mainly because it causes a vivid allergic reaction in the body. It is especially dangerous for young children, in whom edema can spread not only to the skin and muscle tissue, but also to internal organs... A child stung by a hornet must be immediately taken to the hospital.
What if you are bitten by a horsefly?
Horseflies, huge dipterans that resemble large gray flies, are much more likely to attack animals than humans. It is noticed that a person becomes a victim of a horsefly only if there is not a single horse, cow, etc. within a radius of 70-80 meters.
Blood is food for female horseflies before laying eggs; during this period, it must bite an animal or a person 3-4 times. During the bite, she injects an anticoagulant into the tissue, which prevents blood from clotting. In addition, causative agents of the most dangerous diseases, which are carried by horseflies - tularemia, anthrax, trypanosomiasis, etc., can penetrate into the wound. 
The site of the bite, due to toxins trapped in the tissues from the saliva of the horsefly, instantly turns red, edema begins, and sometimes tissue suppuration develops. Therefore, immediately after a horsefly bite, it is necessary:
- rinse the wound clean water with soap to remove bacteria from the tissues, if possible, that could have got there from the mandibles or legs of the insect;
- apply ice or a cold compress to the bite site to reduce swelling;
- take an anti-allergenic drug;
- make a soothing lotion by soaking the tampon with a solution of baking soda or lubricate the bite site with the Rescuer cream.
Folk remedies are suitable as a lotion:
- pharmacy tincture of calendula or valerian;
- mashed raw potatoes, onions or garlic;
- a cut of a tomato or onion;
- sour cream;
- propolis tincture.
In case of occurrence high temperature, difficulty breathing, nausea, attacks of dizziness and other alarming symptoms should go to the nearest hospital.
What to do if you are bitten by a gadfly?
By their size, gadflies are smaller than horseflies, but their bites are more dangerous, since the female of this insect not only drinks blood, but also lays her eggs in the wound. A tumor gradually develops at the site of the bite, which breaks out after a few weeks, and the larvae go outside. 
The development of the tumor is accompanied by an increase in temperature, hyperemia and signs of intoxication due to the active release of waste products by growing larvae into the surrounding tissues.
The only way to extract the larvae is to deprive them of air access. It is necessary to lubricate the tumor with petroleum jelly and apply a tight bandage. After a while, the larvae will begin to go outside in search of air.