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Bites and stings typically happen when an animal or insect feels threatened. With stings, the insect injects venom into your skin with its stinger. Common types of bites and stings include:
Bites and stings usually cause only minor injury, but some require medical attention if:
Have you received a bite or sting in Sacramento, CA or a surrounding area? At Dignity Health, our experts emergency doctors and staff can quickly assess your bite or sting and decide on a personalized treatment. Call 911 for emergency medical care or visit your nearest Dignity Health ER location.
Bites can range from minor wounds to deep puncture wounds. If the bite breaks the skin, there is a risk of it becoming infected. Signs of possible infection include:
Signs and symptoms of stings include:
It’s possible to have a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a sting.
Seek reliable emergency medical care at Dignity Health or call 911 for the following symptoms:
Treatment and prevention of bites and stings depend on whether or not you are allergic. If you aren’t allergic, you can take care of most minor bites and stings at home using these steps:
If you are allergic to stings, administer your epinephrine autoinjector and call 911. Seek medical attention even if your symptoms get better.
The emergency department at Dignity Health treats bites and stings in the Greater Sacramento region.