Baking soda for bug bites

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Have any of you ever used baking soda for bug bites or itching rash? I don't have standing orders for any OTC meds and am trying to find something that will provide some relief. Is anyone aware of any adverse reactions to sodium bicarbonate?

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Not at school but my mom and grandmother used it on us as kids.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

It works (unsure why, just like I'm unsure why meat tenderizer works, although I think it's the papaya enzyme). However, it's messy. And bug bites are a nuisance but not an emergency. Cool pack and go, buddy.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I have also (and I hate to admit this) started giving two tiny ice cubes in a tiny bag for such things. Because....it's an existing condition and not an emergency.

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Be careful. I once went to use it and a girl said does it have peanuts in it because I'm allergic and I'm like how could it? So I checked the back of the box and it did say processed on equipment that processes peanuts. Yikes! So I just took it out of my office and use ice and send a note home we don't have anything at school to put on them so do it at home.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

Making a paste out of table salt and water works too!

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