Bug bites...seriously??

fetch, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2014

Are you allowed to apply calamine lotion? The embarrassment of being painted pink seems to cut down on the whiners, and it actually helps the kids who are massively itchy.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Jun 11, 2014

The mosquitoes and green headed flies in Maine ARE like pterodactyls!!!!!!!!!!!

I use (with permission) topical clear anti itch lotion

Tina, RN · Jun 11, 2014

Ugh. I hear you.

I am in an elementary school, and I have been getting roughly 10 kids a day (many of those multiple times a day!) complaining about bug bites. It is totally out of control. I don't even get to stock calamine. All I can give them is a squirt of bactine. And then, they pick the scabs on their bites, and come to me for bandaids. It's a vicious cycle...

I can not state this enough times: Summer can not come fast enough. I HAVE HAD IT!!!! LOL

100kids, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2014

This time of year everything seems to put me on edge. LOL! We are getting closer to the end! I can see it.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2014

Oh, mosquito bites. I had a MS kid come into my office with 25 bites all over her legs and itching and scratching like crazy. She was a more extreme case, but usually I apply calamine (I do stock and can use with permission) and for those never-ending scratchers, bandaids as a reminder not to scratch. Because if not, they scratch and bleed and come right back to me.

And yes, I do this with the HS kids, too. Because they are worst offenders. 7 more days... :yes:

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jun 11, 2014

i don't even bother anymore - unless it's one of my autistic children who will stim, perseverate and shred their skin apart they all get the same bit of advice - go to the bathroom and wash with soap and water.

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2014

I can stock sting relief cream. But my high schoolers, some, act like it's the end of the world. I remember last summer as a Camp Nurse I had this one camper that was brought to me 3-4 times over a day by staff over a bug bite because it's itchy and it hurts. No she wasn't a little kid. I kept explaining that's it's normal for it to be itchy and hurt a little. The staff carried hydrocortisone cream and were using it on her. There was no redness and no serious swelling. A normal, small, skin colored, bump. I had to re-educate the staff on explaining to the campers that bug bites hurt and you will have a bump. That's normal and that they shouldn't bring me the same camper for the same non-issue.

Massmagic · Jun 12, 2014

OMG! I see so many kids over and over for bug bites. I am going insane. I like the "go wash with soap and water" - I am going to try that one. The Calamine lotion would never scare off my kids. They love going back to class with something that shows they are special and got attention from the nurse. I love the soap and water idea. I have cut down on the fake coughs offering salt water gargles instead of cough drops - that has worked. Any other suggestions?

amoLucia · Jun 12, 2014

When I was a kid, I was told to put spit on my finger-tip and then apply the spit to the bug bite. It worked.

I think it has something to do with salivary amylase acting like meat tenderizer. It just worked. Of course, it could have just been the power of suggestion.

Except that I still do it today with a bug bite. And it still works!

Tina, RN · Jun 12, 2014

When I was a kid, I was told to put spit on my finger-tip and then apply the spit to the bug bite. It worked.
I think it has something to do with salivary amylase acting like meat tenderizer. It just worked. Of course, it could have just been the power of suggestion.
Except that I still do it today with a bug bite. And it still works!

Wow! I'm going to try that. With myself, not the kids... I can just hear everyone screaming, "The nurse told the kids to spit on themselves!" LOL