Close-up of a mosquito.
Bites and stings
Insect bites and stings
Most insect bites will clear up in a day or two, although some people can have severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Learn more about insect bites ...
Spider bites
Bitten by a spider? Not sure what to do? This article explains the best first aid treatment depending on the type of spider involved.
Snake bites
About 100 Australian snakes are venomous. Although only 12 are likely to inflict a wound that could kill you. Learn about first aid for snake bites.
Sea creature bites and stings
Not sure if a bite or sting from a sea creature is dangerous? Here’s information about first aid treatments for jellyfish stings, sea snake bites and ...
Dog, cat and bat bites
Dog and cat bites are the most common types of animal bite. Here’s what to do if you get bitten, with information about when to get medical help.
Bed bugs
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on your blood, often causing itchy bites. Learn about treatment and prevention.
Stinging plants
It can be difficult to know if a sting from a plant is dangerous or not. This article explains the best first aid treatment depending on the plant inv...
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
First aid for bites and stings
Serious allergic reactions occur in approximately 2 per cent of stings from ants, bees and wasps.
Read more on WA Health website
Insect Stings (Bee Sting, Spider Bites) | myVMC
Bee sting and wasp sting happen commonly, bee sting and wasp sting are one of the clinical encounters that are exaggerated and mystified in movies and medias
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Bites and stings first aid - Better Health Channel
If you are bitten or stung by an insect or animal, apply first aid and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Bites and stings - Farmer Health | Farmer Health
There are many Australian animal and insect species that bite or sting. In general, most bites and stings, such as those from mosquitos and ants, are not serious and dont require medical treatment. If the bite or sting is from...
Read more on The National Centre for Farmer Health website
Bites and Stings
Read more on Queensland Health website
First aid for bites and stings - myDr.com.au
First aid tips for bites and stings from some of Australia's deadliest snakes, spiders, ticks and marine animals.
Read more on myDr website
Parenting and Child Health - Health Topics - Bites and stings
Most insect bites and stings are not poisonous but the bites of some insects such as wasps, bees and some spiders can be harmful. If a child is bitten and it is possible to save the insect, this may help with treatment it if is poisonous.
Read more on Women's and Children's Health Network website
Kids' Health - Topics - Bites and stings
Occasionally some unfortunate people are bitten by these creatures, but most bites and stings are from much smaller beasties - like flying, jumping and crawling insects, quite small spiders and some things which look pretty tame really (sandflies, mosquitoes and fleas, to name just a few).
Read more on Women's and Children's Health Network website
Bites and stings - NT.GOV.AU
Bites and stings from bats, insects, caterpillars, jellyfish and mosquitoes.
Read more on NT Health website
Bee stings - myDr.com.au
The best way to deal with a bee sting is to scrape it off with a sideways motion using a firm object such as the blade of a knife, a credit card or even a fingernail.
Read more on myDr website
Top results
Treatment for jellyfish stings | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Treatment for jellyfish stings | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Electronic mosquito repellents for preventing mosquito bites and malaria infection | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Vector and reservoir control for preventing leishmaniasis | Cochrane
This review summarises trials evaluating different measures to prevent leishmaniasis. After searching for relevant trials up to January 2015, we included 14 randomized controlled trials.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Glucocorticoids for the treatment of anaphylaxis | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Adrenaline for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Adrenaline for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Adrenaline auto-injectors for the treatment of anaphylaxis in the community | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Adrenaline auto-injectors for the treatment of anaphylaxis in the community | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Interventions for American cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. | Cochrane
American cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, a disfiguring and stigmatising disease affecting Central and South American regions, is caused by a parasite transmitted by sandflies. Pentavalent antimonial drugs (sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam, Stibanate, SSG) and meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime, MA)) have been used since the 1940s as first-line therapeutic agents for cutaneous leishmaniasis worldwide. However, other treatments have been used because these are expensive, toxic and painful, and because resistance is emerging.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
