• Mosquito bites cause itchiness and a raised dot in the center of swelling. These bites usually occur in the summertime and on body parts not covered by clothing.
  
• Fleas and bedbugs also cause itching. Because these insects cannot fly, they tend to leave red bumps on body parts under clothing. The bite of a flea commonly turns into a blister or pimple.
  
• Horseflies, deerflies, gnats, harvester ants, blister beetles, and centipedes result in painful red bumps instead of itching.
  
• Fire ants also cause painful red bumps that turn into blisters or pimples within 2-3 hours.

The physicians at Boys Town Pediatrics recommend the following treatment of insect bites:

• If a bite is itchy, apply calamine lotion or a baking soda paste to the area. For chigger bites, which can cause extreme itchiness, apply over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream four times a day. Insect bites can become infected and leave scars when picked at. Instead, to relieve the itching, encourage your child to apply firm, direct pressure to the bite with a fingernail or pen cap.
  
• If a bite is painful, rub the area for 15-20 minutes with an ice cube or a cotton ball soaked with meat tenderizer or baking soda. Do not use this technique if the bite is around the eye. Acetaminophen can also be administered to relieve the pain.

To prevent pesky bites, be sure to apply insect repellent to clothing and exposed skin before going outdoors. Flea bites can be prevented by having your pets treated by your veterinarian or cleansing the pet with flea powder or soap. Daily vacuuming can get rid of any fleas that remain. Bedbugs can be eliminated by having an exterminator spray the bed and baseboards with 1% malathion.

Call your child's physician during office hours if itching or pain continues to be severe after treatment or you have other questions. However, if a bite increases in tenderness or has red streaks it may be infected and you should call a physician immediately.