Stings and bites

These insects usually attack uncovered parts of the body. They are blood-suckers and also inject a salivary secretion into the "victim", which is what causes the itching.

• Prevention is best: wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers after sundown and use insect repellents or insecticides in places where these insects abound.
• Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone ointment.

There are seldom complications, although occasionally some individuals may be hypersensitive or have an anaphylactic reaction.

Bee stings usually cause a local reaction, with pain and inflammation.

• In the case of bees, remove the stinger without using tweezers, to avoid spreading the venom.
• Wash the affected area with water.
• Disinfect with antiseptic.
• Apply ice or cold compresses.
• If the pain persists, take a painkiller, and an antihistaminic to relieve the itching.
• Ants do not sting, they bite. Their venom is formic acid, which can be neutralised with ammonia solution.

The scorpion has a stinger at the end of its tail, with which it injects venom

• Remove the stinger without using tweezers, to avoid spreading the venom.
• Wash the affected area with water.
• Disinfect with antiseptic..
• Apply ice or cold compresses.
• If the pain persists, take a painkiller, and an antihistaminic to relieve the itching.

Spider bites can cause pain, redness and ecchymosis (bruising).

• Disinfect the wound.
• Apply an antipruritic (anti-itch) ointment.

Ticks latch on to the skin in order to suck blood. If you get a tick bite, be careful because they can cause a number of diseases. Ticks are found mainly in the woods, large plants and tall grasses. The risk of getting bitten is greater in spring and summer.

• Prevent bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
• If you have already been bitten, wet the skin with alcohol or petrol to remove the tick from the skin. If it has to be pulled off, pull upwards, perpendicular to the skin surface.
• Wash with soap and water.
• Disinfect with alcohol.
• If discomfort persists, seek medical advice.

Jellyfish are not frequent visitors to our shores, but if you do come across one and touch it, it could cause intense itching and skin irritation.

• Wash the site with salt water, without touching the affected area.
• Remove any tentacle that might have hooked on, using a damp towel. Do not touch. If necessary, mix up a paste of sodium bicarbonate and mud or vinegar.
• If painful, take a painkiller.

Sea urchins prick rather than bite or sting. Their spines are calcareous and should be removed immediately.

• Remove the spines immediately.
• Wash the site and apply an antiseptic.
• If the spines, which are calcareous, remain incrusted, try softening them with vinegar to dissolve them.

Sea scorpion

This fish lies half-buried in the sand underwater and, if trodden on, will stab the bather's foot with its dorsal fin, causing a very painful wound.

• Remove the spines with some tweezers.
• Wash the site with salt water.
• The venom is thermolabile, so plunge your foot, or affected area, into hot water.
• If painful, take a painkiller.

• First find out whether the dog has all the mandatory vaccinations.
• Observe the dog's behaviour.
• If the wound is superficial, wash it with soap and water.
• Disinfect the site.
• See the doctor for antiseptic immunisation.
• If the bite has torn the skin, seek medical attention immediately, keeping the wound uncovered and giving the information mentioned above.

Snake bites: find out first whether poisoning has occurred because a poisonous snake can bite without injecting its venom.

The Iberian Peninsula is home to different poisonous snakes.

The adder abounds in dry, rocky areas, generally close to water.

Its bite usually leaves two holes, 6 or 8mm apart, but may leave only one. More or less painful swelling occurs 10 to 15 minutes later and after a few hours the victim may become sweaty, with low blood pressure, vomiting, difficulty in breathing, headache, etc. It all depends on the severity of the bite.

YOU MUST NEVER

• Wash with soap and water.
• Disinfect.
• Seek advice regarding anti-tetanus immunisation.
• Go to the doctor.
• Cut open the wound.
• Suck the venom.
• Apply anything other than disinfectant to the wound.
• Apply a tourniquet.
• Apply ice because, while it may alleviate the pain, it can harm the tissues.