Get advice and treatment from your community pharmacy

Most insect bites and stings are harmless and usually get better on their own. However, sometimes a bite can become infected and may need treatment.

Through the NHS Pharmacy First service, eligible patients can be assessed by our pharmacist for an infected insect bite or sting. If appropriate, treatment can be provided directly from the pharmacy, without needing to make a GP appointment.

What are the signs of an infected insect bite?

An insect bite may become infected if the area becomes increasingly:

• Red

• Swollen

• Painful or tender

• Warm to touch

• Increasingly uncomfortable

You may also notice pus or discharge from the affected area.

It is important to remember that redness, itching and swelling shortly after an insect bite do not necessarily mean that it is infected. These can be a normal reaction to the bite.

Our pharmacist will assess your symptoms and decide whether you need treatment.

Who can use this service?

The NHS Pharmacy First infected insect bite service is available to adults and children aged 1 year and over, subject to the service's eligibility and clinical criteria.

What happens during your consultation?

Our pharmacist will ask about your symptoms and examine the affected area where appropriate.

We may ask:

• When were you bitten or stung?

• Where on your body is the bite?

• Do you know what caused the bite?

• Has the redness or swelling been getting worse?

• Is the area painful or hot?

• Is there any pus or discharge?

• Have you developed any other symptoms?

• Have you recently travelled abroad?

• Have you had a tick bite?

• Are you taking any medicines?

• Do you have any allergies or medical conditions?

This helps our pharmacist determine whether the bite is infected and whether Pharmacy First treatment is appropriate.

Treatment

If your pharmacist believes the bite is infected and you meet the NHS Pharmacy First criteria, they may be able to provide an NHS treatment directly from the pharmacy.

Depending on your circumstances, this may include an appropriate antibiotic.

If an antibiotic is not required, our pharmacist can provide advice on managing your symptoms and help you understand what to look out for.

When should you seek urgent medical help?

Some bites and stings require more urgent medical assessment.

Seek urgent medical help if you develop:

• Difficulty breathing

• Swelling of your lips, mouth, tongue or throat

• Severe allergic reaction

• Rapidly worsening symptoms

• Severe or unusual pain

• Feeling very unwell or faint

• A rapidly spreading area of redness or swelling

If you have been bitten by a person or animal, you should seek appropriate medical advice rather than assuming it can be treated as an ordinary insect bite.

A tick bite, particularly if you develop a spreading circular or "bullseye" type rash, may require assessment for Lyme disease.

Don't automatically assume you need antibiotics

Many insect bites become red, itchy and swollen as part of the body's normal response. This does not necessarily mean that the bite is infected.

Our pharmacist will assess you before deciding whether an antibiotic or other treatment is appropriate. This helps ensure antibiotics are only used when they are genuinely needed.

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