RFSymptoms: Safety netting advice
ChildrenInsect bites and stings
DATE LAST REVIEWED: 05/11/2026
When to seek further review
- Mild redness and itching can last up to 10 days. Speak to a pharmacist if help is needed with these symptoms.
- Seek urgent advice today if pain, heat, swelling or redness is increasing, there is pus, or fever or flu-like illness develops.
- Get urgent advice for a sting inside the mouth or throat, near an eye, multiple stings, or a previous serious sting reaction.
- Contact the GP for an expanding round or bullseye-like rash after a tick bite, or flu-like symptoms after a bite. Do not wait for a bullseye rash to appear.
- For mild symptoms without any of the urgent or emergency warning signs listed here, a community pharmacist can advise on self-care and suitable medicines. Tell them the patient’s age, other medicines and any pregnancy or breastfeeding. They can direct you to another service if needed.
- For an infected insect bite, Pharmacy First may offer assessment and treatment from age 1 year. Contact the pharmacy first to check that it offers the service. Assessment does not always mean an antibiotic or other prescription is needed.
- For an urgent problem that is not life-threatening, NHS 111 may direct you to an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) rather than a GP appointment. UTCs can assess many minor illnesses and injuries. Services, opening hours and ages treated vary, so call NHS 111 if you are unsure where to go. Do not delay emergency help for any of the emergency signs below.
- Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
- If you need medical advice and are unsure which service can help, call NHS 111. This includes when your GP is closed or you cannot get the help you need. NHS 111 can direct you to an appropriate local service. You can call even if you are not sure whether symptoms are serious.
When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)
- Sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat.
- A tight throat, difficulty swallowing, wheezing or difficulty breathing.
- Sudden faintness, collapse or becoming very drowsy after a possible allergic reaction. A rash may be absent.
- If a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector is available, use it immediately and call 999. If there is no improvement after 5 minutes, use a second injector if available. Do not stand or walk.
- Severe difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, or the skin pulling in deeply under or between the ribs.
- Being very difficult to wake or unresponsive.
- Being unusually floppy, confused or not responding as usual.
- Blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.
How to spot sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.
An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.
Sources
- NHS - Insect bites and stingshttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/
- NHS - How pharmacies can helphttps://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/
- NHS - When to go to an Urgent Treatment Centrehttps://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-visit-an-urgent-treatment-centre/
- NICE NG182 - Insect bites and stingshttps://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng182/chapter/Recommendations
- NHS - Anaphylaxishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anaphylaxis/
- NHS - Fever in childrenhttps://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/
- NHS - Sepsishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
- NHS - When to use NHS 111https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/