Insect bite - Infants

Infants (Ages 0–2)Children (Ages 3–17)Adults (Ages 10–74)Seniors (Ages 75 and Older)

What it is

It’s when an insect (mosquito, wasp, or bee) pierces the skin and injects venom or saliva. It can hurt, become red, or itch. Most of the time, they aren’t dangerous, but sometimes bites can cause disease.

What you can do at home

What to do

Reassure your child and remove the stinger or tick from their skin:
- Stinger: gently scratch the skin to remove it.
- Tick: use tweezers to grab the tick near the skin and pull gently. Try not to crush the tick then removing it.
  - Place the tick in a small, closed container. Make note of the date, time, and location where the bite occurred.
  - Call Info-Santé 811, Option 1, to inform them that your child was bitten by a tick.
Wash the skin with soap and water.
Apply ice to the bite for 10 minutes every 30 minutes, for 4 hours. Wrap the ice in a cloth to protect your skin.  
If it becomes swollen, elevate your child’s arm or leg.
If your child is in pain, follow your pharmacy’s advice. You can give them acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) if there are no contraindications. Note: Ibuprofen should not be given to children under 6 months of age.
Try to distract your child from scratching the affected area. You can also:
- apply a cold washcloth or a paste made by mixing equal parts water and baking soda to the bite. Press for a few seconds;
- ask for advice at the pharmacy to find a cream or other over-the-counter medication to treat the itch.
If your child was bitten by a spider, call the Québec Poison Control Centre: 1-800-463-5060.

When to seek medical attention

If your child have any of these signs:

your child was bitten by a tick, even if you managed to remove it;
you can’t remove the entire tick;
your child is scratching, crying constantly, and swelling won’t go down despite treatment;
the skin becomes red, swollen, or hot, and pus (yellow or green liquid) appears;

Call 811, Option 1, to speak with a nurse, or contact a healthcare professional (pharmacist, doctor, or nurse practitioner), if any of the signs listed above apply.

When to go to the hospital right away

Your child has a fever and was stung within the past 3 months while travelling in a country where there is malaria.

Your child has symptoms of a severe allergic reaction: 

Their breathing is raspy (stridor) or air is not getting through properly.  
Their lips, tongue or face are swollen. 
They have a rash on their body or their skin itches. 
Your child doesn’t react as usual, is floppy, or is difficult to wake.
Their heart is racing.
Your child has a stomach ache, vomiting, or diarrhea.

The skin around the bite turns black.

Your child has previously had a serious reaction to a bite.

After a tick bite:

your child is more irritable, cries often, has a stiff neck, fever, is sensitive to light, vomits, is weak, has difficulty breathing, loses consciousness (faints), or has a racing heartbeat.

Your child was stung in the mouth by a wasp, a hornet, or a bumblebee.

Your child was stung near the eyes, cries a lot, and you think their vision has been affected.

Your child was stung by several insects at the same time.

Need help?

Call Info-Santé at 811, Option 1, to speak with a nurse at any time. 

Go to the pharmacy for advice on medications or treatment. 

Make an appointment on Clic Santé if your child needs a vaccination.

Make an appointment at your medical clinic or CLSC. 

If you do not have a family doctor, go to https://gap.soinsvirtuels.gouv.qc.ca/en or call 811, Option 3.

Insect bite - Infants

What it is

What you can do at home

When to seek medical attention

When to go to the hospital right away

Need help?

See also

Gastroenteritis

Superficial Wound