Gnat bites may be dangerous and should be treated as soon as there is a problem noticed. Most of the time, these bites will not cause serious harm, but there is always the potential. Many times, people may not even realize they have been bitten by gnats. However, there are times when gnat bites may become more complicated.
The best advice to keep these bites from becoming a big problem is to wash the bitten area. This may not need to be done right away, but the sooner, the better. In some cases, simply taking a daily shower can help cut the risk of infection substantially.
One of the biggest problems with gnat bites comes from bacterial infection. The insects do not live or operate around extremely clean environments, and even their small feet can pick up harmful microscopic organisms. Therefore, bacteria can be introduced into even a small wound. Bacterial infections may be contained to the bitten area, or may spread internally to other areas of the body. In some cases, they can become significant health problems needing professional medical attention.
This is especially true with open wounds. Gnats, many of which need blood meals in order to survive, are attracted to open sources of blood, where there is little effort needed to get the nourishment desired. Constant picking by a horde of gnats can cause a wound to fester for weeks after it would normally otherwise be healed. That festering, to one extent or another, is caused by the gnats The longer the wound stays open, the more prone to infection it becomes.
Pets and other animals, more so than humans, are prone to gnat bites in open wounds. Humans can escape inside, which keeps most gnats away. Pets, on the other hand, often stay outside for a substantial portion of the day, if not the entire day. If there is an open wound, the best way to care for it is to make sure it is protected with a bandage that is changed often.
To help keep gnat bites from becoming infected, it is also recommended to dab the area with an antiseptic and perhaps apply an anti-itch cream. These bites often itch, and scratching at them can lead to further difficulties and keep the wound open longer. Anti-itch creams do a good job helping ease the urge to scratch.
