The horse fly is known to attack animals and humans and feed on their blood. Bites can be very painful and itchy and can contain infectious materials as well.
- Pain: The bite area will be torn and sore. Red bumps form around the area where the bite occurred.
- Allergic reaction: Those who experience an allergic reaction to a horsefly bite develop a rash all over the body after being bitten.Hives develop all over and there may be accompanied wheezing. Giddiness and exhaustion is also seen.
- Infection: If the horse fly was carrying bacteria or parasites which cause an infection, the bite becomes exceedingly painful. Pain radiates from the area of the bite and there will be puss oozing from the wound.
How Does A Horse Fly Bite?
Horse fly bites can be rather painful and agonizing. Most short tongued horse flies use their knife like mandibles to rip and cut the flesh apart to access the blood. This permits better access to the blood than a needle-mouthed mosquito, and it makes it possible to make a successful bite through clothing.
What’s more, the victim tends to focus on managing the wound rather than killing the horse fly. Thus, the fly typically gets away after biting and returns to drink the blood as necessary.
Horse fly bites are instantaneously more painful than those of most other insects, though it still has an aim to get away before the victim reacts. Horse flies are very agile and adept at flying. Bites become itchy and sore, and occasionally cause a large swelling later on, in case it is not treated rapidly.
Usually, horse flies are not put off by attempts at swatting them away, and stubbornly persist in attacking until they secure their victim or get killed.
Symptoms Of Horse Fly Bite
Symptoms of a horse fly bite include:
- The bite will be very itchy.
- A rash of weals (fluid filled) will develop.
- There may be some giddiness.
- Wheezing.
- Weakness.
- There will be itchy, red swellings around the eyes and lips.
- If you are experiencing blistering, swollen glands, undue wheezing, flu like symptoms, high grade fever, or a severe rash after 2 days of being bitten, it could be an allergic reaction and you require medical help immediately.
- In case the bite is exceedingly painful, there is pus, it is hot and red, it could be infected, and you need to see your health care provider to prevent blood poisoning.
How To Treat Infected Horse Fly Bite?
Treating a horse fly bite properly is very essential in order to ward off infection and even deadly symptoms. Knowing how to treat it can help decrease pain and stop infection.
- A bite from a horse fly takes quite some time to heal. Instead of just piercing the skin, a horsefly bites and cuts the skin, licking up the blood. This tends to cause a lot of pain and the skin is more prone to infection.
- Immediately clean the wound with soap and water.
- Experts advise applying hydro-cortisone cream on the bite to decrease the swelling and itching and also take an anti-histamine tablet.
- Salt has also been recommended to manage the pain of the bite. Soaking a napkin in boiling hot salty water and placing over the bite will help.
- Aloe Vera extract, honey and vinegar are known to allay pain considerably.
- Place an ice cube over the bite; it will relieve the pain, burning and itchiness.
- Thereafter, cover the bite area with a loose badge to keep the wound clean and infection free.