Insect and Spider Bites Antidotes for Pest Attacks

When to See the Doctor

There are two potentially deadly species of spiders, the black widow and the brown recluse, found primarily in warmer regions. If you can't identify the spider that bit your child, it's a good idea to take your child to a doctor for evaluation. And you must head for the doctor's office or emergency room if you see:

* A deep blue to purple mottled area around the bite, surrounded by a whitish halo with a very large outer ring of redness--known as the ''red, white and blue'' symptom. This is a good indication that your child has probably been bitten by a brown recluse spider, says Lloyd E. King, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., professor and chief of the Division of Dermatology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The brown recluse can also cause a body rash.

* Muscle spasms, tightness and stiffness, which are signs of a black widow spider bite. The black widow can also cause intense

abdominal pain that mimics appendicitis, says Gary Wasserman, D.O., a pediatric emergency medicine specialist, chief of the section of toxicology and director of the Poison Control Center at The Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Other possible symptoms of poisonous spider bites include headache, fever, malaise, lack of appetite and joint pain. Also, take your child to the doctor if you see signs of infection around the bite (exaggerated swelling and redness) or if your child has pink-or red-colored urine, says Dr. Wasserman.

In the area of Arizona or New Mexico, an unidentified sting might be that of a scorpion. In some cases, that sting can be fatal to a child, especially under the age of ten, cautions Dr. Wasserman. Seek immediate medical care.

How Safe Is That Repellent?

Insect repellents containing the chemical diethyltoluamide, otherwise known as DEET, work wonders when you need to repel flying nuisances such as bees and wasps, mosquitoes, biting flies and fleas.

But many parents are concerned--and rightly so--about using DEET-containing repellents on children. The products are not approved for use in children under two because very young children run the risk of absorbing a toxic dose through the skin. And doctors recommend that any insect repellent made with DEET be applied sparingly to the skin of children under ten.

''Technically you should avoid using DEET on children even up to age four,'' says Wayne Kradjan, Pharm.D., professor of pharmacy and associate dean for professional programs at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle. ''The alternatives are to keep the child covered as much as possible. But if you're in environment with a lot of mosquitoes or other insects, it's not always practical to keep the child covered up on hot days.''

If you choose to use a product with DEET, select one with the lowest percentage of DEET, advises Dr. Kradjan. ( They range from around 7 percent to 100 percent.) Use it very lightly on the child, applying the repellent to exposed skin and to clothing. Don't apply more often than every four hours, unless the child is in a situation that would cause the repellent to wash off or evaporate. Repellents don't actually repel insects, but will stop them from biting. So if an insect lands on your child but doesn't bite, the repellent is still working. Once your child's been bitten, it's time to reapply.

Do not, however, put DEET-containing repellents on areas of the body covered by clothing, warns Dr. Kradjan, because this will increase the amount absorbed.