INSECT BITES

Most insect and spider bites are harmless, though they feel unpleasant. Bee, wasp, and hornet stings and fire ant bites usually hurt. Mosquito, flea and mite bites usually itch. Insects can also transmit diseases, such as yellow fever and malaria. These diseases mainly are a risk for travelers outside the United States. To prevent insect bites and their complications

• Don't bother insects
• Use insect repellant
• Wear protective clothing
• Be careful when you eat outside because food attracts insects
• If you know you have severe allergic reactions to insect bites, carry an emergency epinephrine kit

• Overviews
  • Venomous Creatures(Arizona Poison & Drug Information Center)
• Prevention/Screening
  • How to Use Insect Repellents Safely(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
  • Insect Repellent DEET(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Mosquito Bites(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Stinging Insect Allergy: How to Avoid the Ouch(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Updated Information Regarding Insect Repellents(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Specific Conditions
  • Anaphylaxis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Bedbugs(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Health Hazards of Imported Fire Ant Stings(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
  • Spider Bites: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Stinging Insect Allergy(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

MEDICINES

Looking for information on a particular medicine? More than 3000 products are listed in our database, including both branded and generic medicines. These are reviewed and updated daily. document.write(upperCase("Find your medicine"))FIND YOUR MEDICINE Before you begin How to use the medicines database Medicine factsheets explained Branded and generic medicines Search Search medicines by effect document.write(upperCase("A-Z of medicines"))A-Z OF MEDICINES A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z document.write(upperCase("Taking medicines"))TAKING MEDICINES Taking medicines safely Taking medication Is it dangerous taking different medicines at the same time? OTC medicines in pregnancy Medicines and the elderly Children and medicine Childhood vaccinations How to use your medicines How to use your ear drops How to use your eye drops How to use your eye ointment How to use your metered dose inhaler How to use your spacer device How to use your peak flow meter How to use your nasal spray How to use your nose drops How to use your oral syringe How to use your pessaries How to use your suppositories How to use your skin patches How to use your corticosteroid cream or ointment document.write(upperCase("What's new?"))WHAT'S NEW? New medicines on the market Arthritis: Orencia Asthma: Fostair Colorectal cancer: Vectibix Hepatitis B: Sebivo High blood pressure: Rasilez HIV infection: Atripla HIV infection: Celsentri HIV infection: Isentress Human papillomavirus vaccine: Cervarix Osteoporosis: Actonel combi Soft tissue sarcoma: Yondelis Smoking cessation: Nicopass lozenges Smoking cessation: Nicopatch Superficial skin infections: Altargo ointment Medicines with updated information Abilify - new cautions and interactions Aclasta - now licensed for osteoporosis Actonel once a week - now licensed for men Actos - can now be used with insulin Anti-HIV medicines - new warning about osteonecrosis Avandamet - new warning in heart disease Avandia - new warning in heart disease, can now be used with insulin Avastin - now licensed for breast and lung cancer Cipramil - pregnancy information updated Cipralex - now licensed for OCD Competact - can now be used with insulin Desmospray - should no longer be used for bedwetting Efexor XL - now licensed for social anxiety disorder Florinef - new storage instructions Forsteo - now licensed for men Humira - now licensed for Crohn's disease Lescol - new interactions Lyrica - new caution in heart failure Nexavar - now licensed for liver cancer Provigil - new warnings and cautions regarding psychiatric and skin reactions Symbicort - now licensed for maintenance and reliever therapy Tarceva - new warnings and interactions

DISEASES

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