What may increase your risk for problems after a bite or sting?
Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medications, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.
Conditions
- Age over 60
- Baby or young child
- Past serious reaction, such as:
- A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
- Skin sensitivity
- Serum sickness
- Toxic reaction
- A large skin reaction
- Recent travel
- Surgery to remove the spleen
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Smoking or other tobacco use
Medications
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, including captopril (such as Capoten), enalapril maleate (such as Vasotec), or lisinopril (such as Prinivil, Zestril, or Zestoretic)
- Beta-blockers, such as Inderal or Lopressor
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Medications to prevent organ transplant rejection
- Medications used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
- Radiation therapy
Diseases
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Lung disease, such as asthma or COPD
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Sickle cell disease
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 1, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine and Envenomation Specialist | |
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