Infected insect bites: Pharmacy First pathway
Compare features of infection with inflammatory reactions, and review tick, travel and unusual-bite referral considerations.
Free educational reference for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. Open the interactive pathway and linked material in CRx Workspace without an account or payment card.
What the Infected insect bites pathway covers
The infected-insect-bite pathway distinguishes the assessment of possible infection from an inflammatory or allergic reaction to a bite. It also asks about the origin of the bite or sting and other circumstances that may need onward assessment.
- Redness, pain or tenderness, swelling and heat around the bite
- Inflammatory or allergic reactions compared with possible infection
- Tick bites and Lyme disease, travel, unusual insects and other types of bite
- Referral, treatment considerations and advice if symptoms worsen or fail to improve
Further reading and official resources
External links for further reading and checking current guidance.
- NHS England: Infected insect bites PGDs and service documents
- NICE CKS: Infected insect bites
- NHS: Infected insect bites
- NICE NG95: Lyme disease rash images (PDF)
- Community Pharmacy England: Pharmacy First service resources
For England’s Pharmacy First service. This independent educational reference does not replace the current official specification, clinical pathway, PGDs or protocol.
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