In the Mediterranean Mallorca summer, insect bites and stings are an everyday occurrence — mosquitoes in the evening, wasps at breakfast, occasionally bees or ticks. Mostly harmless, but for people with allergies or stings in certain locations they can become dangerous — especially on hot days that also raise the risk of sunstroke on holiday in Mallorca. As a private-physician house-call service in southwest Mallorca (Paguera, Port d'Andratx, Calvià, Santa Ponsa), Doc-Mallorca attends to insect bites and allergic reactions directly at your hotel or finca — flat rates from 250–450 €, with a personal callback from the doctor.
Infected insect bite: what to do?
An inflamed sting with a large swelling is usually an exaggerated local reaction, not an emergency — it becomes dangerous only when symptoms affecting the whole body are added.This is the most important distinction you have to make after a sting.
Local reaction (common, harmless): the swelling stays around the sting site but can grow to the size of a palm and keep increasing over 24 to 48 hours. Cool it, elevate it, do not scratch. An antihistamine gel or tablet from the pharmacy helps against severe itching.
Inflamed or infected sting: if the redness keeps spreading after 48 hours, the area becomes warm, pus forms, a red streak runs towards the body or fever is added, the sting is infected. That needs to be seen by a doctor — if necessary I prescribe an antibiotic on the spot.
Allergic reaction to a mosquito or wasp sting
The immediate allergic reaction is the one case after an insect sting where you must not wait — it affects the whole body, not just the sting site.
Immediate allergic reaction — emergency: shortness of breath, tightness or swelling in the throat, wheezing, hives over the whole body, dizziness or a racing heart shortly after the sting point to anaphylaxis. Call the European emergency number 112 at once. If you carry an emergency kit, use the adrenaline auto-injector immediately — and still call 112.
In Mallorca I see this most often after wasp stings at beach bars and pool areas, where wasps sit on sweet drinks. Stings also become inflamed faster in the warm, humid climate than at home, because you sweat more and scratch more.
Symptoms
First aid
- 1 Carefully remove the stinger (with bee stings)
- 2 Clean the area with soap and water
- 3 Cool (cold pack, cold water)
- 4 Apply antihistamine ointment or cream
- 5 Do not scratch (risk of infection)
- 6 In case of fever or severe pain: call a doctor
When should you call a doctor?
In case of shortness of breath, tightness in the throat, a circulatory reaction or dizziness after a sting (signs of an immediate allergic reaction/anaphylaxis): call the European emergency number 112 immediately.
Call a doctor if any of these signs apply to you:
- Swelling or redness spreading widely (more than about 10 cm) or still increasing after 24 hours
- Signs of infection: warmth, pus, a red streak towards the body, fever
- A sting inside the mouth, throat or on the neck
- Hives or a rash over the whole body, not just around the sting site
- Nausea, palpitations or feeling unwell shortly after the sting
- No improvement after 48 hours, or a clear deterioration
- A known insect-venom allergy — even if the reaction seems mild at first
A house call makes sense for: a large or spreading swelling/redness, signs of infection (warmth, pus, fever), or no improvement.
Prevention
Insect repellent (DEET 30%+), long clothing in the evening, mosquito net in the bedroom. Cover sweet drinks outdoors (wasps). No perfume in nature. For an allergic reaction or a strong local swelling, I can come to you with a house call in Illetas for acute treatment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a mosquito bite last?
What helps against itching?
Are wasp stings more dangerous than mosquito bites?
When does an insect bite or sting become dangerous?
Sources & guidelines
- Robert Koch Institute — Insect bites and vector-borne diseases (Robert Koch-Institut)
- EAACI — European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)
- NHS — Insect bites and stings (NHS)
Last reviewed on 21 August 2026 by Henrik Venus, licensed physician.