Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) - ACC will help pay the cost of treatment if you have an injury, and this includes many types of insect bites. It is important that people know about this assistance as money may be one of the reasons people delay seeking medical treatment for a skin infection. Unfortunately, if treatment is delayed, by the time the doctor sees the person the only option for treatment is to send the person to hospital.
If you think your skin infection was caused by a cut, abrasion, prickle or insect bite, then ask your doctor if you can have a claim lodged with ACC.
For more details on what ACC does cover, check out ACC's website (November 2002, Issue 51) or phone 0800 101 996.
Do ACC cover:
Q: Bee stings and spider/insect bites?
A: Yes- The puncture wound is a physical injury and has been caused by an external force (the bee, spider or insect).
Abscess (boil) - A cavity containing pus, which may also have surrounding cellulitis. If occurring on the skin it is commonly known as a boil. However, abscesses can occur within the body, in the kidney, brain, bones or joints.
Cellulitis - An acute bacterial infection of the soft tissues of the skin. Infection spreads causing the skin and layers underneath to become red, swollen and tender.
Impetigo - 'School sores' is characterised by small, infectious blisters, which later develop a honey-coloured, scab-like crust.
Headlice - Small insects about 2-3mm long that live on the human scalp and feed on human blood. This causes itching, which can then lead to skin infections due to scratching. If left untreated these can be serious. See 'Headlice Facts' pamphlet for more information.
Scabies - Scabies is caused by tiny insects which burrow along the skin, laying eggs as they go. Above the eggs small blisters form, surrounded by red patches - these are very itchy. Scabies will not go away without treatment. Scratching can lead to serious skin infections. See 'Scabies' information sheet.
- An increased chance of bacteria getting passed from person to person (over crowded house, lack of hot water, washing machine and drier).
- An increase in the risk of skin injury (insect bites or scabies).
- Reduced access to first aid supplies, linen, towels and nutrition.
- Reduced access to medical care due to issues with transport, knowledge of the system, language or cost.
- 90% of people with eczema carry Staph. aureus (a bacteria) on their skin.
- The dryness, cracking, itching and scratching that eczema causes, increases the chance of the bacteria breaking through the skin.
- Once the bacteria breaks through the skin it increases the itching and a cycle begins.
- Check out more information on eczema and take a look at Regional Public Health's 'Eczema Information' pamphlet (pdf 48.2 KB)
3. Injuries and Insect Bites - Grazes, cuts, sharp objects, sports injuries, burns, accidental falls, bites, stings, infestations, scabies and head lice are some of the reasons that the skin may become broken. Once broken there is a risk of infection.
4. Germs - Bacteria (germs) are common and do not always cause disease. People carry bacteria around and pass them on to others when touching things. This is why it is important to wash your hands frequently, particularly after coughing, sneezing and going to the toilet. Some types of bacteria do cause disease once they get under the skin. Common bacteria that causes skin infections include Streptococci, Staphylococci, Staph aureus and Strep pyogenes or 'school sores'.
Effects on the body if skin infections are left untreated
- Deeper abscesses can form in the lungs, kidneys, joints, muscles, bone, and brain.
- Blood poisoning - septicaemia
- Swelling of the lymph tissue - lymphangitis
- Swelling, infection and/or damage to the joints - osteomyelitis and septic arthritis
- Kidney failure - acute glomerulonephritis
International Comparison - New data also indicates that New Zealand may have a high hospitalisation rate for cellulitis compared to the United States and Australia (see chart below).
Data from Assessing and Reducing the Burden of Serious Skin Infections in Children and Young People in the Greater Wellington Region, 2004.
Numbers and rates of hospitalisations of 1 - 14 year olds in CCDHB and HVDHB (see chart below):
There appears to be somewhat of a seasonal pattern to cellulitis admissions – see below. For most years, especially recent years, the third quarter – January to March – has had the highest number of admissions.
Overall there are higher numbers of hospital admissions for Maori and Pacific Children
Data from Evaluation of the Serious Skin Infections Project, December 2007
1. Clean, Cut and Cover!
Clean – hands often, Cut – fingernails short, Cover – sores with a fabric plaster (these are more breathable)
- Wash hands using the '20 second rule' - the same amount of time as it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' and then dry them really well.
- Put a cup of warm water and ½ a teaspoon of salt in a basin and use a clean cloth to soak and wash the sores. Put the cloth in the rubbish.
- Dry sores with another clean cloth and then put the cloth in the rubbish.
- Cover the sores with clean gauze cloth or fabric plaster.
- Wash hands again, using the '20 second rule' - the same amount of time as it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' and then dry them really well.
- Check sores daily.
2. General hygiene is very important:
- Wash and dry hands thoroughly and regularly especially before eating and after using the toilet – 'the 20 second rule'.
- Wash body all over daily, with clean water and soap.
- Avoid sharing towels, clothing and bedding to prevent infection spreading.
- Avoid sharing bath and swimming water when infected.
- Wash bedding weekly and clothes regularly (use a hot wash if someone has a skin infection).
- Keep fingernails short and clean – cellulitis often starts with a mosquito bite which gets scratched and becomes infected.
3. General wellbeing:
- Also try to get plenty of sleep and if possible eat 5+ fruit and vegetables a day - check out the 5+ a day website.
- The Ministry of Health is running the 'Fruit in Schools' initiative.
4. Skin infections often start with an insect bite (mosquito or flea) so:
- Use insect repellent if you are likely to get bitten.
- Mosquitoes are worse at dawn and dusk so wear clothing that covers the body, e.g. long sleeves and trousers.
- Get rid of objects outside that hold water where mosquitoes could breed, e.g. pot plant saucers, jars, old tyres (see the 'Mosquitoes - what you can do to stop them' resource).
- Don’t leave windows open and lights on – this will attract mosquitoes inside.
- Use mosquito screens and net curtains to prevent mosquitoes coming inside.
- Avoid scratching bites.
5. Hand hygiene - Recommended technique for hand washing practice:
20 Second Rule - wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water, and dry for 20 seconds with a clean, dry towel or paper towel. It is recommended that you dry hands for 45 seconds with an air dryer.
- Wet hands with warm water and apply liquid soap
- Rub hands together vigorously (rub all areas)
- Wash for 20 seconds (about the same time as it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday')
- Rinse well and dry hands thoroughly
- Drying times:
- Paper towel or clean roller towel: 20 seconds
- Air dryer: 45 seconds
- Towel and air dryer: 10 seconds with towel plus 20 seconds by air dryer
Times when hands should be washed:
- After coughing or sneezing (when the hands have been used to cover the mouth or nose)
- After using the toilet or after handling animals
- Before during and after the preparation of food
- When hands are dirty
- More often if someone is sick
- Is the size of a 10 cent coin or bigger
- Has pus
- Is getting bigger
- Has red streaks coming from it
- Is not getting better within 2 days
- Any sore or redness near the eye
DO NOT FORGET....
- It is very important to get the medication the doctor prescribes - talk to the doctor if you cannot afford it.
- Complete the course of antibiotics to fully treat the infection.
- Don't share antibiotics around the family because each person needs to complete their own full course.
- Your medication may not be suitable for other members of the family.
- Antibiotics are given either in liquid or tablets or into the blood stream (intravenously).
- An operation to remove pus from abscesses may be necessary.
- Best practice guidelines and treatment guidelines are currently being developed.
- Watch this space - guidelines will be posted on this website.
Work and Income
- It is important that families are receiving their full and correct entitlements from Work and Income for all members of the household.
- Many families are not aware of the assistance that they are entitled to, if in doubt it is worth making enquires with a case manager.
- Assistance is available for some families via schemes, such as working for families. There are also payments via special benefit or a special needs grant.
- Help with the cost of meeting the needs of having severe eczema can be obtained through the disability benefit.
- Accommodation supplement may also be appropriate for some people.
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