Allergies and insect bites in Sharm El Sheikh: what helps

If you get insect bites in Egypt, most are not serious and get better within a few days. Wash the area, cool it and try not to scratch. An antihistamine such as loratadine can ease the itching. Sometimes a bite or sting causes a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). This is an emergency: call 123.

Symptoms of insect bites and stings

Most bites and stings cause pain and a small, swollen lump, which may itch or look red.

• Mosquito bites are usually small, raised and itchy. Mosquitoes bite during the day and at night.
• Bee, wasp and hornet stings are painful, and the stinger may stay in the skin.
• Flea bites usually appear in groups below the knees. Fleas live on animals, so do not feed or stroke stray cats and dogs.

Stung in the sea? See our guide to jellyfish and sea stings.

Mosquitoes, malaria and dengue in Egypt

The World Health Organization (WHO) certified Egypt malaria-free in October 2024. Mosquitoes there no longer spread malaria.

Mosquitoes can still spread other infections, and UK travel advice lists dengue among the health risks in Egypt. Dengue symptoms usually start 4 to 10 days after infection. They include a high fever, a severe headache, pain behind the eyes and aching muscles and joints.

The WHO advises paracetamol for dengue pain, not ibuprofen or aspirin, because these can increase the risk of bleeding.

What helps

1. Remove the stinger by scraping it sideways. Tweezers could squeeze out more venom.
2. Wash the area with soap and water to lower the chance of infection.
3. Cool it with a wrapped ice pack or a cold, wet cloth for at least 20 minutes. Raise the area if you can.
4. Ease pain and itching. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help with pain. An antihistamine can ease itching, and a hydrocortisone cream can reduce itching and swelling. Follow the leaflet.
5. Do not scratch, as scratching can lead to infection. Do not use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda.

Signs that a bite is infected

Show the bite to a pharmacist or doctor if:

• the skin around it feels hot or looks red
• it is painful or swollen, and getting worse
• pus or fluid is coming out of it

Allergies: hay fever and dust

An allergy can cause sneezing, an itchy, runny or blocked nose, and itchy, red, watery eyes. Symptoms usually start within minutes of contact with a trigger, such as pollen, house dust mites, mould or pet fur. Hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold.

Changes in temperature and humidity can cause similar symptoms without an allergy. See our guide to a sore throat and blocked nose from air-conditioning.

To ease allergy symptoms:

• take a non-drowsy antihistamine, such as loratadine
• wear wraparound sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes
• shower and change your clothes after time outside, and keep windows shut as much as possible

See a doctor if your symptoms or your asthma get worse, or if pharmacy treatments do not help.

What you can buy at the pharmacy

Products that can help:

• Antihistamine tablets, such as Claritine (loratadine), for itchy bites, hives and hay fever. Loratadine is non-drowsy, but some people still feel slightly sleepy. Avoid alcohol, and do not drive if you feel sleepy.
• Creams for itching and swelling, such as a mild hydrocortisone cream. Ask our pharmacist before using a steroid cream on a child, on your face or in pregnancy.
• Insect repellents with DEET, icaridin (picaridin), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE or PMD).
• Painkillers, such as paracetamol (Adol) or ibuprofen. Ibuprofen may not suit people with asthma or allergies such as hay fever.
• Saline nasal sprays, such as Beegu, to rinse out your nose when allergies or dust bother you.

See our over-the-counter medicines, or ask us what is in stock today.

How to prevent bites

• Use a repellent on exposed skin, not under clothes or on cuts. For your face, spray it onto your hands first. Reapply as the label says.
• Apply sunscreen first, then repellent. Avoid products that combine both. DEET can lower your sunscreen’s protection by about a third, so reapply sunscreen more often.
• Cover up with loose, long sleeves and long trousers, especially around dawn and dusk.
• Keep insects out with air-conditioning, window screens or a mosquito net. Plug-in vaporisers and coils can add protection, but do not breathe in their smoke.
• Skip what does not work: vitamin B or garlic by mouth, sound devices and repellent wristbands do not prevent bites.
• On desert trips, shake out shoes and clothes before you put them on, in case of scorpions.

If you have had a serious allergic reaction before and have adrenaline auto-injectors, carry 2 at all times. Keep them out of the sun and away from heat.

Children, pregnancy and older people

Babies and children. A baby under 1 year with a bite or sting should see a doctor. Protect babies with clothing and a mosquito net over the stroller. Do not use repellents with OLE or PMD on children under 3. Put repellent on your own hands first, then on the child’s skin, avoiding their hands, eyes and mouth. Loratadine is suitable for most children aged 2 and over. Ask our pharmacist before giving any medicine.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The CDC says registered repellents are safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding when used as the label says. If you need an antihistamine in pregnancy, loratadine is usually the one recommended. Paracetamol is usually the preferred painkiller. Avoid ibuprofen unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it. Ask a pharmacist or doctor before taking any medicine.

Older people and long-term conditions. Older people should ask a pharmacist before taking an antihistamine. So should anyone who takes other medicines or has heart, liver or kidney disease or epilepsy.

When to get urgent help

Need help in Sharm?

Our pharmacists speak English, Russian, Ukrainian and Italian. They can help you choose an antihistamine, a cream for itching or an insect repellent. Message us on WhatsApp or call +20 120 344 2201. We have 5 pharmacies across Sharm El Sheikh, and we offer free hotel delivery on orders from $30. Registered medicines are sold at the official prices set in Egypt.