Bites & parasites
Insect bites and urticaria (hives)
Bug bites and hives share one important job for the assessor: separating an itchy nuisance from an allergic reaction that is going somewhere dangerous. At Murray Shore Pharmacy on Bathurst Street in North York, a pharmacist makes that call in person, prescribes where appropriate, and sends true emergencies to emergency care immediately.
Common signs
- Raised, itchy welts that appear, fade, and reappear somewhere else
- Red, swollen, itchy bumps at bite or sting sites
- A larger area of warmth and swelling around a single bite
- Hives triggered by heat, pressure, foods, or no obvious cause at all
- Itching intense enough to interrupt sleep
See a doctor instead if
- Trouble breathing, throat tightness, or swelling of the lips, tongue, or face: call 911, do not drive to the pharmacy
- Dizziness, vomiting, or feeling faint after a bite or sting
- Spreading redness, increasing pain, or fever days after a bite, which suggests infection
- Hives that keep recurring beyond six weeks
- A tick still attached, or a recent tick bite, which follows its own assessment pathway
Any of these sound like you? Call 416-789-1800 and we will point you the right way — or reach Health811 (opens in a new tab) by calling 811.
How the assessment works
The pharmacist examines the reaction, times it against the bite or trigger, and checks whether anything about it points beyond the skin, because a purely local reaction and an early systemic one need completely different responses. For localized bites and uncomplicated hives, an antihistamine or a topical treatment may be prescribed where appropriate, and you leave knowing exactly which changes would mean going to a doctor or emergency department instead. Hives without any bite are assessed too; urticaria has many non-insect triggers.
Sources 1, 2Three ways to get started. Do it all from home, or come in.
Start online from your phone, call us, or walk in and ask for the pharmacist. No appointment is needed. When you start online, a pharmacist calls or messages you back to finish the assessment. Prefer email? Write to us.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers from the pharmacy team. Tap a question to open it.
I have hives but no bites and no new foods. Can you still assess me?
Yes. Hives often appear without an identifiable trigger, and the assessment does not require one. The pharmacist reviews recent illnesses, medications, and physical triggers like heat or pressure, and treats the episode on its own terms where appropriate.
How do I know if a sting reaction is an emergency?
Watch for anything beyond the sting site: trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, widespread hives with dizziness, or vomiting. Any of those means calling 911 immediately. Swelling and itch that stay local to the sting, even if impressive, are what a pharmacy assessment is for.
A mosquito bite from last week is now hot, growing, and sore. Is that normal?
Getting worse days later is the wrong direction; bites should be improving by then. Spreading warmth, pain, or fever suggests a skin infection, which the assessment screens for specifically, and which is referred to a physician rather than treated over the counter.
My hives have come and gone for two months. Why do you keep saying six weeks?
Six weeks is the line where hives are classified as chronic, and chronic urticaria needs a physician's investigation into causes a pharmacy assessment cannot chase down. We will still assess your current flare and write up the history to bring to your doctor.
I found a tick on me. Is this the right page?
Close, but no. Tick bites have a dedicated pharmacist assessment focused on Lyme disease prevention, and it is time-sensitive, so call 416-789-1800 today rather than waiting. Remove nothing carelessly; we can talk you through safe removal on the phone.
Is the assessment covered by OHIP?
Yes, with a valid Ontario health card there is no charge for the assessment itself. Anything prescribed afterwards goes through your drug plan or is paid out of pocket.
Can you assess my child's bites or hives?
Yes, children are assessed regularly for both. Bring the child, their health card, and a note of any new foods, medications, or products from the past few days; a parent or guardian stays for the visit.
My hives disappear before anyone can see them. What should I do?
Photograph them. Hives move and fade by nature, so pictures taken during a flare, with something for scale, let the pharmacist assess what you actually get rather than what remains. Note the time of day and what you were doing when they appeared.
Can the pharmacist prescribe something for the itching?
Yes, where clinically appropriate, treatment may be prescribed after the assessment. If the picture suggests something beyond a minor reaction, you get a referral and a clear explanation instead.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Walk in to 3537 Bathurst Street with your health card, and come while the reaction is visible if you can. Assessments happen in the private consultation room.
How do I avoid bites for the rest of the season?
Use an approved insect repellent, wear light-coloured long sleeves at dusk, and clear standing water near the house. The pharmacist can review repellent choices for children and for anyone with sensitive skin during the assessment.
Sources & further reading
Numbered references, linked from the sections above.
Your pharmacist is one call away.
416-789-1800 Call nowPrefer not to call? Email info@murrayshore.com or visit us at Bathurst & Baycrest.