Bites & stings treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, a physician on Maple would be happy to discuss bites and stings with you.

If you know the direct cause of your bites and stings, it’s good to relay that information during the evaluation. In some cases, if the insect or arachnid dies after biting you, it can be a good idea to keep it to show the physician.

Doing this can allow for more accurate diagnosis for your bites and stings, as well as determine effective treatments for bites and stings.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications for bites and stings online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription for your bites and stings, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Most insects and arachnids avoid humans. However, in cases where we cross paths or accidentally encroach on their territories, these creatures will defend themselves. This typically involves either bites or stings, depending on the insect or arachnid involved.

There are also some varieties of insects and arachnids that will intentionally sting or bite humans, if we’re exposed to them.

Some common causes of bites and stings include:

• Mosquitos
• Fire ants
• Fleas
• Mites
• Bed bugs
• Flies (and horseflies)
• Lice
• Ticks
• Spiders (in many ranges of severity)
• Scorpions
• Chiggers (or red bugs)
• Bees
• Wasps
• Yellow jackets

Symptoms and signs of bites and stings will vary widely, depending on the cause. Some are mild and will pass on their own, while others can be life-threatening. It’s important to understand the telltale symptoms and signs of bites and stings that are dangerous and require medical attention, so you can seek medical attention.

You may or may not notice the creature until it bites or stings you, or until certain symptoms begin to appear, such as:

• Itching
• Redness
• Swelling
• Rashes
• Warmth around the affected area
• Tingling or numbness on or near the affected area
• Muscle pain
• Pain in the affected area

These symptoms may be mild, but if they become severe or chronic, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor about them.

You should also seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms after a bite or sting:

• Fever
• Swelling of the lips, throat, mouth, or tongue
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Muscle spasms
• Difficulty breathing
• Increased or rapid heart rate
• Fainting
• Severe pain
• Pus-filled lumps at the affected area
• Spreading redness or track lines from the affected area

Some bites and stings cause symptoms that are easier to identify than others, like lice or bed bugs. Others leave behind traces like stingers, which can help the doctor diagnose bites and stings.

However, some can be more difficult to identify. If the insect or arachnid that bit or stung you dies after your encounter, collect it to bring to the doctor. This can help properly diagnose bites and stings.

Remember, you should never provoke an insect or arachnid. Identify them only if you can do so without instigating another potential attack.

You can provide treatment for most bites and stings at home.

Washing the affected area, and then applying an ice pack to reduce swelling and pain, are effective home treatments for many bites and stings. You can also apply a paste made of water and baking soda to the affected area, to reduce itchiness.

If your bites and stings symptoms are chronic or severe, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor. You may require medical treatment or guidance in order to eliminate your symptoms and protect your health.

Also, if you believe you’ve been attacked by a dangerous insect or arachnid, you should seek medical attention, even if you aren’t showing bite and sting symptoms. The effects from these attacks can sometimes take a while to appear, but when they do, they have the potential to be life-threatening.