text: The assassin bug has been known to bite humans when not handled carefully. For some species the bite is known to be very painful, sometimes with effects lasting up to four months, at times causing allergic reactions. Repeated bites can cause increasingly bad reactions in humans including shock and death.\n\n\nSome blood-sucking reduviidae, particularly Triatoma spp. and other members of the subfamily Triatominae, are also known as kissing bugs due to the most common location of bites on humans being near the soft tissue of the lips and eyes; about half of these [haematophageous] species, located in Central and South America are able to transmit a fatal trypanosome disease known as Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis).\n\n=====\n\nBITES FROM WHEEL BUGS\nSome assassin bugs, most notably the wheel bug, will bite if picked up and handled carelessly.  The bite of the wheel bug is immediately and intensely painful.  Persons who are bitten should wash and apply antiseptic to the site of the bite.  Oral analgesics, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may be useful to reduce the pain.  Treatment by a physician is not usually needed, though Caladryl® or topical corticosteroids may help reduce swelling or itching at the site of the bite.  As with any insect sting or bite, the victim should seek medical attention immediately if there is any sign of anaphylactic reaction, such as generalized swelling, itching, hives or difficulty breathing.