I've never been bitten before until friday when I was doing a sponsored walk round Western/Crookes Valley parks.

I felt something sting my leg and thought nothing of it. When I got home my leg was stinging and itching so I took a look. There was a a small round 'hole' on my lower leg at the front that wasn't bleeding but was openand very raw. I cleaned it up with plain water and left it.

Now it's very red and hot to the touch. The skin is very tight around it and there is a definate lump there. It stings like mad, is still pretty itchy (although I'm resisting the urge) and generally feels pretty sore.

Having never been bitten before I am not quite sure what to do. Shall I just leave it until it clears up? Is this normal for an insect bite? (which is what I am assuming it is)

Thanks!

Relax...it will feel fine....after the amputation.

Is it continuing to swell?

If so - antihystamines are probably the best option.

If not - use Germolene. It's anaesthetic properties are greater than Savlon's which should stop it from itching :thumbsup:

Normally I would say use "anthisan" cream to reduce the irritation, but the open "hole" concerns me.

What diameter/how big is this hole?
If it is more than a millimetre, I would say "get yourself off to the walk-in clinic" and have a nurse look at it.
Failing that, take some paracetamol and if the swelling hasn't reduced, go to the doctors tomorrow.

Some bites, such as from horseflies, can carry infection and I have seen a forearm swell up to around six/seven inches across.

if its really swollen try some anti histemine(SP) tablets, like clarytin or piriton:thumbsup:

My bh had a large lump after a supposed insect bite when we were in France. The pharmacist took one look and told her to go to the docteur. Said docteur promptly cut open the wound in order to remove the eggs from what was in fact a spider bite.

Don't want to worry you but if the swelling doesn't go down fairly soon go and see a chemist for advice.

Originally posted by max
My bh had a large lump after a supposed insect bite when we were in France. The pharmacist took one look and told her to go to the docteur. Said docteur promptly cut open the wound in order to remove the eggs from what was in fact a spider bite.

Don't want to worry you but if the swelling doesn't go down fairly soon go and see a chemist for advice.
:shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

No. I give up. What's a bh Max?

Originally posted by Strix
No. I give up. What's a bh Max?

I guess that would be a "better half"?

Originally posted by Strix
No. I give up. What's a bh Max?

Soz, better half.

The 'hole' was about 3 mm accoss. I now have a bright red patch about 5 cm by 3cm all around it. The hole/bite has kind of dried up/scabbed over and is not weeping at all.

I take antihistamines every day (cetirazine) for hayfever anyway.

If I touch anywhere around it it really hurts and when I walk I can feel it throbbing too.

Someone I work with, her hubby was bitten last september. It swelled up and 3 courses of anti-biotics failed to clear it up. They sent him for a bi-opsy to find an egg sack full of dead insects/eggs. Theyhad no idea what the insect was either.

A worried FF
:wow: :help:

Oh dear. It sounds like a trip to the Doc's for you FF :(

NHS Walk-in Clinic (http://www.sheffield.nhs.uk/walk-in/index.htm)

They are open until 10pm tonight.
No appointment necessary

Couldn't get out tonight to clinic because of the kids. I've been dabbing it with neat Tea Tree Oil tonight to see if that has any effect.

Will pop into the chesmists tomorrow after work and see what they say.

Thanks everyone!

Sorry to hear about your plight........

I got stung by a bee today..















£20 for a jar of honey..............

it could have been a horsefly bite i get them if i walk around rother valley. will take 3-4 days for soreness to stop, i usually take pyriton for itching & use germolene or similar.
usually also find it works if pick the top off - i know you shouldn't but it does seem to have a relief element to it & starts it healing.

do u know anyone who has any steroid cream?
Betnovate or plain old hydrocortisone 1%??

Very good at taking down the local inflammation. :thumbsup:

Hi FF, When you're in the chemist buy one of those "Clickers". It's like a little pen that you press onto the areas around the bite and when you click the top it gives a little electric shock that takes away the itching so you don't make it worse by scratching. They are especially for insect bites and stings and they really work. The electric shock sounds worse than it is - you can hardly feel it.
Em

By this morning my leg had taken on a purple-sih tinge so poped off to the doctors. She looked and said "Nasty"!! I now have to take 2 horse tablets (huge things) 4 times a day for the next 5 days as it's prety badly infected!

All this from my very first ever insect bite!!

Originally posted by FetishFairy
By this morning my leg had taken on a purple-sih tinge so poped off to the doctors. She looked and said "Nasty"!! I now have to take 2 horse tablets (huge things) 4 times a day for the next 5 days as it's prety badly infected!

All this from my very first ever insect bite!!

how have you managed to get through life without a single insect bite before this?

I hope it clears up okay by the way.

Originally posted by Cyclone
how have you managed to get through life without a single insect bite before this?

I hope it clears up okay by the way.

I guess I just don't have tasty enough flesh for them lol!!

I hope it clears up too!

Did anyone see that series on TV where the woman had a giant grub living under her scalp and they had to tempt it out with a bit of bacon - I felt ill.

Originally posted by FetishFairy
I guess I just don't have tasty enough flesh for them lol!!

I hope it clears up too!

If not, my saw has been sharpened recently. :P

Joel

Hows the bite going ? Just found this on the net and thought of you :P

http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=2189&rtn=main-topten

[contains some swearing and gruesome imagery ! :gag: ]

Originally posted by rtapper
Hows the bite going ? Just found this on the net and thought of you :P

http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=2189&rtn=main-topten

[contains some swearing and gruesome imagery ! :gag: ]

Now that is grim!!! :gag:

It's still really hurting. It's red around the bite then dark purple around that (about 6.5 cm across) then all around that (about 15 cm in total) is red again. Pretty nasty stuff.

I just hope nothing decides to crawl out of it. Not sure I could cope with that :gag: :o

have you got a digital camera? we could do a new "what's wrong with the forummers" like they do in FHM magazine!
Got any leaches for this?