DS has massive round lumps/bites on him will antihystamins help?

[Overseasmom100]

DS was out with friends last night in a field near water. Come back with bites. Today they are like massive lumps. Could these be horse fly bites? Does he need a GP appt or antihystamins???

Try antihistamines first, Piriton if you have it. GP if any of them start to look infected.

Ok gave him antihystamin tonight but just noticed out of date feb 2019

I think it'll be fine, they won't have lost their effectiveness or become unsafe in just a few months, I'm sure.

I have been bitten by a horsefly or horseflies, have 8 on my legs. Chemist recommended antihistamine & cream (like Anthisan). Keep an eye on them, dont scratch, see GP if they don't improve in a few days or look infected. Plenty of pictures on Google, they are a red spot with a raised hot swollen area around it. They bloody hurt, he has my sympathies!

Give the piriton and antisense if you have it, you can always draw around the redness with a sharpie to keep an eye on the size. I always react really badly to bites and can get a swelling the size of my whole thigh, which is itchy and uncomfortable but goes away eventually. If it is very hot you could place a cold flannel on the area for relief.

Just put flannel on one on his knee it is huge his whole knee is swollen. Will go and get piraton tomorrow

I managed to get an infection under my kneecap from a bite, it was incredibly painful and I couldn’t walk. At the time I had no idea what caused it so went to A&E who gave me some horrible horse-pill like antibiotics. Happened again a few years later so I am just susceptible I guess. If he is in a lot of pain you could try some ibuprofen to take down the swelling but it’ll mostly be his immune system at work so may not work brilliantly.

Not in any pain they just look awful and huge...all his friends have them as well. Will keep an eye on them

Give regular oral antihistamines for a few days & apply a thin layer of over the counter steroid cream - hydrocortisone 1% - on the affected skin twice a day patient.info/skin-conditions/insect-bites-and-stings-leaflet. Reducing itching/scratching can reduce the risk of infection

Got the cream today and in date antihistamines dont seem as bad as last night but still treating

Check they don't have a ring around the bites as it could be ticks

This is the worst...on his knee veey swollen but it's not hurting or itching

That prob looks worst than it is. Camera angle I think

Woah! That’s huge!

I’ve read so many posts recently, here and FB, with pictures like this. Are insects becoming more vicious?!

That is massive. I'd swing by the pharmacy with him tomorrow so they can have a look.

It looks like he has multiple bites on his knee so it could be inflammation from this but this is difficult to assess from a photograph. If you're worried about infection take him to a walk-in centre or call 111 for a GP out of hours appointment, there's nothing else you can buy over the counter so pharmacist advice is limited in this situation

tbh after a couple of days of sensible self care it's now time to see a dr.

I react badly too. For next time try cetirizine instead of piriton. For this time it's got to the point where he'll need oral steroid in conjunction with antihistamine t take them down. GP or practice nurse can help, or even walk-in. 3 day course of prednisolone probably.

cetirizine is also available as liquid, though the tablets are tiny and many dc don't have issues taking these.

How about some ibuprofen to help with the swelling? I'd deffo go and see a pharmacist and show them how swollen it is. They may say you need to see a doctor. In the meantime, keep on with the antihistamines, cold compresses and elevating his leg. Poor lad.

Today it's gone right down...still no pain or itching