Insect bite - need advice please!

[CoatTails]

Posted this in health, but reposting here for traffic!

I was bitten a week or so ago and it is still itchy and bruised. It’s responding well to Savlon. It seems to get ‘better’ and then flare up again. Do I ride it out or do I need to see a doctor? And how do you even SEE a doctor if you don’t go to the surgery?!

Go to a pharmacy. Does it feel hot? Draw around edge in biro so you can see if red area is getting bigger /smaller. I had something v similar last year and think it was from a shield bug. Itchy for a long time.

A pharmacy won’t be able to do any more than I’m doing already, will it though?

Ice...lots and lots of ice. Keepng it as cold as possible reduces the swelling and the numbness from the ice stops it feeling itchy. Also try not to scratch and maybe get a numbing bite cream from the pharmacy for inbetween icing

I kept getting bits like yours throughout last summer on my legs and feet and they very debilitating and painful. Looking back I wish I'd gone to the DR but just used cream from pharmacy and antihistamines

You need medical advice. I had something similar last year and it was cellulitis which can turn to Sepsis. I needed antibiotics.

Do I just ring the surgery tomorrow and see what they advise?

I would. The reason they became concerned about me is because it started "tracking" - a line of red from the affected area moving in the direction of your heart - so maybe call sooner if you notice anything like this.

You need a doctor to take a look at that, you may need some antibiotics and a strong topical steroid cream. In fact, I'd put money on you needing them.

As you can't get to doctor til tomorrow, draw a line around the red mark. If the redness spreads further I would suggest 111 (assuming you're in UK)

GP surgeries aren't as busy as usual as people are reluctant to call. People are still ill, but not getting the necessary treatment because they either wrongly think the GP won't see anything that isn't Covid related, or that the GP is overstretched and they'll not get an appointment.

Thanks all. I’ve drawn round it and taken antihistamine.

I got bad cellulitis from an insect bite once - phone 111 if the redness spreads today if not then phone the gp tomorrow.

I also got cellulitis from an insect bite. It looked a bit like this.
I needed antibiotics.

You may find your surgery is open today, lots have chosen to stay open at weekends to ease the pressure on out of hours services.

DH reacts very badly to insect bites. He usually finds that taking some anti histamine helps, but a bite like that will probably need antibiotics. I would ring 111 with that.

Thanks all. I rang 111 and had a call back. They were very thorough and not overly concerned as it’s not tracking into ‘spider’s legs’ and I have no temperature. Gave advice on keeping it cool overnight.

antihistamine and cold water bathing. Some pharmacists will give hydrocortizone cream for bite reactions

I had a very bad reaction to a wasp sting last summer and had to see a practice nurse (was on holiday) who prescribed antibiotics, as described here. However these failed to have any effect, and when I got home the GP said, not an infection as no temp (as per 111 advice to OP) But,what he did tell me was it's OK to take up to 4 (4!!!!) one a day antihistamines to bring the reaction under control.

So I did that and it worked. Took me a while to work out why I was so sleepy though! Der!