What the fuck is this ?!

[sherlockhomeless]

I got bitten tonight, and it's got streaks on my arm now: it's a bit sore but not too bad. Weird! Do I need a drs appointment in the morning

@refusetobeasheep

MY dd had this a few weeks ago. agree get a sharpie to mark round it so you can assess if grows etc. we were told to alternate hydrocortisone with anthisan throughout the day - about 4 of each when it was at its worst (which was much worse than your photo). Good luck!

I think the doctors and nurses in the hospital she's in will sort it out.

Glad you were already admitted when it started to swell and blister op!

Phew, glad you were admitted. I'm usually the last one to recommend A&E but would have done so in this case too. Sounds horrendous. Hope you're feeling okay and not in too much pain. Th blisters sound sore!!!

I’ve never seen lines like that before OP. Hope you are ok.

Ouch, hope your ok OP and getting treatment

Hope you’re feeling a bit better today OP

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

Looks like you might need antibiotics for that as it's streaking. Could be a spider bite, they often get infected.

Sorry didn't read the whole post. Yes I've had a spider bite like that before and they often get horribly infected.

To the people saying a tick bite, ticks cling on and have to be removed. The area then shows up with a bullseye rash if they have been carrying lyme disease (not all do).

Hope you feel better v soon, OP

I've got antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines going. It's so grim. I think I'll be here for a few days.

Eesh, hope you're feeling better OP. I was once eaten alive by bedbugs (poxy budget yet brand new hotel) and I reacted to ALL the bites within 72 hours - I had red tide marks spreading everywhere and both my arms swelled, I felt terrible.

Pharmacist sent me to GP who recommended antihistamine. I took some, itching stopped and they all went down. I must have got lucky!

Hope you're home soon.

Am I the only one wanting to see a photo?!

Streaking can happen after some insect bites, spider bites in particular. The swelling and blistering afterwards sounds like a spider bite as well

Its not necessarily an infection or a cellulitis, often its a reaction to the bite itself. But you are in the right place and glad you are getting it seen to

"Tracking" or red lines spreading up limb from a wound, sore or inflamed area of skin is a sign that inflammation is spreading along lymphatic vessels. It's called lymphangitis. It's most commonly due to bacterial infection but can also be caused by inflammation, e.g. from spider venom.

It's potentially very serious and always needs urgent assessment and treatment.

x post with OrangeSharked!

So glad you went early, as then you were already there whenit swelled up. Get well soon

@TheGonnagle

You need antibiotics. I took flucloxacine for mine when I got an infection that tracked like that. Call 111 and make sure you mark the edges of the tracking with a biro so you can see how quickly it moves. And yes, you need them tonight I’m afraid, sepsis can be a speedy bugger.

I second this

@extravirginoliveoil nope, I was about to ask! Hope you're on the mend OP

“sherlockhomeless

I've got antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines going. It's so grim. I think I'll be here for a few days.“

Do you mean you may have to stay in the hospital for a few days? How worrying.

@BoreOfWhabylon

"Tracking" or red lines spreading up limb from a wound, sore or inflamed area of skin is a sign that inflammation is spreading along lymphatic vessels. It's called lymphangitis. It's most commonly due to bacterial infection but can also be caused by inflammation, e.g. from spider venom.

It's potentially very serious and always needs urgent assessment and treatment.

Thank you, and you too, @OrangeSharked, for clarifying.

Crikey, OP, that sounds awful. Hope you improve really fast and can get home as soon as poss - so glad you sought immediate attention

Argh! Rest up OP.

@eejitgothurt

Sorry, here:

Dog bite- I'm an idiot warning - images of wounds [[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am]]iibeingunreasonable/4223454-Dog-bite-Im-an-idiot-warning-images-of-wounds

I was fobbed off by the GP after I'd already been to A&E and been patched up and given oral antibiotics but it started tracking and swelled like a balloon. A&E took it very seriously and I was in hospital 3 nights and had surgery to wash out the wound and stitch it up properly. It was quite something yet I thought I was making a fuss. The surgeon was great. And handsome

My word!

I've just read your saga, and you have been through it!

I've got dogs (only three - most at one tie was six) and have been accidentally bitten when breaking up fights, offering treats etc and it hurts like a bastard! Never had such severe infection as you though, but my tetanus jabs are up to date (by up to date, I mean that I have had so many over the years that I am now pretty much immune to tetanus).

You did a really kind thing though - I hope it hasn't put you off dogs for life (though I can see why you want to stick to cats!), but I'll bet your DD's attitude has put you off teenagers a bit.

Not familiar with 'tracking' so would never have thought this needed a trip to A&E. Grateful to have learnt something new.

Thank heavens you went to A&E.

It sounds like you had a nasty reaction to a nasty bite.

(And thank heavens we have an NHS!)