Dd(17) horsefly bites ( warning pic!) what can we do to ease it!

[Wowijustgiveup]

Dd(17) was at a camp yesterday and came home today covered in what i think are horsefly bites.

we have given her an antibistamine and we are trying to cool her leg but i have no idea how to ease it!. It seems to be multiple bites all over her arms and legs. Ive added a pic of the worst two areas in case im wrong about it being horseflies!

I’ve used ibulieve gel on mine out of sheer desperation to stop the itching. Ice packs are also handy when wrapped in towel, also putting my leg in the sink and running cold water on it!

I read somewhere that white wine vinegar helps. I had some bad bites on holiday once and the vinegar really helped calm the itching.

Hydrocortisone cream

Get antibiotics - fast. I had this a few weeks ago - ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics for a few days - nurse said I was lucky not to lose my foot !
This was a week after the initial bite.
Mine blistered up and the scarring is bad.

I have had to get antibiotics after trying every cream under the sun! They are a bugger. Applying peroxide helped a bit too.
Ice also.
Hope it goes away soon

Gratuitous horse fly pic

Your daughter has cellulitis and you absolutely need to get her seen by a GP

Ibuprofen (anti inflammatory as well as a pain reliever) Second the Germolene too. Do get medical advice sooner rather than later though, these things can turn really nasty and she may well need antibiotics. Especially don't ignore ANY signs of fever (chills, etc)

Cetirizine is classed as non-drowsy. Piriton (chlorphenamine maleate) is the drowsy type. Of course, some people can have different side effects.

It looks like she's got something stuck in one of the bites. If so, can you get it out? I bought this tool a few weeks ago to take on holiday and to my surprise it really does work: amzn.eu/d/fDYjm3r

I also find Afterbite better than Anthisan for stopping bites itching.

What worked best for me was a flannel run under cold water, wrung out and laid over the red area. Rewet and wrung out when got warm. The colder the better I found.

Really took the heat out of the area.

I put one on to go to bed.

This was after a week of using creams and antihistamines, finding the heat from it unbearable tried the wet flannel for a few days and really helped.

We had to go to A&E for a horsefly bite with my husband once, the swelling kept going up and up his arm. They said always be wary of ones that track towards the heart.
(although if you went to A&E now for a bite you could be there days!)

Horsefly bites will have a slit at the centre rather than a puncture wound, as the horsefly cuts the skin. I've had them before and usually ice, antihistamines and ibuprofen are best. Plus hydrocolloid plasters to suck out the infection if it is weeping

Agree that you need to draw rings around them and if they grow get her to the docs for antibiotics. That one on her arm looks infected.

My son reacts violently to these, and they track. Urgent GP for ABx and he was also given a script for fexofenadine, which I'm happy to see can now be bought over the counter. Don't hang about if it's spreading.
And my golly the bites hurt, as PP stated.

Draw a pen line around the edge and keep a close eye. If it starts to track up the limb, ring 111 or see a pharmacist for advice.

I can't be more direct than this, so I hope you take this seriously

this looks like cellulitis and needs medical attention IMMEDIATELY

A&E WOULD BE APPROPRIATE

As hot a spoon as sh3 can stand will ease the itching and disperses the histamine. It may not turn into cellulitis (I’ve had it several times) but be extremely vigilant. They prefer dark colours (horse owner) so consider light colours.

Antihistamine,double dose as pp suggested. Piriton is best as you can take doses throughout the day.

Hydrocortisone cream and antihistamine, Betnovate if you already have it is fantastic for bites.

Ice or wet towels to take the heat out.

Assess again after a couple of doses if antihistamine and if worse then urgent care/GP.

The black dot on the arm, could that be a tick?

I got bitten by one 2 weeks ago! On my thigh and my knee played up for ages. I still have a dark bruise around the bite mark

Oh gawd! Just read the thread mine spread across my thigh really ref itchy and grew for days! Then my knee started really hurting on walks and felt awful for at least 2 weeks

It's gone now thank god , but still have a dark area around the bite mark

Ok ive just got back from driving in huge circles looking for pharmacies that are open. Unfortunately all i could find was a co op that sold germolene which i bought.

we are drawing rings now and i think i am going to call the out of hours gp just because they cover so much of here and they are so hot to touch. Hopefully they can see her tonight then.

im really trying not to make a fuss to her - she is autistic and if she thinks its a problem she will start panicking!

@NotExactlyHappyToHelp good to know!