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Original poster

Woke up up with bite mark - bat?

131 replies

NorthWorried91 · 20/12/2023 14:45

Hello

Sorry in advance if this is the wrong thread for such a post. A few nights ago I woke up in the middle of the night and thought I saw something small (but larger than an insect) briefly fly slowly in our bedroom. I should say I had just come back from a work xmas party so was a little more than tipsy so dismissed it as nothing and the bedroom windows were shut. A few days later I've noticed what to me looks very much like a small bite mark on my finger (two pin prick dots) - someone jokingly mentioned it could of been Bat - but this has got me very concerned (because of rabies). Has anyone got any advice what to do if I should book an urgent GP appointment to get it checked (or even go to A&E?) to see if I need vaccines as bats can carry rabies. Currently very anxious, as I was drunk so may not of noticed getting bitten, so any advice would be really appreciated? I know rabies is exceptionally rare in bats and I cant say what I saw was a bat but the thought of it incredibly scary.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 20/12/2023 15:45

Agapornis · 20/12/2023 15:15

Bats don't fly slowly, and they don't attack humans while flying. You'd probably be the first every case of a bat bite in the UK by someone who wasn't actively handling bats. They're not vampires on the prowl!

Also, "Bat bites are not always obvious and do not tend to leave a mark, therefore they are often felt not seen."
https://www.bats.org.uk/advice/i-think-ive-been-bitten-by-a-bat

Do upload a photo. 2 dots sounds like a spider bite. Nothing to worry about if you're in the UK.

I do know someone who got bitten by a bat in the bedroom, she had to go through the whole rabies injection cycle. Not fun for her at all. So, while incredibly rare, it does occasionally happen.

But there is a bat in the room! They knew it was a bat bite.

Colinswheels · 20/12/2023 15:46

We have had a bat in our house twice (one of them I was horrified to find in my baby's room when I went in in the middle of the night to feed her). I can concur that they do not fly slowly and also find it hard to get back out of a window once they have found their way in it.

DuploTrain · 20/12/2023 15:46

I get little scrape marks like that when my skin is dry in the winter.

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General health
Gettingbysomehow · 20/12/2023 15:48

I got caught in a bat swarm once at night and none of them took a nibble I doubt it was a bat.

BertieBotts · 20/12/2023 15:54

It doesn't look much like a bite, it looks more like you've scratched it on something and only broke the skin in those two spots.

beastlyslumber · 20/12/2023 16:02

Avoid sunlight and garlic. Soon you will feel the thirst for blood.

You may resist.

But not forever.

2dogsandabudgie · 20/12/2023 16:12

Do you have pets? Could be flea bites.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 20/12/2023 16:16

Looks like a spider bite. I get them a lot.

maddiemookins16mum · 20/12/2023 16:16

beastlyslumber · 20/12/2023 16:02

Avoid sunlight and garlic. Soon you will feel the thirst for blood.

You may resist.

But not forever.

Surely you mean…

Bat not forever

beastlyslumber · 20/12/2023 16:18

maddiemookins16mum · 20/12/2023 16:16

Surely you mean…

Bat not forever

Show quote history

Mwah-hahaha!

Alchemistress · 20/12/2023 16:20

DuploTrain · 20/12/2023 15:11

Bats are very speedy. Evidence

Periodically I watch this video to cheer myself up.
"Catch it Derry! Ooooouurrgghh!"

user701 · 20/12/2023 16:22

We have lots of bats and they occasionally do come into the house particularly in the summer when the bifold doors are left open late at night. They flit extremely quickly - they do not fly slowly at all. Plus they are little and those are way too far apart to be Uk bat teeth marks.

I think you’ve just scratched your finger slightly on something

Original poster
NorthWorried91 · 20/12/2023 16:27

Thanks for the responses all, some gave me a good chuckle. I agree I imagine if it was a bat it would be fluttering around panicking not silently moving and stopping.

However I did end up calling 111 as some here were not sure (and neither am I) and they did tell me to go to A&E to get it checked and booked me a slot for tonight (which I did not know they could do, never used it before)

I guess better to be safe than sorry even if it is incredibly unlikely, which I guess most you think!

OP posts:
Original poster
NorthWorried91 · 20/12/2023 16:30

@user701 the photo is a little zoomed in - the space between the marks is just bigger than half a cm! Still might be too big not sure!

OP posts:
MorningSunshineSparkles · 20/12/2023 16:36

You’re getting two little dots that are causing no bother and look like spots more than anything else checked out in A&E? Really?

Original poster
NorthWorried91 · 20/12/2023 16:38

MorningSunshineSparkles · 20/12/2023 16:36

You’re getting two little dots that are causing no bother and look like spots more than anything else checked out in A&E? Really?

They are not spots, but it was what 111 recommended.

OP posts:
MorningSunshineSparkles · 20/12/2023 16:41

I’d really love to see the looks on the nurse/doctors faces when you show up

margotrose · 20/12/2023 16:47

I can't believe you're going to A&E for that. What a waste of resources.

Original poster
NorthWorried91 · 20/12/2023 16:50

margotrose · 20/12/2023 16:47

I can't believe you're going to A&E for that. What a waste of resources.

I understand this but this is what 111 recommend when I described the situation to check if I they think it’s worth giving me the rabies vaccine. The two little dots in and of themselves are of no concern and do not need attention clearly.

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 20/12/2023 16:52

A+E for this…I despair

And on another post someone phoned the police because someone wrote on the dust on her car. People really need to start dealing with minor, minor incidents without making dramas of them.

wite · 20/12/2023 16:54

That's not a bite.

BoulderOpal · 20/12/2023 16:58

Nicknacky · 20/12/2023 16:52

A+E for this…I despair

And on another post someone phoned the police because someone wrote on the dust on her car. People really need to start dealing with minor, minor incidents without making dramas of them.

Nope, the over the top shaming of people who are taking medical advice and seeking expert opinion needs to stop.

I know of one lady on here that was shamed this way but was also given sensible advice to call ambulance. Turned out if she had gone to sleep she would have died.

My child had a slight symptom that worried me and was told I was being ridiculous. However another poster told me what it could be and she was right. Was life threatening, thank god for that poster.

We need to stop shaming each other into feeling that we should only seek attention (from our health service) if we have been decapitated. Bizarre, stiff upper lip, patronising attitude helps no one at all.

Hope all is well with you OP

Original poster
NorthWorried91 · 20/12/2023 17:02

BoulderOpal · 20/12/2023 16:58

Nope, the over the top shaming of people who are taking medical advice and seeking expert opinion needs to stop.

I know of one lady on here that was shamed this way but was also given sensible advice to call ambulance. Turned out if she had gone to sleep she would have died.

My child had a slight symptom that worried me and was told I was being ridiculous. However another poster told me what it could be and she was right. Was life threatening, thank god for that poster.

We need to stop shaming each other into feeling that we should only seek attention (from our health service) if we have been decapitated. Bizarre, stiff upper lip, patronising attitude helps no one at all.

Hope all is well with you OP

Show quote history

Thank you appreciate this. I called 111 (which some suggested here) and am following their advice. I’m sure the doctors will tell me it’s all fine like most here have suggested and I don’t need a rabies vaccine. But like I said I’m just going with what 111 told me. I’m no medical expert (or bat expert) so just following advice.

OP posts:
SameToo · 20/12/2023 17:04

You’re unlikely to see a bat bite mark. I can’t think of a reason a bat would land on you if it was trapped in your room. They either hang upside down in the ‘open’ or squish themselves into a crevice. As someone said earlier they also are insectivorous. The only bat bites I have known of are those of us handling bats as part of our work. I have never heard of an unprovoked bat bite.

margotrose · 20/12/2023 17:04

NorthWorried91 · 20/12/2023 16:50

I understand this but this is what 111 recommend when I described the situation to check if I they think it’s worth giving me the rabies vaccine. The two little dots in and of themselves are of no concern and do not need attention clearly.

Edited
Show quote history

111 always send to A&E.

If you'd been bitten by a bat and your windows were closed, it would still have been in your room when you woke up Confused

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