To not go to A&E?

[cailinvelo]

Oh wise ones. I am currently 16 weeks pregnant (second baby) and was bitten by an insect that looked like a huge fly of sorts yesterday- on my arm. Bite was raised and red yesterday evening. As the evening has gone on tonight the redness is spreading and it's still very warm to touch. The area has been a bit tender since yesterday. But otherwise I'm 100% ok. Not a bother on me. DH and friends mum think I should go to A&E, or at the very least emergency GP tomorrow. I think both are a waste of mine and others time. I feel grand like. AIBU?!
I have drawn around it to trace the spreading and have promised to check my temperature but I can tell I don't have a temp. 😬

Have you taken an antihistamine? (Can you when pregnant?!)

At least see a pharmacist tomorrow, don't just leave it, Being pregnant lowers your immune system leaving you more susceptible to a bacterial infection from the insect's mouth parts.

Infections from horse flies are common enough without being pregnant.

I would call 111. They'll tell you what to do.

Take an antihistamine- they’re fine in pregnancy, I was prescribed them.
Unless you’ve got a tracking infection I wouldn’t go to A&E.

At the very least yes you should see your GP tomorrow! Bites like these can easily turn into cellulitis which needs Antibiotics. A&E May be unnecessary but you could call 111 to see if they think it needs seeing tonight, they may be able to get you in with OOH? I’ve been seen there a couple of times when things couldn’t wait til my GP opened but didn’t need A&E. Don’t just ignore it. You can ice it and use antihistamine topical cream but you can’t even take an oral antihistamine tablet when you’re pregnant so you’re limited as to how to treat it at home.

It says on the nhs website to seek medical advice if a large area (around 10cm or more patch of skin) around the bite becomes red and swollen
you have symptoms of a wound infection, such as pus or increasing pain, swelling or redness - so sounds to me like you should get it checked out asap!

Every time I read one of these threads I rub the side of my hand having been left with a dent in the bone after ignoring an infected insect bite. I'm such a knob, it hurt for a year.

I was stung by a wasp last week. Massive welt and tenderness for 76 hours. Crazy itchy too.

I knew it wasn’t infected though as I felt well and it was reducing gradually.
I think I’m allergic. I have needed antibiotics for wasp stings in the past

In your case though I’d def go to a doc or pharmacist and seek a second opinion as your pregnant. Horse flies are evil.

It sounds like a horsefly bite, I had one about a month ago and had to go to A&E twice first time they gave me antibiotics, second time they doubled the dose of the antibiotics and I had to wear my arm in a sling for 24hours as the swelling was going into my hand as it was getting bigger rather than improving. You need to check you don’t have any tracking lines going into your armpit. I wasn’t pregnant but I would advise you getting checked out as mind didn’t improve and got worse in two days, if it is a horsefly bite they can be serious, don’t want to scare you but share my story which will hopefully help

If you suspect or at risk of sepsis call 111and tell them. Sepsis is serious

And I've posted on wrong thread... sorry

Being pregnant lowers your immune system

This ^ a growing baby act like a parasite so the body has to lower the immune system. I really wouldn't fuck about with anything like that when pregnant. At least pop into a chemist tomorrow and ask them to have a look.

If the redness grows then you'll probably need antibiotics as it'll be infected. Not an A&E situation, but GP emergency appt tomorrow.

I don’t think you need to go to A and E. I would definitely ring up your GP surgery tomorrow though.

Oh. Well that's me told. Thank you all.
I will see if I can see the GP tomorrow or go to our local minor injuries unit. It's closed now and I don't much fancy A&E in the city.
I think I can take piritize as the GP told me to take it at 8 weeks for a rash. I hope I can .... I took it last night and was going to tonight 🙈 how is it we loose all sense of normal cognition when pregnant?!

Most recent research indicated that actually the immune system isn't lowered when pregnant but infact the thymus alters it role so that the baby isn't rejected but the immune system is just as before pregnancy no more of less likely to catch an illness. Previous studies had been based upon mice and were unreliable, the most recent study in is on women so we should have more facts soon but it's certainly looking like the immune system isn't lower when you are pregnant and that is a myth.

If it was a horse fly their bites hurt like HELL and for a while.

My old dog used to have to wear a hat because of these fuckers. He was too slow to get rid of them and I am pretty sure they told others

Clicked too early...
Go to walk in centre if you have one or the gp if it's still swollen tomorrow since you are pregnant. Better to be safe than sorry

Most recent research indicated

Do you have a link? I find that sort of stuff fascinating.

Call 111. Can never be too careful when you're pregnant. It is not a waste of anyone's time :)

Popping into walk in centre or gp tomorrow sounds reasonable for what you've described. I think 111 is of limited point, ultimately they're being told a pregnant woman has been bitten by an unknown insect and is having a reaction but feels well. They can't see it and they can't take observations. It's an especially defensive service and would expect you'll be told you need to head to a&e tonight, despite knowing that means you'll spend the night being sat next to people with nasty chest infections, drunk violent behaviour or any other number of conditions that you don't need exposing to when as you say yourself, you feel well.

I’m tne total opposite I wouldn’t go near tA and E for that as you say you are feeling fine . I’d probably go to a chemist tomorrow ( only I wouldn’t as I’m a pharmacist!) if you feel the need .
Obviously if you get a temperature or start feeling unwell I’d go to the dr or if it doesn’t start improving over a couple of days or gets worse .

It’a super hard for someone to advise you online and 111 will generally send you to a dr .

Go with your gut feeling no matter what anyone says to you either way . I hope you feel better soon .

Hi all, the redness started spreading again today. My GP fitted me in today and said I should take antibiotics. She says I was right not to ring 111 as I felt well and they'd have sent me straight to hospital.
Hopefully all grand now. It's itchy and red today but I'm fine and dandy. Thank you all. X

👍