Crater-like wound on my leg turning black - what the hell is this (see pic)

[Bitworriedtbh]

Just as the title suggests! I got bitten last week, have no idea by what but it was itchy and the first day my leg was swollen and quite hard. Well now it’s turned into a small crater-like wound that feels really deep. It looks like a dark brown/black scab on it but I’ve tried lifting it a little and it’s like stuck in my leg, it looks hard but I’m sure it’s not actually a scab. When I tried to lift it (unsuccessfully) the skin around the wound peeled off. I have never had a bite end up like this! Any thoughts on what this is and whether it’s something that’ll heal on its own? Don’t want to bother the GP if it’s nothing!

Excuse the hairy legs and tattoo :D

If you are ever not sure of whether to bother the gp with stuff like this why not go see a pharmacist. I did that a while back and they immediately said what it was and told me to go to GP..reassured me I wasn't wasting anyone's time and also got me a quicker gp appt as I just told receptionist it was semi diagnosed and definitely needs attention.

I feel like there needs to be time and effort made to re educate us all who to see for what situation. Would be a massive thing but surely overall could save lives and reduce waiting times in hospitals and doctors surgeries if we all knew where to go for what conditions (and I know 111 exists but it just isn't fit for purpose in my opinion)

My 9 year old son had something extremely similar and he ended up being admitted to hospital for IV antibiotics for 4 days and then a further 5 day course of oral antibiotics after discharge.

It came from an insect bite and it turned into cellulitis which in turn can lead to necrosis and sepsis if the right treatment isn’t started.

I hope your son’s appointment goes well and then get yourself to hospital straight afterwards.

Have you travelled in the last month or so? Looks like the leishmaniasis wound I had. I caught it in South America but it is also possible to catch in Spain and Italy.

It's not a tick - it's a piece of sticky out scab from a deep hole.

But, it's deep, you don't feel well, get it checked out. Does your GP have a nurse practitioner, they will often fit you in with this kind of thing. Looks like a spider bite, and probably just needs some antibiotic cream or oral meds.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Lol me too! 😭

Doesn't look like a tick as that would be sticking out. Hopefully you can get it looked at after the autism assessment.

I would personally go to hospital immediately with that and your other symptoms.

Hope you have managed to see a doctor, what did 111 say when they called back?

In all honesty, if no spreading redness or heat around the bite then I would go to a pharmacy and get some decent dressings on. Stop picking at it. Give it a couple of days and see how you go.

Definitely get onto your IBD nurse or GP though about the blood and feeling generally unwell - sounds like a flare is on the way.

Also freaked a bit until realised the black was the tattoo. The title scared everyone I think.

I hope you've had/are on your way to get some medical attention now OP. Did you make it to the autism assessment?

It could be a Tick. If you knock the body off and just leave the mouth/head part in, there wont be anything sticking out and that's when infections start.
A pharmacist will be able to help if you really don't want to bother A&E. You don't want to end up with Cellulitis.

Its a horsefly bite they are hideous take weeks to heal I've got one on my ankle at the moment

That looks very similar to when my son had a stud wound that got infected and your symptoms sound the same. Get to the doctors or emergency care TODAY please. Good luck OP and keep us updated xx

Looks horrible. Get yourself off to A&E.

I was going to say this. I had an infected insect bite, 111 told me to go the pharmacy, pharmacist took one look and said see the GP.

Phoned GP surgery, they asked for photograph of the bite, and within two hours I'd spoken to the GP and DH had gone out to pick up the antibiotics, which seems miraculous these days.

Not to worry you too much, but have you heard of necrotising fasciitis? You need to get this seen to immediately. This could be potentially life threatening.

Oh thank god. I saw the black... And with the other symptoms it looked like a potentially deadly bacterial infection that can also lead to sepsis.

If you are ever not sure of whether to bother the gp with stuff like this why not go see a pharmacist. I did that a while back and they immediately said what it was and told me to go to GP..reassured me I wasn't wasting anyone's time and also got me a quicker gp appt as I just told receptionist it was semi diagnosed and definitely needs attention.

This is good advice.

I'm not sure why but we've all started badly reacting to mosquito bites last few years or so - we know it's mosquito as seen and heard it - and it hit us one by one going from more than an annoying bite to red swelling and hard red area - it seem to be an immune repones so antihistamine and Hydrocortisone cream or Anthisan - then paracetamol/ibufen - but first few times we sought medical advice GP then pharmacists and this was the advice.

We're also now putting up screens at windows and doors to avoid future situations.

Dilated pore of winer cooking up into a cyst? (Ie, super-large blackhead getting fecky)

You may need anti-biotics - so always worth getting it medical seen especially as its not normal for you.

Hope your son's assessment goes well today I know what an event that is and how long the wait is, and the worry. I wouldnt have missed it either!

Hope you're next stop is going to get your leg checked out

I've unfortunately just had to pull a tick out of me this morning, it looks nothing like that!

I would say that's (whatever it is/was) ulcerating and the bruising surrounding it is concerning. I would go straight to A&E or minor injuries with that and not bother with the GP and wait it out especially if you're feeling unwell too.

Eugh....is this the equivalent of "with all due respect" - now I'm going to insult you or be rude.

Not to worry you - but you could be on the brink of death.
You realise the black is a tattoo (i.e. you've at least read the OP's posts), not dead flesh?

You say this with such confidence. How do you you know?
I've had many horsefly bites (as have most people I'm sure) and mine have never looked like that.

I expected a horse fly bite but now agree it may be a tick and with you feeling like you have flu please go to the gp as that is the first sign of Lyme disease which can be really serious!