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Original poster

What's biting my child?

25 replies

whatwhatinthebutt · 15/08/2023 10:57

I though we had fleas (couldn't see any, very clean house, frequently vacuumed, use RIP flea spray, cats have collars)

but I've not been bitten. My daughter, 7, has been bitten a few times by something, and a large red circle and a raised hard bump has appeared around each bite. It looks awful.

So I did another huge flea treatment as in vacuuming, treating cats, new collars, changed spray and sprayed again, insulated, chucked cats into kitchen, then left home for a night.

She doesn't seem to have been bitten again. But these welts and circles are huge. Do I need to go to the walkin? She seems fine, only problem is she will pick at them, even under a plaster, as she's that way inclined, as am I.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 15/08/2023 11:03

Where are the bites on your child?
What flea treatment are you using on the cats (is it a vet strength one)?

Original poster
whatwhatinthebutt · 15/08/2023 11:39

dementedpixie · 15/08/2023 11:03

Where are the bites on your child?
What flea treatment are you using on the cats (is it a vet strength one)?

Shoulder and arms

Yes it is vet strength

Usually when they would get fleas they have flea acne, and I can tell, though that's not been the case for a long time since we kept up with treatment. Also they will scratch, and they haven't been.

Nothing on the lower legs like normal flea bites. Also, when we did have a flea outbreak a few years back, the bites were up her legs and everyone thought they were chicken pox.

So this is different and a bit weird. We spend a lot of time outdoors, and I have the doors open all summer too.

Do you think it could be mosquitoes? People say they've seen them about.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 15/08/2023 11:41

Please dont use flea collars on your cats. They're only fit to cut up and put in a hoover bag.

Indorex for your house.

Original poster
whatwhatinthebutt · 15/08/2023 12:00

gamerchick · 15/08/2023 11:41

Please dont use flea collars on your cats. They're only fit to cut up and put in a hoover bag.

Indorex for your house.

Okay, thank you. I had some expensive ones from Amazon.

I have used that, and RIP flea, thanks.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 15/08/2023 12:08

Doesn't sound like flea bites due to where they are. Could be from other flying biting insects rather than fleas that tend to bite legs and ankles

Original poster
whatwhatinthebutt · 15/08/2023 12:09

dementedpixie · 15/08/2023 12:08

Doesn't sound like flea bites due to where they are. Could be from other flying biting insects rather than fleas that tend to bite legs and ankles

Yes, it's nothing like flea bites I've seen.

She has about four of the things. So I'm going to assume the best and think she was playing outside and got them. Instead of the worst as in I have fleas, makes me feel like a bad parent.

OP posts:
Sidking · 15/08/2023 12:11

Sounds like mozzie or horsefly bites, though horseflys you tend to feel biting so more likely the bastard mosquito looking things

I react quite badly to bites and get the hard raised red lump around them and they itch for days, horrible bloody things

Original poster
whatwhatinthebutt · 15/08/2023 12:13

here is a picture. No new ones thankfully.

What's biting my child?
OP posts:
Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 15/08/2023 12:13

With flea bites you often get a tell tale blister.
What I would say is change your flea treatment regularly, as fleas can develop immunity to a regularly used brand.

Original poster
whatwhatinthebutt · 15/08/2023 12:16

Yes I've heard that so do that already. I though we were on top of it, and we may be, as last year we had an awful time with fleas, threw out an ottomon and a rug because of it.

OP posts:
RosJ · 15/08/2023 12:22

Not an expert, but could it be a tick bite? There are pictures on google. Look at the NHS website for info on tick bites. You can get them from being outside in vegetation. I'm not sure how likely it is to have more than one.

FOJN · 15/08/2023 12:29

I react like that to mosquito bites. It's called Skeeter syndrome and it's an allergy to proteins in mosquito saliva.

It could be something else so it's worth getting it checked.

Original poster
whatwhatinthebutt · 15/08/2023 12:35

FOJN · 15/08/2023 12:29

I react like that to mosquito bites. It's called Skeeter syndrome and it's an allergy to proteins in mosquito saliva.

It could be something else so it's worth getting it checked.

Thank you. I react quite a bit worse than this to bedbugs. I come up like the elephant man!

I had a bite on my face! It did not get this bad though, but I can safely say it's not bed bugs.

So could it be from the garden then? We have a few things growing and a very large green space with very long grasses.

OP posts:
Loopyloooooo · 15/08/2023 12:40

I think that looks like a spider bite and wouldn't be happy with that redness. Worth getting it looked at, may need antibiotics.

CoffeeWithCheese · 15/08/2023 13:05

OP I react exactly like that to midge bites. Antihistamines usually get the red area back down to normality but it flipping sucks.

I also am doubly blessed by the fact I'm one of those people who seem to resemble an all you can eat buffet of choice for biting annoying creatures.

amusedbush · 15/08/2023 13:18

I had something similar all over my lower legs after walking through grassy areas a few summers ago. I decided my outdoorsy colleague who grew up in rural Georgia (the US state, not the country!) would be best placed to identify it; he took one look at my legs and said "yep, those are chigger bites".

The red circles got bigger and the welts got itchier over a few days. Colleague told me to wash the bites with soap and water a few times a day and they got a lot better, though the marks were visible for a good few weeks.

cocksstrideintheevening · 15/08/2023 13:24

I react like that to missive bites. Draw a ring around and see if it spreads. I'd get a pharmacist to take a look. Is it hot?

Portish · 15/08/2023 13:27

Could it be a staphylococcus infection? I had it once and it presented in large red circles, very firm, hot and a tiny dot in the centre. They were painful to touch. I was given antibiotics for months. I'd definitely get them checked out.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 15/08/2023 15:14

Could be midgies or flies when outside and she's having a reaction to them. I get the same - sit in the park and get a bite or two and then bang they're massive red lumps followed by welts sometimes.

GaslitlikeaVictorianparlour · 15/08/2023 15:26

I think you should get that looked at by someone medical. Given all the other things it could be, its not likely to be Lyme Disease but LD does present with a bulls eye rash, which your photo could be. Its treatable with antibiotics as well so there's a good incentive to go.
If it turns out to just be some massive but harmless beastie chomping on her they'll be able to give her something to make her more comfortable and you'll not need to worry about it any longer.

3GsNation · 01/07/2025 14:18

That is a bullseye rash. From a tick bite. I know this because I've had more than one. And I also have lyme disease. Ticks carry lyme disease and many others disease. I also had rocky mountain spotted fever when I was diagnosed but RMSF has since been treated and is gone. I however cannot seem to get remission with lyme and ive given up. The treatment was worse than the disease and it's symptoms, but im an adult. Children are a lot more resistant. Pls take your child to a LLMD. if you can't find one then hopefully there is a knowledgeable doctor around. I saw a doctor that treats diseases like hiv and aids she was treating my lyme very smart. But we just couldn't get it under control I decided to stop because I felt like the treatment was actually going to kill me. Good luck

creekyjohn · 01/07/2025 14:23

It was almost 2 years ago @3GsNation

Hayley1256 · 01/07/2025 14:28

This looks like a tick bite, have you checked to see if its still on her? Check her bedding etc too - take her to the docs

3GsNation · 01/07/2025 14:45

It doesn't matter how long ago it was, I saw the date. I was bitten the 1st time when I was 5yr and 2nd 8yrs old. I wasn't diagnosed till I was 29. I'm 37yrs old now. My mom took pictures and saved them. And I took them with me to the doctor who ran tests and confirmed the diagnosis. It's a serious disease.
If I wasn't concerned I wouldn't have said anything.
God bless.

Hayley1256 · 01/07/2025 15:29

Just noticed the date of this thread!

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