Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if I should go to A&E or call 111? Pics included

84 replies

hurtylegs · 23/08/2023 22:47

So just got back from abroad. Got numerous mosquito bites but reacted to them much worse than usual (probably due to my immune system being worn out) - see pics below of the three worst bites (all on my legs).

Have been putting bite cream on them since I got back which seems to have helped with the worst of the itching but they have been hot and hard to the touch and at least one had a fluid-filled blister (now popped - sorry if TMI) - not currently the case though.

Am worried however about the small red lines coming out of two of them, within the last few hours, in case cellulitis is developing. Any thoughts on whether I ought to call 111 or even go to A&E? (Hope not, as it's late and I'm shattered.)

Separate to that, as mentioned above, my system is shot to pieces as I have ulcerative colitis and am having a severe flare up. So really would rather avoid antibiotics if at all possible, as they bring on diarrhoea in me at the best of times. That said, am also wondering if I should call 111 or go to A&E about the colitis, as I am having liquid bloody diarrhoea about every half hour. Supposed to be having a colonoscopy this weekend but not sure that will be possible.

Feel pretty dreadful. Any advice (or even sympathy would be nice)? 🙂😢

To ask if I should go to A&E or call 111? Pics included
To ask if I should go to A&E or call 111? Pics included
To ask if I should go to A&E or call 111? Pics included
OP posts:
TeaKitten · 23/08/2023 22:49

You need to contact 111, mumsnet is never going to be accurate advice for this sort of stuff, but there’s more than enough there to contact 111

fourelementary · 23/08/2023 22:50

Honestly? I’d not. The area is relatively small,
maybe use a washable pen to draw round tonight and check at like 4/5am so if it came to it you could get medical help then on top of a decent sleep… but if you’re not feeling feverish or unwell in yourself (other than your flare up) then I’d get to bed. Fluids and paracetamol if they’re sore.

Walesagogo · 23/08/2023 22:52

TeaKitten · 23/08/2023 22:49

You need to contact 111, mumsnet is never going to be accurate advice for this sort of stuff, but there’s more than enough there to contact 111

This.

justasking111 · 23/08/2023 22:52

Are you taking antihistamine?

olderbutwiser · 23/08/2023 22:53

Sympathy from me - to be honest the colitis sounds worse than those bites look. Classic advice is to draw a line round the extent of the redness (and put the time on the line) and see how it develops. 111/A&E does have to be your choice.

Mischance · 23/08/2023 22:54

Ring 111. Good luck.

sheworemellowyellow · 23/08/2023 22:54

I don’t think the bites warrant more than a visit to your pharmacist for advice. I can’t comment on the UC situation. Sorry you’re dealing with all this.

TeaKitten · 23/08/2023 22:56

fourelementary · 23/08/2023 22:50

Honestly? I’d not. The area is relatively small,
maybe use a washable pen to draw round tonight and check at like 4/5am so if it came to it you could get medical help then on top of a decent sleep… but if you’re not feeling feverish or unwell in yourself (other than your flare up) then I’d get to bed. Fluids and paracetamol if they’re sore.

Did you read the whole post? She’s not feeling well in herself

That said, am also wondering if I should call 111 or go to A&E about the colitis, as I am having liquid bloody diarrhoea about every half hour

Hanones · 23/08/2023 22:57

TeaKitten · 23/08/2023 22:49

You need to contact 111, mumsnet is never going to be accurate advice for this sort of stuff, but there’s more than enough there to contact 111

111 is rubbish though.

You sound very unwell and that you need medical attention.

Ngmi · 23/08/2023 22:57

Call 111, mil was just in a&e after ignoring a spreading bite for two days and now needs a ton of antibiotics. Hope you feel better soon that all sounds utterly awful for you 💐

Lilpop90 · 23/08/2023 23:04

Where did you go on holiday?

Bites don’t look bad at all. Look like standard bites to me! Draw a circular line around them if worried and assess in the morning. Re ulcerative colitis, depending on amount of blood, I’d take some fluids and pain relief tonight and ring your GP first thing and explain.
In A&E I always found the 5/6/7am period to be the quietest. May as well be more comfortable at home instead of uncomfortable waiting roughly the same amount of time, if you’re considering attending A&E that is.

Boomboom22 · 23/08/2023 23:06

Do 111 but online, as long as you are an adult. Then sleep with your phone near for when they call you.

Lilpop90 · 23/08/2023 23:07

Boomboom22 · 23/08/2023 23:06

Do 111 but online, as long as you are an adult. Then sleep with your phone near for when they call you.

Good idea!

Tanfastic · 23/08/2023 23:11

I can only comment on the bites issue. I once had over 100 bites similar to those you've pictured from attending an event in a forrest on a really hot day. Some were huge and spreading. I was in turmoil with the itching. I took ibuprofen and antihistamine and used Eurex cream. Pharmacist wasn't concerned. One thing that did help with the itch was heating a teaspoon in near boiling water and placing the back of it on each bite. It hurts for a few seconds but it takes the itch away albeit for a short period of time. This was a godsend for me! Spent a good few days with a hot teaspoon on the go 😩.

I personally would not be attending A&E for the bites issue.

If you've got a spreading rash that could be cellulitis then that's a different story.

Hanones · 23/08/2023 23:14

This one time at bite camp ...

Zonder · 23/08/2023 23:16

What country were you in?

Namechangerererererer · 23/08/2023 23:21

Any fever? Are they warmer than the surrounding skin?

If you feel ill and the redness is spreading then it could be infected rather than inflamed.

fourelementary · 23/08/2023 23:22

TeaKitten · 23/08/2023 22:56

Did you read the whole post? She’s not feeling well in herself

That said, am also wondering if I should call 111 or go to A&E about the colitis, as I am having liquid bloody diarrhoea about every half hour

Show quote history

She has UC. Blood in her stool is very common.

So yes. I did read the whole post. Thanks for asking

She is feeling shattered as she’s been on a holiday abroad. She has UC and is awaiting further investigation so nothing that warrants and A and E visit assuming the blood isn’t new and the bites don’t look that bad to me. I’d prioritise sleep and if it gets worse- she can call 111.

nocoolnamesleft · 23/08/2023 23:24

For the bites, I suspect you need oral antihistamines (creams are useless). For bloody diarrhoea every 1/2 hour however, calling 111 would seem eminently reasonable.

Agii · 23/08/2023 23:28

It looks like a normal bite. Just got back from Europe and my legs are covered! They are so itchy. Everyone reacts differently x

MolkosTeenageAngst · 23/08/2023 23:31

The bites don’t look concerning to me, they don’t look worryingly red, although obviously only you can tell whether the photographs actually do a good job of portraying what the bites actually look like. Some redness, heat and itching is normal for bites - I have had cellulitus a couple of times and the area has felt feverishly hot, very bright red which was spreading and very painful in a sort of throbbing way. The suggestion to monitor the redness is a good one, if it is growing larger than it could be a sign of cellulitus but don’t panic just because the bites have some redness as that isn’t unusual.

Only you know what is normal for you during a colitis flare up so I don’t think anyone else can suggest whether it is bad enough that you need to go into hospital, if bloody watery stools aren’t usual for you during a flare up then I think it would be entirely reasonable to call 111 for advice.

HallieHufflepuff · 23/08/2023 23:31

I also recommend 111 just to be safe! 😊

SusanSHelit · 23/08/2023 23:32

Bloody stool is common in uc but so is the need for transfusion due to blood loss! (I work on a ward that frequently has this type of patient. They seem well but tired, then bloods come back their hb is in their boots, they need multiple units and scope). I

also don't like the look of that line coming out of the bite though the bite itself doesn't look terrible.

I'm going to go against the grain and say I think a&e is warranted here.

Original poster
hurtylegs · 23/08/2023 23:33

Zonder · 23/08/2023 23:16

What country were you in?

Thanks. Was in Italy. So just standard mosquito bites.

Dh just took my temperature and I have the faintest temperature.

Would much prefer to call 111/go to A&E in the morning so I have some small amount of rest tonight (diarrhoea permitting).

Worried apart from anything else that the treatment for the bites (antibiotics) is likely to make my colitis worse, while the treatment for the colitis (usually IV steroids) are likely to make the infection worse (as steroids suppress the immune system). No idea how they juggle that, but risk is that two lots of medication could make both conditions worse. 😢

OP posts:
Lifecanbebeautiful12 · 23/08/2023 23:36

I don’t know anything about cellulitis or the red lines but whenever I get bitten by a mosquito the bites always get huge, red, swollen, hot to touch and full of fluid. I came back from Portugal recently with no less than 24 of such bites. I just have harmless allergic reactions to mosquito bites and antihistamines help a bit with the itching. But if you’re worried about infection/have a temperature that’s a different story and I’d call 111 in that case