Sorry, having a panic - possible cellulitis?

[BlueEyesUltimateDragon]

Hi, DS12 was bitten yesterday in the woods and the bites are pretty nasty. One is spreading so I drew a circle round it at 3:30pm and just checked now and it is about 1cm bigger all around. It is slightly warmer to touch than the rest of him and he says it is painful and incredibly itchy. The skin is tight and feels a bit harder to press. Am I looking at possible cellulitis? I'm a bit clueless here, is this an a&e job or can it wait for GP tomorrow? He doesn't have a fever, nausea etc etc, just the localised discomfort and the spreading redness.

Sorry for posting in aibu but need an answer, I have DD4 in bed and DH is working a nightshift and not answering.

Original circle and the redness spreading. He has just had a second dose of Piriton today.

ED nurse here
Localised inflammation likely, take an antihistamine and some steroid (hydrocortisone cream) and monitor.
If he does start to feel poorly call 111 or see GP

I had something very similar recently. I got antibiotics from a pharmacy but one of the criteria was at least 48 hours after the bite occurred.
I started to feel unwell, I was going hot and cold. Felt loads better once I started the antibiotics.
I’d agree it can wait til morning unless he seems unwell with it, then call 111. They can sometimes get you booked in with urgent care rather than a long A&E wait.

When I had cellulitis I had a massive blister (as in several inches across) on my leg, a fever and couldn't eat anything for four days in hospital due to the nausea.

Based purely on my experience this doesn't look like cellulitis to me (although of course I'm no expert and I'm sure it comes in various forms!). I'd keep an eye on him and call 111 if it gets worse, but otherwise GP in the morning.

I had cellulitis but it presented atypically in lots of areas than just one area which I believe is the usual presentation. I felt very unwell with temperature, and nausea and was admitted and intravenous abx started.

I would think that if cellulitis is developing he would begin to feel very unwell. Can you give 111 a ring and see what they say and see the GP tomorrow if possible? Horsefly bites can become infected, do you know what bit him?

Thank you @amyshep and @StarsBeneathMyFeet for replying. He seems well in himself and he is good at letting me know if he feels poorly. I'll let him go to bed and check him before work in the morning, get some fresh pictures and then decide if he needs a gp appt then. He has had horrendous bites this year from going in the woods but this one has just blown up (literally)

It’s hard to tell from the pic and you don’t always feel unwell with cellulitis, so if concerned would call and discuss with 111.

Thanks @BeEasyonYourself and @Echolight I'll keep an eye on him. No idea what bit him, he goes in the woods on his bike with friends and just comes back covered in bites! I bought repellent the last time he was covered (but none spread like these) but I think they go to the woods on a whim so no chance to put any on 🙄 I did wonder about a horsefly bite, horrid things

Just remembered I had photos of how mine looked - it was infected by the second photo.

Wait till the morning and if it’s still swollen and sore get a prescription for Antibiotics.

My DS and I react like that to bites. Not infected just the allergic response. They can swell, get hit and be quite painful, but we're never ill with it.
Cellulitis is really painful, and you do feel generally unwell.
Antihistamines and steroid cream should help.

@Murphs1 thank you, I've told him to tell me straight away if he starts to feel unwell
@StarsBeneathMyFeet that looks nasty! Glad you got it all sorted. His definitely isn't that bad but it is redder than the photo shows, it was hard to get a picture to do it justice
@Happyearlyretirement thank you, I think that's what I'm going to do. Hopefully I can switch off and get some sleep tonight 😅

@Seeline thank you, that is good to know. He does often get bitten but has never had one swell up like this which is what has had me a bit baffled and concerned. Hopefully it doesn't spread anymore but will call the GP tomorrow just to be certain as it is out of the ordinary.

He's probably just allergic to Mozzie saliva. I get this. It's annoying, but not serious. Large swelling, redness, sometimes a blister, sometimes followed by a bruise. Anti Histamine and Savlon are my go tos, can't use HC cream for some reason. Never needed anti-biotics though, so all good. Just looks awful!