To see a GP for this?

[togoornottogoto]

I’m currently on holiday.

I have been absolutely ravaged by mosquitoes. I don’t know when or where but the little buggers have got me.

One bite went very infected, it’s still red and angry but calming down with an antibiotic lotion. It turned into a huge blister, weeping and redness spreading. I didn’t break the skin, it started weeping without any warning.

I now have at least three bites that have got tiny blisters on them. I’m desperate to treat them with the same antibiotics but this seems a really extreme reaction from my body!

I had one bite do the same last year, in the same area. So I don’t know if it’s an allergy or not. I’m keeping an eye on them for now, if they worsen I’ll obviously go to the pharmacy again but I’m hoping they don’t.

AIBU to see a GP when I’m home though? It’s concerning me that I’m either having some sort of strange allergic reaction, or I am apparently getting infections very easily!

Actually, I'm policing the purpose of the NHS. I think its helpful in relation to minor issues like this, if people do think about whether they'd be prepared to spend their own money on a solution.

And how interesting you raise whether the op can afford a private consultation, when they are holidaying abroad. I imagine if they can afford overseas holidays, they can afford £120/£150 on a private consultation

It's literally £30 ISH quid

I would only go gp about it if I was sick and ill from the bites. Avon do a skin so soft as a repellent. Use deet next time. Get cream for the itching from a chemist?

Unfortunately you just react to these mosquitos. Some people do and some people don't. I doubt it is infection as there is no logical reason you'd get several different infection mosquito bites in a few days - the infection doesn't spread between bites, they would all need to get infected on their own - which is just unlikely.
I would suggest steroid cream around outside and trying a different antihistamine.
I think the antibiotic cream appearing to work is coincidence.
Drawing circles around them is a good idea to make sure not getting bigger.

With love, another medically trained person who thinks the pharmacist you saw was a bit extra.

(No issue with you seeing a NHS GP about this though 😅 that was a random comment)

Your title is asking a question of people from the internet but really you only wanted everyone to tell you to go to the GP. You’re reacting to anyone who doesn’t say to go. Do what you want to do, no one can properly diagnose you from this post.

It keeps happening because you are allergic to insect bites and you are in Italy where the bitey insects are vicious.

That picture looks like a normal mosquito bite. In our house they all end up like this except for my husband who has olive skin.

That doesn’t look infected, but is a strong reaction to a bite. However if you go to the GP about bite reactions there’s not a huge amount they can do retrospectively once they’re healed and improved - they’re not going to be able to do any tests or investigations regarding your strong bite reactions unfortunately.

I expect they’d suggest you travel with antihistamines, steroid cream and use insect repellent liberally and frequently.

Ha! Are you mad? Of course I’m not going to post my personal details on the internet. If you can be bothered to AS me you will see I’ve spoken about my various qualifications- interest in clinical governance and health regulation, and that I’ve changed careers but remained registered so complete annual CPD.

But I can tell you, for your own benefit really- to save you time and prevent wasting NHS resources that this is a common and minor reaction to a bite. If you choose not to accept that fact and seek further attention from a GP then of course, that’s your prerogative.

Bollocks.

Funny that. I’ll stick with the qualified pharmacist I saw!

A bit of sudocrem or bite cream is surely all that’s needed- and better insect repellent next time. You don’t even need a pharmacist for that.

It’s not normal for bites to get infected, red spreading all up and down your leg!

I often get cellulitis with insect bites, the last time I was quite poorly with it, high temperature and fatigue. A bit like the flu. Once you get it once you are prone to get it again.

if you are still abroad go to a pharmacy, or use your insurance to see a doctor, when it happened to me abroad I was given extra strong antihistamines, antibiotics, steroids, a cream and anti sickness meds because of the other strong medication by a doctor in a clinic not far from my accommodation. It cost me €50, and a much better service than the NHS!

When I last got bit in the uk, I went to a prescribing pharmacy, the pharmacist took me into a room, looked at my bite agreed it was cellulitis and prescribed antibiotics.

Looking at the picture it’s pretty normal in our house. Why are you asking if you’re just ignoring replies?

I’m ignoring the people with no idea who aren’t helping me.

Good idea. Argos sell them too. I’ve heard they’re excellent.

Yes OP, I read what you wrote, I understand that.
Lots of people in this thread have said they react similarly, or worse, to bites (as do I). As @Crashthebook said - it’s just one of those things.

Seeing a GP for that would BU in my opinion. You’ve asked for opinions and that’s mine.

That’s no problem. You’ve been pretty rude to be honest so probably best to direct that towards someone being paid to tell you there’s nothing wrong with your leg (but possibly something going on with your need for unnecessary medical attention).

You should google mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and insect bites and see if applicable to you. Do you have any hypermobility in your family? People with these genetics more prone to developing MCAS and also tend to have poorer collagen and wound heeling. If you have ever had piercings and they have taken longer to heal that other people and maybe you have had more infections with them then expected, this could be why.

I have severe reactions to insect bites, I get very swollen huge red patches around them and then they turn into blisters filled with fluid. I haven’t had to see a doctor about one for years as I now just take antihistamines, ice them to bring down the swelling then I apply inadine patches with a dressing. If you can get those or something similar from a pharmacy in Italy I highly recommend. They are these little orange mesh sheets you can cut into smaller pieces and are antiseptic so help with the healing.

Pharmacists tend to default to give antibiotics.
Esp on the continent.
Doesn't necessarily mean it's good practice.

You can see a GP. But honestly they won’t tell you much. Some people react badly to bites and others don’t. The dr will prob tell you to cover up and use repellant! It’s not their specialist area and they won’t have much more to say.

The picture doesn’t look ‘that bad’ but is that because it has been partially treated or improved at that point?

There is no definitive way to diagnose an infection properly without doing a swab or culture. Inflammation can also lead to discharge and redness. So who knows if it was an infection, but it sounds like you are on the mend.

You can get treatment a pharmacy for infected mosquito bites and the pharmacist can prescribe medication
https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/

Yes. It’s astonishing. I am a hospital dr and the amount of medication people are on, from places in Europe and the US shocks me. The NHS is rubbish in many ways, but our more careful attitude to prescribing is one of the pros. At medical school we were taught that the most dangerous thing we can do is prescribe. That has never left me, and being on lots of meds when you don’t need to be is never a good thing.

As you say, the attitude of pharmacies in Europe is very different.