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!

In my experience, this will worsen over time with each trip abroad. Things you can do for the future: (many already suggested):

Take antihistamines ahead of time. Pack the strong ones to take with you, ditto bite cream and anti-inflammatories.

Use repellant. Lots. Wear the band things. Wear long sleeves and trousers, especially in the evening. Stay away from water.

For now, keep using what the pharmacist has prescribed, obviously. I can hear the shock and worry in your posts, but honestly, many people have these huge allergic reactions and they are deeply unpleasant, even without infection. It doesn’t hurt to treat for infection, although it’s less likely than ‘mere’ allergy. And obviously it’s sensible to watch for tracking and cellulitis.

You’ll probably become quite resigned over time. DH currently has at least 12 weeping, open sores from a 48 hour trip to Italy. Uncomfortable but healing. And unworried, it’s happened so many times!

I hope you feel much better soon.

Do you really expect that poster to list her name and professional qualifications?

I have had a lot of cellulitis from insect bites. I used to get practically ever single insect bite turn infected even without scratching them. Since I had my lipoedema surgery my lymphatics are less compromised and I haven't had cellulitis. I swear I can tell a cellulitis itch from a mosquito bite itch. I can also tell a mosquito itch from a duck mite itch but I'm just boasting now :-) Anyway, compromised lymphatics were the key for me. I used to thing it was allergies but I'm not so sure now. What used to take a huge amount of antihistamine pills and creams now takes a dab of steriod cream and I can forget about it until the cream wears off. If you look up lymphatic health it will probably suggest dry brushing.

definitely see a gp. I went through a stage of bad reactions to mosquito bites and they told me not to take the one a day anti histamine but the ones where its three times a day. I dont know why but that seemed to work.

So you wanted a particular answer.Zero point in starting a thread. Just go to the GP.

I had a manky insect bite a few weeks ago, phoned the GP and was told to go to minor injuries. Years ago, I got to see the GP for an infected wasp sting, so not sure if this is a new universal policy, or if the GPs were just really busy and saw an opportunity to send someone somewhere else, or if they do this specifically in our area now since the A&E department at the local hospital became a minor injuries department.

Look up skeeter syndrome. Can occur at any age. Uncomfortable but treatable.

Sadly, if you react like this you should cover yourself in insect repellent in future.

It's normal for bites to become red and weep. If they are mozzies- in UK it's midges not mozzies- the best thing is to apply antihistamine cream several times a day and take an oral antihistamine.

The only reason to see a dr is if the areas become bright red and you have swelling that looks like cellulitis and spreads a long way from the bite area.

Don't be an idiot the NHS isn't just for life threatening emergencies she isn't saying she will be going to A&E a GP is appropriate

Are you sure? This is what it costs in France. Possibly less actually, more like £23.

Hi OP, apologise if other people have suggested this already but my big Tesco has a Pharmacy at the back. You can queue at the desk and get help for this sort of thing and been seen by a pharmacist who will prescribe all kinds of stuff then and there. One time I came.down with a UTI a couple of days before going on holiday and had no.time.to see the GP, got seen and looked after then and there. Another time leading right up to Christmas my children had been unwell and it turned into a ear infection - same thing even on a Sunday even, got seen, ear drops and so on and were out in 20 mins. If you know you will struggle to see a GP, its an amazing service that really takes the guilt off seeing a GP without making yourself go without care for.

Best wishes and sorry you've gotten bitten so badly in the first place x

I phone the reception, get put on the triage for a call, gp calls within 3 hours, sometimes asks me to go in, other times refers me to the relevant specialist. Very straightforward at my practice. But then I only call for important things.

It isn’t.

When you can self medicate which she can you self medicate.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23289-skeeter-syndrome

Go to the pharmacy. They will be very used to treating these and will possibly have better , more suited to the problem, medication/creams than you pr GP has.
DD and I always get terrible mosquito reactions.
Pharmacy is always great- in every country (although I was given some really weird tablets in Sri Lanka for diahorreah which made my urine turn luminous orange. They worked a treat though!)

On a scale of bite reactions, that doesn’t look particularly noteworthy.

The UK is particularly proactive about managing risk of antibiotic resistance. It’s a major benefit of the public healthcare system.

At the moment your body has reacted a little bit to bites from a new creature youve not come across before. That’s pretty standard. Basic over the counter treatments are working.

Keep them clean, dont scratch, seek advice if you think theyre deteriorating. Read NHS info online when you get home if you want future advice. If you get other signs Youre abnormally prone to infection then also mention this when you see someone about the other infection.

I get this.

i’m allergic to the mozzie bites and then they get infected.

who you get triaged to will depend on how bad the infection is. Small infection is usually a nurse who will dress it, mark with biro so you can see the spread. Anti histamines will help (you can get both oral and a cream).

if it’s a fairly big infection you’ll get antibiotics to fight it.

i’m not usually seen by the gp.

when I go abroad (and in the uk now for that natter) I have a bite kit with oral antihistamines, anti histamine cream, steroid cream and bandages to protect it and soak up the clear stuff that comes out of them.

Pharmacy First can treat insect bites. Find your local chemist that is in the scheme.

Sounds like you do need antibiotics. My DH had them for an insect bite that was weeping a couple of years ago.

You can now get them through the NHS Pharmacy First service. Look up some pharmacies in your area as I think you still have to book an appointment. Maybe try Boots first as they definitely do it.

Absolutely, what a ridiculous comment! The NHS is for any health concern (I work for the NHS by the way...)

I get many bites too.on my hol this year I was covered in them,I had a really bad one on my arm that went all around my arm redness and swelling.but i took antihistamine and bite gel and was ok.yours is the opposite and sounds infected if weeping.im glad you have the antibiotic lotion,but if not feeling or getting better straight to the gp.

A friend had this happen and needed oral antibiotics and antihistamines.

I had similar while holidaying in Sicily. The staff at our hotel would joke that their mozzies are more like missiles than insects! I ended up with both my thighs all red, swollen and painful. It got to the point where walking was uncomfortable and when I went to the doctor's I was given steroid cream immediately. The tiger mosquitoes (the kind they have over there) can bite much deeper than ours and so you risk a more widespread inflammation which must be avoided. (I'm not a doctor, but just relaying what I was told then)

I'm not very clear whether you're asking if you should see a GP about a current bite, or about your tendency to react badly?
If you have concerns about the bites you have right now, then seeing a health professional is totally reasonable.

However, if you want the GP to advise you on preventing this in future, this is not reasonable for two reasons:

1. This is something that is purely related to travel abroad. Travel medicine is not the role of an NHS GP.
2. The answer is obvious - improve your use of insect repellent and bite avoidance. Not being bitten would prevent whatever is going on in your body, and is more appropriate than using antibiotics or antihistamines to treat the reactions.

I am allergic to mosquito bites. They swell up hugely (this time last week my left upper arm looked like Rafael Nadal's! And two weeks before a swelling the size of a side plate on my thigh). I get the blisters and the weeping and they are itchy and sometimes painful. I have had this since I was a child and am now mid 40s and it has only once progressed to cellulitis. The difference was very obvious as I had redness that tracked all the way up my leg and the skin was very tight and painful.

Always sensible to get checked out OP - maybe discuss with the GP when you are back? I take oral anti histamines on a prophylactic basis and double the dose when I get a particularly big reaction.