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!

For a lot of us (me!) this is how mozzie bites always come up. I deal with it by preventing the bites in the first place (deet, plug-ins, mosquito nets etc) and I take antihistamines in the run up to a holiday (it’s a bit late taking them after you’ve been bitten, but you know for next time). I doubt you’ve got anything to worry about but if you want to contact a GP for some reassurance then do so.

people all react differently, dh ended up in hospital for a wasp sting, was there a week with blood poisoning, I think people should always go with their gut- avoiding a doctor/ pharmacy or a and e can be detrimental to some not to others.

The same thing happened to me - an insect bite became infected, my arm was starting to swell, and at that point I went to my GP. I was prescribed a week long course of oral antibiotics and a (kind!) lecture to not leave it as long if it happened again, as it's dangerous.

OP none of us can diagnose over the internet, but it is worth seeing a pharmacist in Italy, at least, who should be able to signpost you to the correct place.

Hi OP, not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but it sounds like you have Skeeter Syndrome. It means you have a crazy reaction to mosquito bites which - unless you have it - others don't quite understand. I have it, and my blisters - the actual blister, not the swollen red skin around - can be 3-4cm across, and incredibly painful. The bite reaction itself can be 10cm+ across.

They do always eventually burst on their own, and then weep for around 7-10 days (this may be the orange liquid you mentioned). They can then also get infected (this sounds like what happened to you).

Antihistamines do nothing for me. The only thing that helps is prescription-strength steroid cream on the bite as soon as I'm bitten, and ice directly applied to the bite for 10-15 minutes, again as soon as I'm bitten. This seems to interrupt my immune response enough that the reaction to the bite isn't as bad. But - it's not that practical!!

Antibiotics won't help with the syndrome, i.e. won't stop the reaction, but if the blisters burst can help with any infection. I have also found that the longer I'm on holiday / the more bites I get, the smaller the reactions eventually get. But if you're only away for a few weeks that's little help.

I'd go to your GP when you get home, show them photos of your bites, ask if it's Skeeter Syndrome, and they'll be able to prescribe steroid cream or similar to use next holiday. You do need to show them photos, though, as otherwise they won't be able to diagnose the syndrome.

Good luck. It's horrible, so I sympathise.

Yes, I would see my GP.

I dont trust pharmacists to give good advice, I'm afraid. A few months ago, one of my eyelids swelled right up to the point I could barely open my eye- it was also very painful. I went into my local pharmacy and he brushed off all my concerns and said it was just an "allergic reaction" and gave me loratadine. I asked him why because I had never had an allergic reaction to anything before but he told me it was fine. I started taking it but my eye just got worse and worse, more swollen and more painful. I ended up at my local eye A&E hospital in agony and it was peri orbital cellulitis and I had to have an immediate strong course of oral anti biotics.

If I hadn't got antibiotics when I did, I dread to think what could have happened because if peri orbital cellulitis turns into orbital cellulitis it can render you blind.

Google Skeeter syndrome. Im pretty sure this is what I have. Everytime a mozzie bites me I get cellulitis that spreads within a matter of hours. It’s so painful.

If it's an illness that only happens to you when you're in another country then it's not really the NHS GPs responsibility to advise about prevention. A pharmacist can though. As well as offering medicine. But you may as well just see the pharmacist now in Italy if you're worried again. Once you finish the cream.

But I've seen hundreds of bites looking much worse than that. Don't take that as minimizing your pain but it's just to put it in perspective. It's a very common thing abroad especially for people with pale skin.

Yes, I was going to say may be Skeeter syndrome. And if the bites are infected you should most definitely see a GP.

I woukd fill in the patient form on your gp website now. Its usually called Anima or Econsult. You can attach the photo and let them know when you will be back. Dont ignore it, it could be badly infected. A couple of years ago I had an infected mosquito bite and had to have a couple of courses of strong antibiotics.

I get bitten a lot and this is a fairly standard reaction for me. They are sore and uncomfortable.

Oral antihistamine helps - you might need a stronger one than you've tried before - a pharmacist can advise.
Anti histamine cream and hydrocortisone cream are also helpful.
I also have one of those little clicker things which helps a lot. And the afterbite pen helps too.

I once had one swell up like a dinner plate on my leg - walking was painful so I consulted a French GP who laughed at the suggestion it might be infected but then prescribed super strength oral antihistamine, plus oral steroids (I mentioned this to my GP when I got home as they really helped another issue and she was horrified!) steroids cream and antihistamine cream, again all high strength. The French are never knowingly under medicated - continental approaches are very different to the UK!

Glad you went to a pharmacy and didn’t waste your GP’s time - they can prescribe antibiotics.

PSA - pharmacies can now prescribe antibiotics for a range of conditions and this takes pressure off GPs: https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/

My daughter has skeeter syndrome and we have needed up in a&e twice for bad bites, once with cellulitis. These things can spread quick. I think people confuse bad bug bites with dangerous bug bites.

@RosesAndHellebores is it ok that we used the NHS for this?

OP: AIBU to see a GP when I’m home?
Everyone: Yes
OP: No I'm not! *stamps infected foot

You're wrong. Just because yours was easily fixed it doesn't mean the same for anyone else. I've just had a bite that was massively infected, to the extent I had to have three different antibiotics over three weeks to get it under control. It's exactly what the NHS is for - you are not the gatekeeper! I was also going to suggest Pharmacy first but see the OP has already been.

Not helpful now, but next trip the beurer mosquito bite device is brilliant. I usually react really horribly to bites and if you use it straight away it stops them developing. Hydrocortisone cream can be helpful too. Deet spray even in Europe to prevent them. Re seeing a dr, we had Post Office travel insurance last year in Italy and they offer an online service where can just book a consultation with a local dr if health issue while you're away. We were in middle of nowhere so chose a video consultation, she sent prescription to my phone and were able to use that to pick up antibiotics couple of hours later. Very impressed with the service.

I agree with you. My mosquito bites nearly always look like that, whereas DH's stay small and contained, and soon vanish.

I did once go to see a doctor about them, because I had several on my arm that had gone green and were obviously infected. He said some people just do react in a major way to the bites, causing redness, swelling and excessive itchiness, but these ones had got infected (probably from me scratching them).

This is how DDs usually go, and yes we always need antibiotics -all the lotion and antihistamines in the world can't get them under control once they start going bad and yes I will continue to use the NHS for this, sorry if that pisses anyone off

I'm away and have similar-ish mozzie bites (although have scratched!). Don't reckon they're much to worry about, if it helps. I'm not in a malaria zone so I'll just wait until they clear.

yes I will continue to use the NHS for this, sorry if that pisses anyone off

Yep- exactly. I know a lot of people using the NHS regularly for things like COPD brought on specifically by smoking, or obesity/type 2 diabetes brought on by lifestyle choices so you can piss right off if you think I am going to apologise for using the NHS for something that is completely out of my control 😆

Because you keep getting bitten.

What is it for then? It’s not like she’s contemplating going to A&E and demanding to see a consultant dermatologist. GPs are there to treat relatively minor issues, you don’t have to be on the brink of death to see one. Most do an online consultation before giving you an appointment anyway.

People shouldn’t be shamed and discouraged form seeking medical help.

Have you asked at pharmacy ?

I would see a GP. I have problems with insect bites. I did go to GP with one that was swollen. GP said it was probably a spider bite as they vomit inside you when they bite 😱It was infected and I needed antibiotics. You also need to
know it’s nothing nasty like Lymes disease

I'm assuming you have used an anti mosquito spray? I have to use it all day every day because I get bitten so much. Also spraying the room helps. Deet is the only thing that works for me.

These anti histamines are a new discovery for me- Benadryl Relief. They are amazing and literally provide relief! Normal anti histamines haven't worked for me before. Also the heated machine as soon as you are bitten is amazing
Look at this product that I found on google.com https://share.google/pJlVMfYKeVMqndBnK

You can go to a pharmacist for infected insect bites now.

She had a slight temperature, she doesn't have one now. It sounds as though she is getting better. She only needs to go to the GP if things aren't improving or are getting worse. From what she has said there is no need to go at the moment.