Bastarding insect bite on my ankle. When do I worry?

[FaddyPeony]

I woke up yesterday morning to find I had been bitten by something overnight. It was right on my ankle bone, so incredibly annoying. I have a history of reacting badly to insect bites, but have usually managed to beat them without going to GP. Anyway this one is really swollen, hot and red, and the site of the bite is growing. Tea tree oil didn't do much for it. What else could I try?

You could try some antihistamine- Piriton or similar.

Draw a line around the bite as it is now. You will then be able to tell if it's getting bigger/ has infection spreading. Watch out for a purple line starting to track up your leg.

DD reacts badly to insect bites. She had one on her foot once that didn't look right. Took her to GP in the morning who said it was fine. At lunchtime I had my pharmacist look at it as I wasn't happy. He said I needed to go to A&E. By tea time she was on intravenous antibiotics to stave off septaceamia. Not to worry you though!

She is also having to have surgery on an insect bite on her shoulder that formed a mole like growth and is some kind of abnormal scar tissue.

I react really badly. Get a pen and draw around the site.If it spreads contact a GP. I second taking an antihistamine ; just be aware that some can make the bite site appear angrier but once its not spreading you should be ok in 24hrs. Also If it breaks and looks infected also go to GP as you may need an antibiotic.

Yikes, your poor DD, Dowton! Site map has been inked, so I'll need to get to pharmacy for an antihistamine. I'll keep an eye. Thank you.

Last year during the few days of a heatwave, I was bitten by some beastie unknown on my ankle. The next morning it had swollen up. The next morning my whole lower leg was swollen up to the knee and down to my toes!!
Hobbled over to GP and it was diagnosed as Cellulitis. ABs and anti histamines prescribed. Been bitten before but never had that allergic reaction, always been a localised very itchy lump which a normal reaction and never went to GP about them. My leg was hot.