What to do about huge insect bite on DD!

[25goingon95]

DD got bitten yesterday, she’s taken antihistamines and today it looks like the pic below..it feels hot to touch and we’ve marked it to see if it spreads..what else can we do? Does it need a doctor tomorrow do you think?
thanks

I had one similar to that, I happened to be in the hospital so I called into the minor injuries department.

They said to use antihistamines but ones with chlorphenamine, these are the ones that make you sleepy.

Thanks for all the tips and advice! Ok I’ve just checked DD and the redness has calmed down it doesn’t look as angry but still quite red and still swollen. It doesn’t feel much hotter than the rest of her arm. It’s not spread outside the ring we drew. She feels fine no temp so she’s going to take an antihistamine and put the hydrocortisone on, and we will go to the chemist see what they say about cellulitis/antibiotics. Hopefully we need to just keep on with antihistamine and cream like most of you suggested!

thanks again!

My top tip for this (and I suffer just like this from insect bites, it's called Skeeter syndrome, I'm allergic to the saliva) is chamomile tea.

Steep a few bags in boiling water. Get the whole thing (jug, tea bags and the tea) to fridge cold. Speed it up with ice. And soak a flannel in the cold tea and use that as a cold compress. You can use the tea bags directly too. It's the most soothing thing you can imagine. Helps with the heat and the swelling.

I'd ask for a stronger antihistamine too.

FFS, don't waste their time in A&E for an insect bite! It will get better of it's own accord in a few days but, if not, see a pharmacist.

It looks like a normal reaction to an insect bite.

Apologies to all those who have been told they have infected bites but these are actually very rare, but in the heat of the moment it's hard to tell the difference and a lot of HCPs will just give antibiotics.

Antibiotics should be reserved for fever, pain - rather than itching, inflamed lymph nodes and signs of tracking - not just massive redness. It can take 10 days for a normal histamine response to resolve so be patient.

Stick with the antihistamines - it's already getting better as it's not hot or spreading.

😳 I never said I was going to A&E Hbh17…

Thanks for the chamomile tea tip! I have some in will do that today!

I react like that to insect bites too. Piriton is best for the allergic reaction and an ice cube wrapped in a bit of kitchen towel and held/rubbed gently over the sore bit gives relief.

I think you've got enough advice here, so I won't repeat it, but I just wanted to say that both DH and I have had similar over the last couple of days, and it's turned out to be a mozzie!

I didn't even know we got them in this country, but apparently (thank you Google) they come out when we have hot weather. They're not dangerous in this country though thank goodness!

No advice to add but just the reassurance that it looks like a very common reaction to an insect bite. I've always reacted just like that since I was a young child.

For all the people saying don't go to A and E, I saw the pharmacist and he sent me straight to A and E.

I have this regularly too as like a previous poster I also have skeeter syndrome. I was coming on to say about Inadine, I keep them in stock now! Definitely works for me. But also ice packs to reduce the heat and swelling, elevating the area as much as possible and antihistamines. I have needed antibiotics occasionally but not for a few years now I know about Inadine.

Piriton liquid is better than tablets as you can take more of it.

Anti histamine cream too .

I cold pack and elevate would also help.

some people react really badly to insect bites.

(dd and I for instance) and have a similar reaction. It usually goes in a few days..

watch out for the concenring symptooms listed above though.

Such great advice here for future bites if DD is going to react like this! Thanks! Pharmacist said to keep doing what we’re doing! He also recommended a few tips mentioned here! I thought it was a bite from something bigger than a mosquito but who knows! She didn’t feel it at the time!