Does this look infected to you?

[Redrabbitredrabbit]

I went walking on Sunday (3/4 length trousers and walking boots). Yesterday, I noticed a bite mark and a red circle / swelling around the area on my leg. Last night I had a bath and the bite turned into a big blister, which is weeping. My leg is sore around it (the red area). I’ve been bathing it with salt water and had a dressing on it. I can wear a dress tomo as I’m WFH (can’t do that in the office) but would you say this needs urgent medical attention, or do I keep going with the salt water and air it out tomo?

Yes, get to a doctor or walk in centre now. Nurse here!

im only wondering as the GP surgery is fully booked and our pharmacy is closed.

Yes! Mark with a pen around the redness so you can see how far it spreads. Get that seen to! Good luck

Thank you @PettyMare - we don’t have a walk in Centre near me (only A&E) and the GP surgery is fully booked. It’s really sore and has wept through the dressing. So you think I can wait until tomorrow for the GP or is it an A&E job? I just don’t want to waste resources.

Its the extent of the redness that concerns me more than the blister tbh.

If you have no walk in centre I would go to A&E
Better safe than sorry, that looks bad

Ring 111, I know its a ball ache and they won't get back to you for hours but they'll be able to advise what your options are in your area.

Thanks @TheGreenSketch - yes I think it has spread since this morning. When it leaks I can get this really awful lightning bolt / burning sensation.

That area of redness is really not clever! It’s an A&E job, you’re not wasting resources! Could be cellulitis.

I'd go to A&e if you don't have a minor injuries unit or urgent care locally they will be set up for minors

This is just what my leg looked like after a blackfly bite. In fact it could practically be the same photo, the position of the kit is exactly the same! They do spread a lot and are very painful. But best get checked just in case.

@LaMadrilena did you happen to feel the bite? I didn’t feel anything. I’m not sure if I irritates whatever mine was as I was wearing cropped trousers yesterday and it was rubbing on it, bit the redness is very painful. Thank you @PettyMare I have called 111

I get a bullous reaction like that to mosquito bites. However, the redness is the concern here.

Yes

That looks similar to a blandford fly bite I had once. Were you in Dorset by any chance?

Thanks all - I’m on my way to A&E after advice from you guys and the pharmacist. I appreciate the advice everyone x

@BillStickersIsInnocent I’m in the SW - I’ve had horsefly bites before and I reacted similarly (redness / hot skin) but never had a blister before.

Maybe mention Blandford Fly when you’re at A&E, if SW they should be aware. Mine was red and blistered and starting to streak up my leg, they dressed it and gave me anti-bs.

It typically presents with blisters and redness.

I will do, thank you @BillStickersIsInnocent 🙂

Just an update - I’m on a week’s worth of antibiotics! Thanks for the advice everyone!

Glad you've got some treatment! No, I didn't notice the bite at all. As far as I remember it started like a mosquito bite, then grew and grew... I didn't get treatment and it took quite a while to go down, but no lasting effects. I meant Blandford fly like a PP said, I'm in Spain and they're called blackflies (mosca negra) here. Hope it clears up soon!

Did they say what type of bite it was

@Spendysis they didn’t say exactly what it was but he did say as though it left it’s stinger (he used a really big word which I can neither pronounce nor remember 🙈) and I seem to have had a reaction to it. He said it must be very itchy, but it isn’t and hasn’t been so far! He said to keep up with the antibiotics for a week but it could take longer to settle. I am glad I went - I just thought I was making a fuss about nothing!

Thank you @LaMadrilena - yes I said I had no clue I had been bitten. I’ve been bitten by many horseflies and they are awful! Itchy, hard, swollen and painful - this on the other hand is all of those things minus the itchiness.