When to worry about an insect bite?

[Aparecium]

I woke up this morning with a bite or sting on the back of my hand, near the knuckle of my index finger. It was a little swollen and itchy, nothing unusual. I took my usual 360mg Fexofenadine (for a different condition) and thought nothing more of the bite.

But it's been swelling and getting hotter all day. It's now swollen from nearly my wrist up to the first joints on index and middle fingers, across 2/3 of the back of my hand, and into my palm. I'm home from work and have an ice pack wrapped around my hand. I can use my hand, but I can't make a fist

When should I worry? How long do I give it before I need to show it to an HCP?

We need a picture!

Just keep an eye on it. I am horribly reactive to horsefly bites and have ended up with cellulitis a few times. If it's still as swollen in the morning, I'd ring your GP about it.

You could pop to the pharmacist for advice? DP showed his swollen bite to a pharmacist and they were very helpful- gave him course of antibiotics.

Forgot to add that my GP advised me to always get them checked out if the radius of swelling goes over 10cm...

This does sound like it needs to be seen. As PP said worth checking there is a late night pharmacy open nearby or call 111 about an out of hours appointment

Take some antihistamine and see how it goes.

Wait, I've just realised that Fexofenadine is antihistamine!

My worry would be cellulitis. Call 111.

Go to the doctor, specially if it has changed so quickly. My mom got bitten by a spider but she didn't know it was a spider, just saw the mark and it got bad really quick. She ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks.

Swelling and redness slightly reduced after sitting for an hour with arm raised and ice packs:

Definitely not a spider bite. I've had those a couple of times. Pretty sure it's a straightforward mozzie-type.

That needs to be seen OP.

Agree- that’s a lot of swelling and needs to be seen. Find an open pharmacy.

I agree you need to be seen. Late night pharmacy or call 111 for a walk in clinic to attend.

The top of my foot has just done this!
I too suspect an insect bite, was very painful but went down after around 6 days.
Do keep an eye on it though and it wouldn’t hurt to get a pharmacist to look it over

You made the right call, ladies. I'm now on antibiotics.

You can see the pharmacy guidelines on antibiotics for insect bites here https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PRN01010-4a.-Infected-insect-bites-flucloxacillin-patient-group-direction-Pharmacy-First.pdf

our pharmacist recommended piriton in addition to fexofenadine which I was already on as evidence suggests it works better on insect bites. Also anthisan (antihistamine cream) and ibuprofen to reduce swelling.

Definitely get it checked out. I was bitten on my side (the curve of my waist) a couple of years ago and it was very swollen and painful. It developed into cellulitis and I was admitted and given iv antibiotics. Once the infection calmed down I was left with an abscess that needed incision and drain!

Definitely pharmacy if you can find one that’s open or call 111 - that’s what I did at the time and was given an out of hours gp appointment.

Hope you get seen and are on the mend soon 💐

Just seen your update, glad you’ve been seen.

Id still keep an eye on it to see if the swelling and redness spreads - the Dr drew round mine with biro to monitor it.

Glad to hear you got seen! Hope the antibiotics work quickly!

TBH I was surprised to come away with ABs as it's not been even 24h and guidance says to consider the symptoms at least 48h after the bite.

I feel absolutely pants. Not sick, but slept really badly last night. Felt fine yesterday!

How are you feeling now @Aparecium ? Sorry you were feeling unwell earlier. I have also just got antibiotics under Pharmacy First for a painful, infected bite. 24 hours since I started taking them and symptoms are slightly worse although I read on the NHS website that symptoms can worsen in the first 24-48 hours after starting antibiotics before they start to improve.