Worried about a bite...

[PrincessOfPreschool]

Not from a rabid dog, just an insect. I was bitten outdoors on Friday evening on playing field. Didn't notice but then felt itchy and saw a small blood dot, which ended up quite a big red spot ie. It was a decent bite. It's now quite swollen and is very hot to touch. I've been putting anthisan on it twice a day or so but today it feels more swollen/ hot and the anthisan was quite stingy. Any ideas what it is and what I should do?

Can you go to a chemist or a walk in centre. It may be infected if hot to the touch. Usually they get you to draw a pen around it so you can tell if it starts to spread and track up the arm. Could just be a mosquito bite.

I suspect that’s a horsefly bite, they often turn quite nasty. I end up with a large throbbing red area the size of my palm. I take antihistamines and the pharmacist gave me a cream fucidin. It’s a topical antibiotic and really helpful in treating a bite that’s infected. I’d ice pack it in the meantime and go to a pharmacy tomorrow unless you have one that opens on Sundays.

Definitely pharmacist. That's where my GP surgery sent me. The pharmacist prescribed antibiotics

My son had this and we ended up in hospital, they were going to drain it but it eventually popped. I would go to the doctors or OOH for antibiotics.

Thanks. It's on my leg. It doesn't have visible edges to track, hard to draw around the swelling as I can feel it but not see it. I'll go tomorrow to chemist if it's not doing better.

Wouldn't I notice a horse fly biting at the time?

No, but the bites are nasty, and exactly as you describe.
Harmless though so long as they heal.

If its below the knee it's probably a blandford fly bite. They are evil. I'd go to the pharmacist now. It won't improve on its own imo

I’ve been bitten a few times by a horsefly, I never saw the blighter. I only knew it was a horsefly from the appearance of the bite. The bites are incredibly sore and create a large patch of redness.

That is so interesting @Whataflippincircus! My most recent bite (lower leg) looked EXACTLY like that with red streaks going up and down from the main redness. I assumed blandford fly. You think perhaps not? 10 weeks later its still there (much better but not gone)

Even if you have to draw round it by feeling it and tracing it, do that. If you're unlucky insect bites can turn into cellulitis which needs dealing with quite urgently or it can require intravenous antibiotics. So definitely worth keeping an eye on. Also worth taking antihistamines as they're unlikely to help much if it's an infection but should help somewhat if it's just a nasty bite - horsefly or similar.

Oh great. I do have antihistamines. I will take them for luck! It is below my knee on my shin. That is horrendous @Whataflippincircus... Mine is not visible at all, just hard below the surface. I feel better seeing your awful ones. Maybe it's just a giant mozzie bite.