Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Dh was bitten by something on Sunday and now worried about the reaction-any advice?

22 replies

Haylstones · 12/05/2009 21:15

Dh was cycling through woodland on Sunday and was bitten twice by something- some kind of insect. He has 2 large angry bites on his legs and the entire area is very swollen with a rash spreading up to his groin. He has tried Piriteze, which made the rash recede slightly but it came back as angry as ever soon afterwards.
He won't phone NHS Direct as he's tooo busy but I'm concerned so thought I'd ask on here.
Any advice much appreciated.

OP posts:
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/05/2009 21:18

Call NHS Direct for him? I'm sure you won't be the first woman to do that.

Could it have been a tick?

whomovedmychocolate · 12/05/2009 21:23

Doesn't sound like a tickbite - tick bites look like bulls eyes with graduated circles of rash radiating from the point of impact.

If the rash is spreading he needs to get medical attention as it sounds like he could be developing cellulitis or blood poisoning. Neither are nice.

In the interim, ibuprofen or aspirin plus antihistamine, raise the leg and write on his leg the extent of the rash so you can work out if it's getting worse or better.

If the area goes hard and/or hot, seek medical help promptly.

I am not a doctor but have been bitten by ticks, fleas, insects, ants, spiders, snakes, rats, mice and small children!

Original poster
Haylstones · 12/05/2009 21:28

Thanks for the advice. He's being really stubborn and refusing to get any advice but I might have to ring for him. I think the fact that he's had it since Sunday is making him feel it isn't urgent (he's been away and only showed me an hour ago)

I don't think it's a tick bite

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 12/05/2009 21:30

One of ds's teachers was bitten by something last year and had a lovely red line going up his leg that he thought nothing of until I and the wife of a doctor talked him into letting the doctor check it. It's a good job he did, it was an infection. If he'd have left it then he'd have needed a hospital admission for IV antibiotics.

He needs to get it looked at by a doctor ASAP.

Original poster
Haylstones · 12/05/2009 21:30

I used shock tactics and he's on the phone now

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 12/05/2009 21:35

Marvellous! BTW if it wasn't anything to worry about it would have gone by now!

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 12/05/2009 21:35

I hope all's OK.

Original poster
Haylstones · 12/05/2009 21:40

NHS Direct have told him the waiting time is at least 3 hours so he has to phone back in the morning
I'm not convinced and amnow trying to persuade him to phone out of hours

OP posts:
Original poster
Haylstones · 12/05/2009 21:42

Why won't my space bar work properly?!

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 12/05/2009 21:43

Waiting for what - to speak to someone from NHS direct? What a load of bollocks - this is because of that swine flu outbreak at that school.

May I suggest the out of hours service. He does need to be seen because if it is getting worse, he needs treatment. You say two bites - couldn't be a snakebite could it?

Original poster
Haylstones · 12/05/2009 21:45

One bite is on his thigh so I doubt it could be a snake but you never know...

I rang out of hours, ran into the dining room and handed him the phone so he's talking to them now.

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 12/05/2009 21:48

Maybe he should just pop to A&E. It's Tuesday so won't be overly busy with pissheads drunk folk.

whomovedmychocolate · 12/05/2009 21:50

Ah glad to hear he's got someone to talk to. Blokes are so weird about this - a cold becomes man flu but actually getting off their arses and phoning the doctor when they might actually need help......

loopylou6 · 12/05/2009 21:51

Possibly a horse fly? I got bitten by one of them once on my thigh and my whole leg was swollen and painful.

Original poster
Haylstones · 12/05/2009 21:57

He's off to out of hours now to get some antibiotics (think he means antihistamine but never mind).
I'm off to bed anyway [bad wife] as I can't leave the dc alone so will report back tomorrow.
Thanks f or collective wisdomthat helped me persuade him of the right course of action

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 12/05/2009 21:58

Night. I'm so pleased he's getting it looked at. Can't be too careful.

whomovedmychocolate · 12/05/2009 22:01

Good wife not taking the kids to out of hours, tis bad at this time of night!

It's antibiotics he needs is he has tracking veins because it means the bite is infected.

He'll be hours

Original poster
Haylstones · 13/05/2009 08:21

Thanks all for the advice last night. He was back almost straight away as there was nobody else there and was given antibitoics, antihistamine and some kind of gel. He took the first dose last night and most of ithad gone this morning- result. Didn't stop him being a twat this morning but at least he's a healthy twat

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 13/05/2009 10:14

LOL at healthy twat - well done you for getting him to go.

Do remember to nod sagely and say 'just think how bad things could have got if you hadn't listened to me, your knob could have gone mouldy and dropped off!'

Original poster
Haylstones · 13/05/2009 10:52

Lol, he is always complaining that that will happen anyway so it might have hurried the act along slightly

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 13/05/2009 11:01

Perhaps he should wash more then

Original poster
Haylstones · 13/05/2009 11:03

Ha, think he was thinking more along the lines of it suffering from lack of use

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread