Insect Bite

zag

(admin-not sure where to put this thread)

I got a bite yesterday from a horse fly on the arm. It has swollen up about two inches around where the bite was.

Should I go to the doctor or just get anti-histemenes?

Smellyirishman

There is no appropriate forum, because forums are not a place to seek medical advice. If your worried, go to see your doctor.

zag

Smellyirishman wrote:

There is no appropriate forum, because forums are not a place to seek medical advice. If your worried, go to see your doctor.

Yes, that's true, however I will be seeking professional medical advice later on, I just want to get other people's experiences.

Lothaar

Happened to me before - I got bitten by a mosquito (or something) on the hand. My hand swelled up a LOT. Did you ever blow up a rubber glove like a baloon? Well, it looked like that. I left it a couple of days before seeing a doctor, which I regret because I was in a lot of pain when I finally went.

Go to the doctor, dude. He'll probably give you anti-histamines and put your arm in a sling to encourage the fluid to drain away from the area.

racso1975

I have had the same experience this year for the first time. The bites are pretty painfully and have a a very warm feeling off them tend to last for about 24-48 hours. i currently have 5 different ones and the swellings make me look like a complete plonker!!!

g'em

It sounds like you've had some sort of reaction to the bite, it's happened to me before. Just go to the chemist, get some anti-histamines (Zirtek are good) and if it doesn't go down after a couple of days see a doctor.

Histamine is a chemical released by the body in response to a cut/ bite/ wound and its what enourages the swelling and redness at the site of injury. An anti-histamine just blocks the action histamine so you don't react as violently to the injury.

zag

Lothaar wrote:

left it a couple of days before seeing a doctor, which I regret because I was in a lot of pain when I finally went.

Ok. It happened yesterday, so I'm going to go to the pharmacist and ask for advice, rather than paying my GP €40 for him to tell me to go to the pharmacist! I checked out horseflys online, it's only the female of the species that can draw blood, she scissors her way through the skin, until blood trickles from the hole, before she drinks it.

racso1975 wrote:

...for about 24-48 hours

Thats good to know they don't last that long. My god, 5 of them!! I thought I was bad. Hope they clear up for you now.

g'em wrote:

It sounds like you've had some sort of reaction to the bite, it's happened to me before. Just go to the chemist, get some anti-histamines (Zirtek are good) and if it doesn't go down after a couple of days see a doctor.

Thanks Gem, I think that will be my course of action alright.

thanks for all your info lads.

zag

Ok, went to the pharmacy and he looked at the bite, which at this stage was swollen hard about one inch radius around the bite.

He recommended Piriton tablets, and Cortopin cream(Hydrocortisone). I took them home, and took a piriton, and put the cream on. About three hours later, my whole forearm, from elbow to wrist had swollen a little, and was hard. I contemplated going to a doctor, but decided to hold off until today.

I woke up this morning, and the swelling had died down a little. I went to work, and the swelling has increased slightly, but doesn't seem to be getting any worse. I've kept the area clean with hot water and antiseptic. Hopefully I won't need my GP!

racso1975

Hey Zag

Thanks for keeping us updated and letting us know what the pharmacy suggested. Arm never swelled up that bad but ankle got fairly big. Hope it clears up for ya soon. They really are a rotten insect........

Jak

There are no medical advice forums on boards, nor will there ever be.

Medical advice should never be taken from an open forum.

JAK