insect bites and reactions

[carmalee]

have had three seemingly innocuous bites from insects in the last eight weeks - they have all come up with very aggressive reactions - latest is a minor nibble I had in the garden four/five days ago from some winged spawn of satan. now have a bright red, highly inflammed and itchy area the size half a credit card on the front of my shin bone - my leg below the knee is swollen and hot (?cellulitus) have taken a thousand piriton with no effect never had it before -have been bitten a million times before - am an old person - had to have antibiotics and antihistimine a few weeks ago because my arm swelled up alarmingly from a normal wasp sting. Am I cracking up and why is this happening?

[hc4361]

See your GP, just to put your mind at rest

[welshlibranr]

Oh Carmelee, I just think that as we grow a little older, we are more prone to suffering more from insect bites than when we were younger!.....Best to see your GP anyway just to be safe!...............Best of luck........sure you'll be fine!..............

[lcg]

carmalee, sometimes repeated exposure to things you are allergic to can increase the reaction...basically it's your immune system overreacting. you need to see your gp or go to a walk in centre or even a+e if things get bad. my son has had three or four reactions to something unknown over the last year and each reaction is worse and my mum suffers from anaphalaptic shock (the most extreme reaction in allergy) to a whole host of things. treatment can include anything from piriton (antihistamine - the substance which fights infection but also causes all the trouble), topical creams, steroids and even adrenaline. you should draw a mark around the bite site in a permanent ink and see how far the reaction is spreading in hourly stints. call nhs direct for further advice if you are worried - that's what they are there foe. good luck, hon...x

[Sqad]

carmalee...it is not unusual fro the over 65´s to get exaggerated responses to insect bites and unless you have had anapthylactic reactions before, then these exaggerated responses would be unusual.
Antihistamine cream applied to the bite as soon after it had been noticed is the treatment of choice, along with antihistamines by mouth. Some insects do produce severe local reactions and occasionally super added infections, but usually there are not life threatening.

A blood test might be helpful to gauze your level of immunity,but abnormalities are rare.

[carmalee]

as always brilliant responses from AB - thank you all very much - think I am just getting old and don't want to admit it - am off to Africa for about 6/7 weeks at the end of the year and expect I'll be packing more medicines than make up this trip. Thanks once again.

[LoftyLottie]

Carmalee. Just to say that my reaction to insect bites is getting worse with age. I have also found that an bites over the shin bone tend to me worse than anything else. I presume that there is very little flesh in that area and they seem to then spread into the surrounding tissue over a larger area. I might be wrong! I have just had an injury in the same area and it's really scarred!!

Good luck.

[LoftyLottie]

'tend to be'. My typing is getting worse with age as well!

[carmalee]

thanks LL - yes I'm not an overly padded perso and the bite was right on the front of the shin - anyway, I think it isn't any worse this morning so maybe we are on the mend. Fingers crossed - stay well

[carmalee]

headwreck - thanks for the reply - yes, lymphodema ?(sp) is always a worry - I have to be careful with right arm too. But wouldn't you just know it a couple of months ago I had a dreadful barbed wire injury to right arm Aghhhhhh - thought I'd be in for loads of problems cos if I'm not even supposed to have an injection in that arm, what the heck was going to happen after a very long, deep rip from rusty barbed wire? Anyway A&E were absolutely brilliant and patched it up with strips etc (no stitching allowed!) and it healed beautifully - no problems whatsoever - lucky hey? Take care out in the garden but enjoy it too - life;s too short to be worrying all the time. Stay well