Slightly Gross - please help!

[milly143]

I think I had a bite on my leg thats now got infected. There was a tiny patch that was itchy and red like a bite about a week ago and over the past few days its come up bigger and redder and getting painful to touch. This morning I've woken up and it's really big and so painful, even just when I move my leg. I've been putting Savlon cream on it but that hasn't had any effect. Is there anything I can do to get rid of it? It's soooo painful today.

[Prudie]

It's probably not medically correct but I'd put hydrocortisone cream on something like this - you can get it over the counter.

[redcrx]

Have you tried antihistamines? May be a bit late for over the counter stuff, is there an nhs walk in centre nearby?

[woofgang]

I find the best thing with bites is an antihistamine tablet. Savlon will do naff all. How big is it? is there a head on it, do you have fever, chills, aching joints, headache and feelings of illness? If noat and you want to self treat then try a hot compress. Soak a small towel in hot water, hot as is comfortable and lay it on the bite. Keep reheating the towel. if you are at all worried then see a doc...walk in centre, OOH, etcet. If you feel at all unwell or the bite area gets bigger then given that its a bank hol, i would pop to a and e as these things can turn nasty quite quickly.

[milly143]

I've got some anti-histamines in the drawer so I'll try one of them. Not sure if there is a walk in centre round here. I'll see if I can find out.

I could try going to Tesco pharmacy later but it's on the outside of my thigh and I don't really want to wop everything out in the middle of Tesco. he he.

[milly143]

There are sort of two red areas, the bigger one is about the size of a mug but I think that's just a little bit of swelling. The smaller red bit inside is about half the circumfrance. It's got a tiny head on but not one that looks like it could be squeezed (bleeuugghhh) and it's too tender for me to attempt that. I haven't been feeling unwell really. I have had a constant headache for the past week but I'm putting that down to other things. I'm not worried about it, I just want it to stop hurting so much. I'll try the anti-h and the hot towel compress and see how that goes.

[RATTER15]

Get yourself to a GP, if its infected GP can get you on a course of Antibiotics straight away.

[milly143]

Well the nearest walk in centre is about 45 mins away so I don't think I'll bother with that. I could have sworn there was one next to the prison. Maybe I shouldn't have been in there. lol.

[Sqad]

First thing is to rest the leg and relieve the pain. Take Ibuprofen 400mgms as and when necessary up to every 4-6 hours.

make an appt to see your GP in the morning as you MAY need antibiotics.

I wouldn't put any creams on it.

[milly143]

Only problem is it's a bank holiday here tomorrow Sqad so I imagine only emergency docs will be available. Should I just see how it feels tomorrow once I've tried the other suggestions?

[Sqad]

milly....yes....a good suggestion.

[starone]

RATTER is right. You should have got yourself down to the docs before now. And the quicker the better. As it is Sunday look for a drop in or go to the A and E, who will probably tell you off for not going to your doctor. But what the hell, get some treatment quickly.

[milly143]

I really couldn't bring myself to walk into an A&E dept just now for the sake of an (possibly) infected bite. I will try all the suggestions given for now and see how it feels tomorrow.

[anneasquith]

do you have a chemist near you , which is open today ? pharmacist will give advice.

[rowanwitch]

get a pen and draw round the edge of the red area if it spreads beyond that after resting and ibuprofen it may be cellulitis... and wlll need antibiotics if it starts to form red 'track lines' you should go to the drop in centre or A andE most have minor injuries units now

[crisgal]

i took my little girl last week with something similar. the outer ring got bigger, and redder and was very sore.
Dr said it wasn't infected and only to worry if the redness started to run along the vein lines in her leg (if you see what i mean).
She had anitihisamine and ice pack on her raised leg. it went couple of days later.