Horsefly Bite?

[Polly1958]

I took this week off to get caught up with gardening,decorating etc.On Monday I was bitten by something while I was gardening.I'm now on my second day in bed after having some kind of reaction,tired,flu like symptoms and a very swollen itchy leg.Could it have been a horse fly ? This is the second time this year, though the first reaction wasn't as bad as this .So much for getting caught up!

[Sqad]

Yes........sound like it.

Would suggest resting the leg (horizontal) and rubbing some Anthisan cream on the leg.

Ibuprofen would also help your "flu like symptoms".

[Polly1958]

Thanks sqad,on ibuprofen and have taken some piriton. As you say resting the leg is doing some good.

[Sqad]

That's fine......Piriton is also suitable.

[joggerjayne]

On the plus side ...

According to Plato (in his book The Apology) Socrates was nicknamed the Gadfly ... or, as we call it, the Horsefly.

This was because Plato perceived Socrates like a Horsefly, buzzing around Athens, challenging, stirring up, and enlightening those with whom he came into contact, even if they found it annoying ... rather as a bite from a Horsefly is annoying.

So don't despair. Maybe a bite from a Horsefly is not a bad thing but, rather, a stimulus to activity, and energy, and ...

No?

You're not sold on that idea?

Well, it was just a thought.

[jno]

mmm... you sure you weren't bitten by a Greek philosopher, Polly?

It could happen, though possibly only in Brighton.

[boxtops]

I wouldn't call a horsefly bite annoying - I'd call it bloody painful!

[vakayu]

Hi Polly,you have my sympathy I had a similar bite several years ago and it took ages to heal,I was in desperation as you said swollen,itchy and it also went very hard all round the area of the bite,very unpleasant,so good luck.

[pixie373]

I would also suggest piriton. I've been bitten by horseflies several times with no reaction whatsoever, so this is a response from your immune system, rather than the fly.

[Polly1958]

Thanks all for your replies.Lol JJ,jno, I normally have so much energy, this totally knocked the stuffing out of me!Boxy ,yes very annoying as i have lost one and a half days of my weeks hols!Vakayu and pixie, I have a reaction to midge bites too,i always spray with repellent it obviously doesn't ward off horseflies

[alinic]

in Scotland we call them "cleggs" lol

[Peter Pedant]

yes horsefly
probably infected

some GPS find a short course of antibiotics work

I have learnt the hard way to 'cover up' in summer

watery shaded areas - terrible !

Citronella oil - even your dog will say uuugh ! - flies land but dont settle.

[Peter Pedant]

zoologists - fly people whatever they are -
call them diptera - zillions of species the world over

I am bot sure what they do when they arent biting us humans

[Polly1958]

Yes we have stream at the bottom of the garden,hence thousands of the blighters.

[Ann]

Really sympathise Polly! I had one above my knee last month which spread half way up my leg, they are dreadful things. I found Boots anti-bite cream eased the pain better than more expensive brands.