Infected mosquito bite, in an otherwise healthy young person. Not dangerous, right?
Asked by
marmoset (
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)
July 17th, 2009
I got plenty of mosquito bites this week, and they took a while to show up (I don’t react to mosquitoes right away).
One bite happened to be next to a scrape on my shin, so it spent a couple of days underneath the sticky/dirty part of the bandaid for the scrape.
So ironically, the scrape has healed up fine, but the bite got infected before I realized what was happening.
It’s a dime-sized, bright red and fairly hard, swollen donut shape. It itches but it doesn’t hurt. I’m gently keeping it clean with soap and water. What else should I do, and is it not dangerous, assuming it doesn’t get any worse? Today was the third day it’s been the same shape/size (it might be getting slightly smaller). Thanks for your advice.
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8 Answers
1) Talk to your doctor. Without knowing what organism is involved or the state of your immune system, only a doctor can decide what would be best to do.
2) If you don’t have a doctor, then try an OTC antibiotic salve. However…
3) If it gets worse, gets larger, develops red streaks near it, or starts to hurt, then get to an urgent care center.
Thanks for the list of warning signs, luckily it has none of those.
I should mention I have no doctor or insurance. I had many bites and only this one got like this, so I’m guessing it was from being sealed under the dirty bandaid rather than any special circumstance.
(I think I have an excellent immune system—rarely sick and zero other issues)
If you don’t have a doctor, then try an OTC antibiotic salve. You can find such a salve at most drug stores and in supermarkets with a pharmacy section.
There is a reasonable chance that you are developing an abscess (albeit a small one) at the site of the mosquito bite. If it is small, then you can try to use warm compresses to help it “come to a head”, and keep your leg elevated at night as well. A triple antibiotic ointment as has been suggested by Darwin might help as well. However, if you develop a fever, or the redness starts to spread, or you see more of these hard red bumps, or you feel weak-dizzy-lightheaded, then definitely seek medical attention ASAP.
Thank you too, shilolo. After googling abscess, it seems very possible, because the center of the donut is softer and grey (so maybe it’s coming to a head).
I started using a warm compress, and I’ll keep an eye out for those signs.
I’ll also try to get antibiotic ointment if it isn’t smaller tomorrow.
It took a while (and got very swollen) but it healed without even a mark. Thanks so much to everybody for the help.
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