suspected spider bite - help!!!!

[StellaBlue]

Right - so I was getting ready for bed Saturday night at about 11pm. Sometime between putting my pyjamas on and getting into bed something bit the back of my right leg, behind my knee, right in the crease.

I get bit by EVERYTHING. And I am allergic to EVERYTHING. So this did not strike me as odd; neither did it seem odd that it turned red and has itched for the past two days.

I think it was a spider, though - it didn't follow my established pattern for a mosquito bite, which is a bite, followed by a slight tickling, followed by itching, followed by a big blistery whitish thing that lasts about 24 hours before becoming a week-long little, itchy, red bump.

This was just a bite, a bit reddened, and itchy. So I didn't pay much attention. Didn't sting or hurt or itch so badly that I was distracted.

Then last night I woke up at 4am (so approximately 30 hours after the bite) because of it itching. I realized I had been scratching at it in my sleep. So I took a look, and it was brighter red and the center of it, where the little bite is, was red (from scratching). The area around it, a bit bigger than a quarter, was also pinkish. This is not incredibly alarming as everytime I get bitten this happens (so like every day from April through October).

I am worried, though, because it's still itching now, almost 48 hours later, and the area around it is still pretty red and kind of... swollen. Not in a really scary way - my mosquito bites often get a bit hard and swollen, so I am not TOO worried.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? I don't want to go to the doctor because, for the first time in my life, I am unemployed and uninsured (no, I don't qualify for Medicare OR unemployment), and I don't want to spend $85 to be told nothing is wrong.

Am I right to assume that, 48 hours after a bite, these symptoms do not warrant a doctor's visit? I do not feel nauseous, feverish, no headache, etc. It's not getting rapidly worse or anything. It's not itching now as much as last night. Should I put some hydro-cortisone type of stuff on it and just wait?

Sorry this was so long ... looking for reassurance, really.

:crazy:

[Az]

1. Does it look like this?

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Some reactions can take days. If you are worried go to the doctor

to err on the side of caution.

[Lilyhoney]

3. If you have no pain then I would say it is not

a serious spider bite if a spider bite at all. Just my personal experience.

Don't scratch it.

If it developes a hard center that spreads, I might be concerned.

You could probally google spider bite images or symptoms.

Stay well.

[Az]

4. Do not rely on DU for medical advice. I will now scare you(graphic)

If you are worried go see a doctor now.

The photo I posted above is the early stages of a brown recluse bite. Here is a picture of a later stage.



If its lasting this long see a doctor, not a bunch of online armchair experts.

[AlienGirl]

5. GO TO THE DOCTOR

I had this on my leg and assumed it was a spider bite:


It turned out to be a serious infection.

And in a week it looked like this:


Tucker

[StellaBlue]

6. I should have said

That I had already googled images.

But it doesn't look nearly as bad as any of those - sort of like the first image posted, but not that bad - and it's already been 48 hours. It doesn't seem to be 'spreading', not itching nearly as much and it doesn't hurt.

I am going to put some ointment on it, not scratch it, and see what it looks like at 6am. If it still seems suspicious, or if it is suddenly worse, I will go to the clinic.

Thanks for the input!!! I appreciate you taking the time.

[bertha katzenengel]

7. Take care, Stell - and go to the doc.

And don't be surprised when this thread is locked. The administrators don't allow folks to ask for medical advice (unless it's for animals).

Best fishes!

[Scout1071]

8. You might try an antihistamine like benadryl for the itching.

Before this gets locked!

[StellaBlue]

9. Thanks!

Took some benadryl last night, put some gold bond on it, band-aids... is better this morning. Still a bit itchy, but not scary-looking.

I get bit by something at least every three days, and it ALWAYS gets red and inflamed...

thanks to everyone!!!!

[Moderator]

10. Locking.

The members of DU are not qualified to give medical advice. Please see a medical professional who can diagnose appropritately.