Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Bug bites that itch and swell.

Resolved Question:

I have been getting what look to be bug bites for about a month and a half now. I only get about one or two at a time about once or twice a week. Whenever I get them they itch like crazy and they swell up for a couple days. They start out like mosquito bites and then the redness spreads and then in a couple days goes away but they still itch for weeks. Any idea what it could be?

Category: Community

Ask Your Own Question

Category: Family Physician-GP
 27 Doctors Online

Hi,

It seems that you are allergic to the bites you are getting. The bites may be from multiple sources. It can be red ants, mosquitoes, ticks, mites or louse. It is important to identify the source of the bites. It is especially important to identify tick bite as it may lead to other health manifestations.

Ant bites are by far the easiest to identify as they are easily seen. People can spontaneously develop allergy to ant bites and that can lead to swelling and itch.

Tick bites usually occur outdoors and in the woods. The bites have either have a characteristic bull's eye appearance or may involve hand and foot depending on the type of tick. Both the forms need immediate identification and treatment as it causes severe medical conditions like Lyme disease or endemic typhus.

Louse bites are usually from pets or sexually transmitted .They can easily be observed on the skin.

I would suggest you the following.

1) Take tab. Cetirizine 50 mg to relieve itch and pain at the site. Also apply topical povidone ointment.

2) Apply cold compress on the bite to reduce the inflammation and swelling. It also relieves the pain.

3) If you suspect a tick bite, consult your physician for serological blood test. If the blood test is positive, it can be treated with appropriate antibiotics.

4) Avoid the source of the bites, like pet dogs, camping or ants. They usually subside by itself after sometime.

5) Wash the rash or boil with antiseptic Dettol solution to prevent any super infection

Thank you.


Dr. John Monheit
Category: Family Physician-GP
Experience: 
Residecny: North Colorado Family Medicine
Medical School: The Chicago Medical Center
Dr. John Monheit and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news