Insect Bites

[vole-woman]

Oh folks, at what point would you bother a doctor about an insect bite? I've got a finger that's really swollen after a bite on the middle knuckle yesterday, and the swelling's also some way into the hand. Is there anything I could take to calm the infection? I tried tea tree oil this morning, to no apparent effect.

Also, while I'm on the subject, can anyone recommend a damn good insect repellant? I'm ever so tasty when it comes to midges etc.

[agrumpycow]

If the area was red and hot to the touch it could point to an infection. If it were me my first port of call would be the pharmacist.
My Mum & brother-in-law were bit last year the pharmacist gave them some kind of cream which did the trick

[Gill Catton]

do you have any aloe vera plants? the gel from the leaves helps me a lot - I sometimes have a very bad reaction to bites and end up with a balloon hand after a bite on the hand or finger!! One year the swelling even starting tracking up my arm! As a last resort when I can stand the tingling, throbbing and itching no longer I take an anti-histamine and that seems to work after one or two doses.

[Gill Catton]

As for insect repellant - unfortunately no I can't -......... I wish I could......

[nutmeg]

The swellings I get when bitten are quite large and often hot to the touch (even when not infected) - they certainly produce a burning itch and I tend to resort to anti-histamines, which usually do the trick. Tea tree will ease things a bit, but I see it more as a way of (hopefully) avoiding infection, because I do scratch the bites!

I have yet to find a repellent that works

[vole-woman]

Thanks, guys. I'll pop into the chemist and ask the pharmacist to take a look, and get some antihistamines while I'm at it.

[petermcgain]

My wife says citranella is good - and she's quite tasty.

[vole-woman]

Ta! I'm on the case.

[watsthat]

Must be a woman thing then. My wife reacts to any bite/sting but I don`t really get anything even with a bee sting apart from a small red mark which soon disappears.

Pete

[monkey]

I seem to be reacting to bites worse in recent years and recently got bitten just above my eyebrow and my eye really closed up and the swelling then drop to my cheek bone I ended up at the doctors again and on penicillin! I would love to find a solution to avoiding being biten its so painful!
Has anyone found Citranella works and where do you buy it?

Linda