What Bit Me?

doorframe · #1 (**permalink**) 02-10-2006, 11:23 PM

Every summer it's the same. I sit in the garden, in my shorts, feeding my fish, being bitten by bugs! It's not normally a problem. The bugs get swiftly swatted, and the fish get some fresh meat!
My poor wife suffers badly from the bites. She has to run for the bite cream. I never react to the bites, and hold my arms out, to attract the fishes next 'course'.

In late May this year, i received 5 bites that changed this. 3 on my arms, and 2 on my legs. I don't remember the actual bite moments, but the bites had turned red and started itching before bedtime. I was suprised at the reaction, but put on some cream and thought no more. Thy became painful open sores, continually weeping. I tried so many different creams and anti-allergy tablets, but nothing improved.

5 months on, the arm bites have a very thin scar-tissue covering, which splits and weeps as soon as I wear long sleeves. The leg bites have never healed. The image I've added is obviously of the 2 bites on my left fore-arm, with scar-tissue intact (although still very irritating and as soon as I give-in and itch it, it will start weeping!). The pic of my leg bites is really too gruesome to post.

Can anyone suggest what member of DRACULA'S family did this to me?

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speckled wood · #2 (**permalink**) 02-10-2006, 11:29 PM

Not sure what bit you but the lack of healing must be concern, not sure if you have seen a doctor, a blood test might be worth while as the lack of healing might be caused by high blood sugar (diabetes).

doorframe · #3 (**permalink**) 02-10-2006, 11:42 PM

That was a quick reply!! Probably silly of me not to have seen a doctor, but the last doctor I saw died years ago, and his practise was about 40 miles away, where I used to live. If I am on a doctors books somewhere, I honestly have no idea!! I really should put that right.

My general healing is very good. The pic does show one of my many scars from my various mishaps over the years. My proffesions have always been 'hands-on and dirty'.

I was worried that I had something 'laid' inside me, but I didn't think British bugs did that.

Wild-Woman · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 04:49 AM

Ouch. Pehaps it was some type of horse fly. They are nasty little persistent beggars.
You don't say where you live. I say this because an Aunt of mine was bitten by the Dorset fly (no idea of it's scientific name and this may be just a local name for it) and ended up with open sores the same as you describe. She was very fit and younger at the time, so it wasn't as though it anything to do with age and healing time.
She lived in Bournemouth then and it made her unwell at the time.

I myself have some scars left from the summer bites. These were just gnat bites that itched like crazy and at that time were inflamed to the size of saucers. I eventually resorted to anti-histamine tablets.

I'm sure the 'biters' have been worse this year. I'm also thinking that, if your sores are still open, then a visit to the docs is a must.

Good luck. Julie

mrs fish · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 06:19 AM

If the bites turned into large swellings then it would be mosquitos, especially as you were near water, I get bitten every year, we live next to a canal so we are plagued with them, I spend most of the summer on antihistamines, it is the scratching that has caused you the scars.

Lance Morgan · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 07:02 AM

Looks like mosquito bites to me. You have a pronounced histamine reaction. The leg bites I would get seen to as you may have an infection in them.

henrya · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 08:21 AM

Wild-Woman's Dorset fly might be the notorious Blandford fly, a species of Simulium (black fly) that is a particular problem in Blandford Forum - the locals used to try and scare me with gruesome tales, but I was never bitten. But Simulium bites do provoke bad reactions, and this may be what has bitten doorframe.

henrya

Gill Catton · #8 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 09:18 AM

as the season progresses I get increasingly sensitive to mozzy bites, but the late summer bites sometimes react as you describe, i'm not sure if it relates to the species of what bit me or my own body going ' look I've had enough of getting bitten maybe this reaction will persuade you to actually use some insect repellant'.......

Paul mabbott · #9 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 01:17 PM

Look much like mossy piercings but then people react in different was. However, having been open for that period I would agree that there is likely to be an infection or something continuing so you ought to go and search out medical advice. Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance Morgan

Looks like mosquito bites to me. You have a pronounced histamine reaction. The leg bites I would get seen to as you may have an infection in them.

doorframe · #10 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 08:01 PM

Hi again...I'm in Essex, BTW.

When me and the missus, Anne, moved here from london, about 20 years ago, we were amazed at the size of the bugs, and within a few weeks Anne had bite reactions like golf balls all over her arms and legs. She had a course of injections at the local hospital, that seemed to not only reduce the swellings, but give her a bit more immunity as well. She still reacts to anything that takes a bite, but not as bad as before. On the other hand, I dont remember ever having even an itch from a bite, even when on foreign holidays. Apart from wasp stings, and one from a hornet!!!, no insect has ever done me any harm. Thats why I'm so shocked at these bites.

People have mentioned mozzies. The bugs I have always called mozzies are about half an inch long, with a snout of the same length. These have bitten me (or had a suck) thousands of times over the years, so I wonder if were talking about the same mozzies. If someone can post a pic of what you call a mozzie, it might help clear this up

Thanks for all the replys.