Bug Bites and exaggerated reations

[RandyM]

I have CLL, and got a bug bite on my forearm that has a large swollen lump about the size of a large egg. It seems to be getting larger too. It has a small scab, very itchy, and swelling is reddened.

Thank you for any advice.

[Spark_Plug]

What have you done so far, and have you contacted medical personnel for suggestions?

I know it seems so weird to have to make calls for things we used to take as an everyday occurrence, but that is one of the day-to-day issues with this illness, our bodies react to things that were always just taken care of for us.

Hope you find relief, obviously don't scratch the contaminants under the cleanest fingernails can infect.

[RandyM in reply to Spark_Plug]

So far I have put ice on it and a 1% hydrocortisone cream. The bite mark is a scab now. Nothing seems to help. I didn't try allergy meds yet such as Benedryl. I will contact my doctor if the swelling continues. Thanks for reminding me of using clean fingernails Spark Plug! 👍

[Spark_Plug in reply to RandyM]

Don't undervalue the power of an ice pack, just use it carefully so as to not damage the skin.🙂

[RandyM in reply to Spark_Plug]

Thanks Spark Plug. I will be careful and only try frozen pea bags and not often. I do not want to damage the area even more!

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Randy,

Exaggerated reactions are common among us CLL patients due to our unstable immune system that over reacts to them. A medical professional can usually help decide between anti histamines or steroid topical cremes. Either need to be used on a limited basis due to longer term use causing side effects.

Get medical help asap to avoid further injury, a skin infection or sepsis.

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You can see past discussions by looking for the box on this page labeled: "Related Posts

*Bug bites - any suggestions?

*bug bites - skin issues

*Protecting myself from bug bites

*Bites and Itch Relief"

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Or see the 37 past postings that included bug bites here: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

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Len

[RandyM in reply to lankisterguy]

lankisterguy, I am always worried about sepsis.

Thanks for the info and the links for past discussions on bug bites. Very helpful!👍

[C1952]

Hi Randy, I also had a bug bite on my forearm that itched, formed a large bump and kept growing. Long story short it ended up being squamous cell skin cancer.

[RandyM in reply to C1952]

My sister had squamous cell cancer too. I hope your sister had a good outcome! Thanks for commenting. Makes me more worried and I wll go to Urgent Care this AM.

[opal11uk]

You need to get this checked out, hubby has had same and we went to hospital to get it checked out., thankfully after a long wait, the drugs had taken the redness down. Advice to take all rings off, take antihistermines and apply Hydrocortisone cream. Also, draw a circle around the swollen area so that progress of swelling and redness can be monitored for spread. These bites can turn very nasty and quickly too, in extreme cases Cellulitis and Sepsis so should not be ignored. Good luck

[Pearlpink]

hi. I agree with opal. If you get a break in the skin it will almost certainly become infected very quickly. A scab is basically a break in the skin which has scabbed over.

I started to get the same before I was diagnosed with cll and a dermatologist said I had hypersensitive skin and that I should keep antibiotics at home for if I got mosquito bites. It turned out to be the first indicator I had CLL.

With me infection is inevitable. Mosquito bite goes on to blistering and defect in skin, and infection. Absolutely nothing I can do stops it getting infected. I have to take antibiotics.

A scab like a golden crust usually means staph infection. Early infection with strep causes bit of irregularity of the redness, leading to streaks. It’s not easy to determine which though, as either of both can be involved, it’s just a classic description from textbook.

Like everyone else says, important to ring a dr today, and tell them you are worried about the possibility of cellulitis because of your cll. Within hours of antibiotics you should get a reduction in pain. Getting bigger is usually a sign of cellulitis.

Good luck! I find the best prevention is religiously protecting myself against bites.

Funnily enough mosquitoes seem to hate me since I had treatment lol! 🤞

[LeoPa]

Size of a large egg? You mean the diameter of it? Because if I had a large egg size swelling under my skin I would be banging on the door of my GP straight away

[RandyM in reply to LeoPa]

Yes it is a thick lump and wide. Today it is larger, more painful, and spreading more. My son said for me to pack a bag because he is taking me to the Urgent Care center and he thinks they may put me in the hospital. Thanks for commenting.

[Bobby9toes in reply to RandyM]

Good for your son. I’m glad he’s taking you. I know in my case, my daughter has done the same for me when I’m reluctant to go on my own. Good luck and let us know what the doctor says. Jan

[Spark_Plug in reply to LeoPa]

Which egg LeoPa, Robin, or Ostrich? 😉

[RandyM in reply to Spark_Plug]

Sparky, it feels like the extinct Madagascan elephant bird egg, but alas, it is only as big as an ostrich egg that got slightly flattened, 😂 No yolk!

[LeoPa in reply to Spark_Plug]

Wow, I knew Batman was laying eggs but Robin too? 😁

[Gino23]

I have the same thing, put cortisone cream on it

[RandyM in reply to Gino23]

I did too Gino23, but nothing seems to help. Thanks.