Insect bite, infected? Need medical care immediately?

the is and it bite wound that body area you to or

Insect bite, infected? Need medical care immediately? My mom says she was bitten by an insect on thursday night, today is, well, saturday. I did some research and it says the bite is infected if there is swelling that is spreading towards the body, and warmth. I notice, yes, the area is slowly spreading towards the body, it is warm, and red. Should we seek medical attention, or just treat it with insect bite cream, and neosporin?

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

If the area directly around the bite is a little red and swollen, Neosporin should suffice (after you clean the wound).

However, if you see red %26quot;lines%26quot; going towards the body, or notice that the redness has progressed an inch or more from the initial wound, consider that it may be infected or, worse yet, there may have been toxins in the bite itself.

Any time a toxin is introduced into the body, it should be dealt with in a speedy manner. If you think it%26#039;s even possible that her wound is %26quot;out of the ordinary%26quot; from a regular bite, go see a doctor immediately.

I strongly suggest washing the wound and keeping it as clean as possible. Get some anti-bacterial soap, put it on a wet rag, and scrub the area lightly. Wash it off gently with water, and place a sterile dressing over the wound.

If there is associated swelling (as is typical with insect bites), you can also put ice on it to reduce swelling, slow blood flow to the area, and ease a bit of pain.

Best of luck to you. Emergency Medical Technician, Wilderness EMT, N.A., PSGT 67% 2 Votes

Insect bite, infected? Need medical care immediately?

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Other Answers (3)