What bit me?! Make it stop itching!

[Bertha Venation]

Something bit me over the weekend and I have a welt about 3"x3" on my right calf. It itches like a MOFO -- and it hurts!

I see a little spot that could be a bite mark but I'm not sure.

Benadryl cream isn't helping. Swabbing with alcohol helps for about two minutes. Rubbing furiously with a wet paper towel is gratifying but doesn't help at all.

What bit me?! Got any home remedies I might try?

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

[madinmaryland]

1. If its a spider bite, you might want to call your doctor.

Some spiders (brown recluse is one) that is very dangerous. Someone at work got bit and ended up in the hospital. I am no doctor, but I have a pdf file on this if you are interested.

[Bertha Venation]

5. Do we have brown recluses in Maryland? eom

[Bossy Monkey]

7. No

[Nay]

9. Um -- hate to tell ya, but we got recluses in VA, despite what this

map says. To the bitten person -- might be a good idea to see a doc, since this is the standard appearance for a spider bite. You may be allergic to the venom and need allegy meds.

[Bossy Monkey]

12. I think we have 'em here in SC, too; lemme try to find a better map

Will provide link on edit

Edit: Virginia Tech says the range reaches to the western tip of Virginia, but they're rare there: http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/brownrec.html
Everybody else seems to have the same or a similar map.

[Bertha Venation]

13. hmm... from what I've seen on the web today of photos of recluse bites,

I don't think that's what bit me. These maps reaffirm that. Can't tell you how much I appreciate your digging them up! Thank you.

[Infomaniac]

2. I was thinking the same thing.

My ex-inlaws live down South where it's not uncommon to be bit by a brown recluse. I'm not sure if the habitat extends up to Maryland. The key symptom for a brown recluse bite is the pain. Please give your doctor a call.

[stellanoir]

3. if you can get to a health food store at this hour

Go and buy some "sting stop" from B&T. It's a homeopathic cure that works miraculously. It has echinachea and citronella in it. In lieu of that option, try a baking soda or corn starch paste. . .that means just ad a little water. . . and apply. Hope you have relief soon.

[madinmaryland]

4. Check out this web site:

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2002/08/05/hlsa0805.htm

[Bossy Monkey]

6. The obvious ones would be a bee sting or horsefly bite, but presumably

you would have noticed. I'm assuming you didn't fall asleep outside in a hammock or anything like that.

Try any antihistamine; Claritin seems to be recommended.

[Kali]

8. chigger or bad reaction to a flea?

flea bites kill me - but it will go away in few days. Watch for hot redness/pus - that indicates infection. Plain old aspirin can relieve or at least lesson symptoms. Home remedies ok to try as long as they don't further damage the skin - try a paste of oatmeal, or the various others mentioned. When we were kids with itchy bites Dad always tried to distract us with other activities - and you know it worked!

[Blue Gardener]

10. Benadryl and Tea Tree Salve

You can find a good salve at the health food store, it's what I put on any kind of skin irritation. I LOVE it!

[sundog]

11. Maybe you got bit by the love bug

:7

[Bertha Venation]

14. Thanks to all for your ideas. It hasn't changed since I started this

thread, and I won't be stupid: If it gets worse, or if the redness starts creeping toward my heart -- or if my live-in reality checker suggests it -- I will go to the doc.

Thanks again! :hi:

[Eloriel]

15. YESS!!!!!!!! Plantain -- Plantago major, a common weed

Look it up on the internet so you can identify it in your yard or elsewhere. It grows wild just about all across the country. Beautiful little weed with long, wide leaves that are lightly ribbed (on the back).

Or see if you can find some in bulk if you have a local source. Or heck, order it online (I've used Penn Herbs in the past). I'm not sure if it comes in capsules (at your healthfood store) or not. Maybe

Mix a little of the dried leaf powder with anything to make a paste -- aloe vera gel or juice is good, water will work. Apply. Put a bandaid over to keep it on. Or if you've got the fresh weed (no, not that kind of weed ;-) ), macerate it to release some of the juice and apply using a bandaid or bandage to keep it on. Reapply as necessary.

We have fire ants in my neck of the woods and this remedy WORKS. And believe me, this works wonderfully, quickly, and completely after a few applications.

Edited to add: you might also take some echnacea capsules to help your immune system cope.

[ornotna]

16. Rub a little amonia on it

It might sting a bit(not for too long) but it will make the itching stop.