Possible Insect Bite

[emmie]

not sure but think i have been bitten again by some damn insect,
sitting minding my own business watching tv last evening. itch, scratch and a large welt has come up. What creepy crawlies live on the sofa, as that is where i was sitting. No animals in the house, so not cat, dog fleas?
And what to put on it, as it's large lump, the last time this happened it lasted for several weeks.

[mrs_overall]

Here you go

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Treatment.aspx

[emmie]

thanks, what i don't know is what caused it, no plants in the house as they die as soon as look at them, and no animals, it most definitely is something in the sofa, so am worried as this is the second time, bitten in the same place too.

[mrs_overall]

Bit of a puzzler is that one em.
Is the sofa new? Has any one who owns animals been sat on it recently?

[emmie]

not new and no one, so am worried something is lurking, possibly upholstery, carpet bug, if anyone has a clue let me know, as said the last time the welt lasted several weeks.

[mrs_overall]

Sorry em, I don't know what to suggest. Hopefully someone will come along with some suggestions xx

[emmie]

interesting but some not practical,

http://www.ehow.com/info_7900870_home-remedy-mites-pests-upholstery.html

[emmie]

can just see me dragging the sofa outside, the neighbours would have a field day, probably setting it alight...

[mrs_overall]

Bed bugs could be the answer. There must be a simpler way to treat upholstery x

[Sqad]

No idea what insect.....but pop some Anthisan or Phenergan Cream over it.
Should settle within a week. Watch that it doesn't become red, swollen and infected.

[emmie]

thanks, it must be from the sofa, living room, as not the first time this has happened, in the same place, base of the spine, just what i sit on, itching and sore.

[mrs_overall]

Em, if it is painful I recommend ibuprofen ;-)

[emmie]

more itchy really, want to scratch it like mad, won't as they will make things worse.
sqad if becomes infected what is next thing to do? come to think of it how would one know, i can't actually see it, not without being a contortionist.

[pastafreak]

Don't scratch!...that leads to infection.
Do spiders bite...they are another likely creep crawlie you might have in the house.

[Sqad]

You would know...you wouldn't be scratching it.....too painful and the glands may well come up in your groin.You would also feel unwell and need antibiotics.

[emmie]

don;t think it's spider, possible dust mite, the place attracts it like buzzards round a carcass..

[emmie]

won't scratch it, will pop out in a while to buy some anthisan or other...

[boxtops]

Go and see the pharmacist at your chemist - they'll know what to suggest, don't just self-medicate. Or, if you have a local minor injuries unit or drop-in centre, take yourself there. I'd rather do that than guess and self-medicate.

[Sqad]

boxy....you have missed out phoning NHS24.

[bednobs]

in my opinion, if it was through your clothes, it's not an insect bite. The fact that it's exactly the same place as before also says to me it isn't. I once had an itcht red spot in exactly the place you describe and i'm just trying to remember what it was. I think it was something to do with herpes simplex. I certainly had to be very careful with work/occy health as i worked on a haematology unit at the time

[emmie]

i have bought some Anthisan, see what happens, if it gets worse will phone doctor.