[Super Mario 64]

I have an area on my forearm that's rather swollen, about 4 to 5cm wide in diameter, and I have no idea what might have caused it, getting pretty worried..

It's quite itchy and hurts a bit when I put pressure on it. I've called a health helpline and they think based on the symptoms it could be just an insect bite?

Thing is, there's no hole or mark around the swollen area where the insect could have bitten me.
Has been like this since this morning,

what could it be?

Thanks in advance

[SmileAway]

I would just leave it to heal on its own, I hardly doubt its anything to worry about...you may have hit your arm on something and forgotten? However, if you are getting worried call up your GP and arrange an appointment. Also, since its itchy I would get it the E45 Itch Relief cream, it works quite well.

[HW5]

SmileAway has the right idea another cream that's really good is Germolene, it's antiseptic and anaesthetic so will help with the swelling and itching x


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Chiko 1001]

Sounds allergic to me. Try antihistamine creams or tablets (so bite creams or piriton) and see if that takes the edge off. In all likelihood it'll heal up in a few days. Bits sometimes take time to show or are just really tiny but provoke a large immune response. If you have any allergies you're probably more prone to IgE responses anyway so I wouldn't worry until it had been around for a while.

[Origami Bullets]

Keep an eye on it - if it spreads and becomes painful, it could be cellulitis, which needs antibiotics.

[Chiko 1001]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
Keep an eye on it - if it spreads and becomes painful, it could be cellulitis, which needs antibiotics.

This is reasonable advice but itching is more allergic. One good idea is to get a permanent marker and put dots on a couple of the edges of the rash. If the rash is beyond the dots in 24 hours you know it's growing, at which point you make a GP appointment for antibiotics

[Origami Bullets]

(Original post by Chiko 1001)
This is reasonable advice but itching is more allergic. One good idea is to get a permanent marker and put dots on a couple of the edges of the rash. If the rash is beyond the dots in 24 hours you know it's growing, at which point you make a GP appointment for antibiotics

Not a medic myself, but I have had cellulitis (idiopathic) that itched as well as being painful to the touch (ended up on IV antibiotics in hospital!), so whilst I agree that itching is often a sign of an allergic reaction, it doesn't rule out cellulitis / other things.

The dot thing is a good point though - I remember them doing that to me.

[Chiko 1001]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
Not a medic myself, but I have had cellulitis (idiopathic) that itched as well as being painful to the touch (ended up on IV antibiotics in hospital!), so whilst I agree that itching is often a sign of an allergic reaction, it doesn't rule out cellulitis / other things.

The dot thing is a good point though - I remember them doing that to me.

Not at all ruling it out- just that common things are common yada yada