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Suggest Treatment For Insect Bite

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Posted on Fri, 19 Dec 2014
Question: I have a photo of a red ring around a black scab which my husband pulled off. The red ring is about 25% larger from the diameter was yesterday. Can you look at the photo for your possible diagnosis of it is a tick bite or spider bite or something else.

Earlier I sent you a photo of the area, which is on the arm just below the elbow. Did my photo come through?

Yesterday, Nov. 19, 2014, my husband showed me on his right arm a nickel-like area just under the elbow. There was some kind of bite or a tick, we thought. It is like a bullseye, with an outside circle of red around a yellowish main color and in the center was a dark, scabbed circle about 1/8" in diameter. My husband took off the scab and there was a crater that was red, but was not bleeding, although the blood was wet.

As of today the outside red circle has grown 25% larger in diameter. There is some slight scabbing of the center. The red circle appears to be lighter.

The photo attached was taken yesterday, Nov.19, 2014.

We live in the redwoods and there are deer and ticks, mites and insects.

My husband picked fruit from trees at our neighbors yesterday. Also he worked in his shop in the basement yesterday. There are many spiders and other insects in the basement.

We've taken ticks off of people over the years, when the ticks were sucking out blood. We thought possibility that there was a tick on him that was somehow was flattened and died.

Attached is photo from Nov. 23, 2014, yesterday.

Should we go to the doctor? It's hard to get him to the doctor and is not concerned. I am.

Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
For now just observe him.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.

I read carefully your query, and understand your concern about your husband.

Considering the picture ,it seems to be an insect bite ,a tick bite is possible too.
It is normal to develop such a rash after an insect (it is a normal skin reaction to the bite ).Usually a normal insect bite does not expand to a size larger than a dime.
If this rash continue to expand in some days or weeks and reach big dimensions (up to 20 cm in diameter) he should consider consulting a physician for examination.
There are many different types of ticks, some of which can transmit infections.
It is important to know if he is experiencing any other symptom like weakness, nausea, fever, vomiting, palpitations, rash, joint pain, swelling, numbness, confusion etc.
If he is feeling well ,you don't need to worry,just observe him in the following days.If he experience the above symptoms you should take him to the doctor ,otherwise you have nothing to worry about.
So for now ,you should just observe him and see what happens.

Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any other question or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.

Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Rovena

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2013

Answered : 1243 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Insect Bite

Brief Answer: For now just observe him. Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome to Healthcare Magic. I read carefully your query, and understand your concern about your husband. Considering the picture ,it seems to be an insect bite ,a tick bite is possible too. It is normal to develop such a rash after an insect (it is a normal skin reaction to the bite ).Usually a normal insect bite does not expand to a size larger than a dime. If this rash continue to expand in some days or weeks and reach big dimensions (up to 20 cm in diameter) he should consider consulting a physician for examination. There are many different types of ticks, some of which can transmit infections. It is important to know if he is experiencing any other symptom like weakness, nausea, fever, vomiting, palpitations, rash, joint pain, swelling, numbness, confusion etc. If he is feeling well ,you don't need to worry,just observe him in the following days.If he experience the above symptoms you should take him to the doctor ,otherwise you have nothing to worry about. So for now ,you should just observe him and see what happens. Hope it helps. Let me know if you have any other question or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further. Kind regards, Dr.Rovena Murati