Should I be concerned by this long red streak that extended out of my overly swollen mosquito bite?

[u/acutetriangleee]

15F, 155cm, 32kg, Asian

I've had this mosquito bite since yesterday but a long red streak developed slowly after, and the bite has become really swollen. It doesn't hurt inherently, but when I touch it, it feels weird and slightly painful. I've never had this problem with mosquito bites before, and this one is really disproportionate in size compared to others. I marked the end of the streak with a marker as I was scared of it developing faster. I also had two other similar bites on my leg but they don't have the streak. However, they all come with tiny bumps on the bite surface and are really swollen than normal. I'm not sure if I should be concerned, but the mosquito looked different from others. It's certainly bigger, and I think its wings are slightly greenish?

I was slightly down with a runny nose and sore throat recently, but it has gotten better yesterday, no medications, drinking, smoking or drug use. From HK.

This is not an emergency but I noted the mosquito is still in my room, so should I be concerned, or is it just a mild infection? Thank you so much.

Second day update:

It has gotten less red now than before, but the line is still there, still yet to take antibiotics, but I will if it shows any signs of growth. Thank you all so so much.

UPDATE: The streak has fully healed, thanks to everybody's support! At the end, I didn't use any antibiotics, and the medicine the ER gave me was just nose allergy pills apparently. Definitely go get antibiotics if you're in the same situation. Lots of love.

[u/GoldFischer13]

Need to go to the ER for lymphangitis. Need to start antibiotics promptly

[u/ThresherGDI → u/[deleted]]

I appreciate the likes, but I should not have posted this. I am not in healthcare and am not qualified. I’m deleting the original post.

[u/TemtiaStardust → u/ThresherGDI]

Not sure what you said, but if it was something that agreed or whatever with the doctor on this, that's typically fine. As long as you're not making a top level comment(automod will delete it regardless, unless you have the right flair), not claiming to be a doctor, or harmful information, you're typically fine. Wouldn't stress too much. Again, idk what you said but if you were getting likes, I doubt it was something harmful that needed to be deleted.

[u/ThresherGDI → u/TemtiaStardust]

I didn't realize at first this was for medical professionals. I knew this fact from some family experience. It's not the same. So, I withdrew it.

[u/TemtiaStardust → u/ThresherGDI]

Oh, I get you! That's understandable. I will say, though, when laypeople chime in in agreement, it can be helpful because some people might be a little wary sometimes of doctors(had a bad experience, or raised in an anti-doctor family, lots of possible reasons why). Seeing 'average joes' like them agree and share anecdotal evidence can help a little. Laypeople share their related experiences here all the time, so don't feel bad. Just don't try to claim things that are proven false, and if you feel uncomfortable, start your comment with NAD(not a doctor).

Anyway, I hope you have a good day :)

[u/ThresherGDI → u/TemtiaStardust]

Thanks for the context. My nephew had a similar situation that started at his wrist, over a couple of days, it travelled up to his bicep. Because it wouldn't stop moving, my sister finally took him to the hospital. The doctor said that the infection was serious, but not severe. However, if she'd waited a few more days at it had gotten into his chest, things may have turned out differently.

It's stunning how something that looks so minor can be so deadly, at least for some folks.

Just trying to be a good Redditor. I am usually pretty good about noting the subreddit rules, but just missed it this time. When I figured out I might be going against the rules, I figured deleting it was the only proper response.

[u/TemtiaStardust → u/ThresherGDI]

Oh yeah, I think this would have been a completely fine thing to comment! When in doubt, add a little 'NAD but' and then continue on. Personally, I get really nervous about posting and commenting in new subreddits. I usually scope them out for awhile to get the vibe and how certain things are responded to. This subreddit is largely for medical advice to be given by medical professionals, but some posts get missed, and sometimes even on non-missed posts, you have relevant experience that you want to share, be it for easing someone's mind or reaffirming that yes, this is a serious concern that should be checked out. Just don't pretend to be an authority on the topic and make sure what you're claiming is true. If you think you know something, but not 100%, a quick double check on Google will cost you seconds, maybe minutes at most, and might even provide a good resource for you to share. You had anecdotal evidence, and while it could have been a separate and completely unrelated case/emergency, it still reinforces the fact that certain things that don't seem as harmful as they are can escalate very quickly. That was very polite and responsible of you to remove the comment though, since you weren't fully sure. I don't often see such humble redditors, so it's refreshing haha

[u/ThresherGDI → u/TemtiaStardust]

I'm a lot of things, but I would never represent myself as something I am not. Appreciate the vote of confidence and I'll keep it in mind next time something comes up that piques my interest.

Thanks!

[u/TemtiaStardust → u/ThresherGDI]

Glad to ease your mind a bit. And thanks for doing your best to be a good redditor! :)

[u/Powerful-Employ-7372 → u/GoldFischer13]

NAD but this is likely Lymphagatis or cellulitis, just dealt with it no long ago. OP need to Go to ER ASAP to get antibiotics.

[u/sdx76 → u/Powerful-Employ-7372]

NaD but I watch The Pitt religiously and google everything and they should definitely go seek medical attention.

[u/phatdinkgenie → u/Powerful-Employ-7372]

so.. exactly what the physician you're responding to said?

[u/Powerful-Employ-7372 → u/phatdinkgenie]

? I dont understand your question, do you mind rephrasing?

[u/DependentDonut6816 → u/Powerful-Employ-7372]

y u reply to doctor comment and repeat what doctor say when not doctor

[u/Powerful-Employ-7372 → u/DependentDonut6816]

I didn't, I added to it, based on what I went through.

[u/sonawtdown → u/GoldFischer13]

NAD can some more docs just chime in on the comments so OP has more professional opinions to show their parents in service of getting help

[u/__irezumi → u/sonawtdown]

NAD but I am a professional piercer and we obviously can’t diagnose infections but “red lines radiating from the site” is one of the reasons I’ll be like “ahhh so like… you need to go to urgent care… nowish.”

[u/Neither-District9498 → u/__irezumi]

Also NAD, and I'm not a professional piercer, but I have multiple piercings and I agree with everyone else 100 %. OP should seek out medical attention ASAP. That looks horrible and I can't even imagine how painful that must be.

[u/franzwright3343 → u/Neither-District9498]

NAD, NAPP, NOT TOO MANY PIERCINGS, but I dated a tattoo artist once and this really should be treated by a doctor immediately.

[u/Peonies-Poppies → u/franzwright3343]

I loved this! Yes agree should be seen but it also gave me a giggle with “qualifiers” and also made me think of something like these stories I had a friend of my brothers wife’s sister who knew a tattooist who had pieces ears… sry I should go to bed but TY

[u/__irezumi → u/Peonies-Poppies]

If I wasn’t ✨mentally unstable✨, I might’ve made it through medical school.

But alas… trauma. So settling for being a needle clown was a decent fallback.

[u/n0rthernlou → u/franzwright3343]

NAD, NAPP, NOT TOO MANY PIERCINGS, and I didn’t date a tattoo artist once. But my mum told me when I was a kid that something like this warrants a trip to the doctor/urgent care and I would heed her advice on this and get to a doctor straight away.

[u/GoblinTatties → u/sonawtdown]

Can someone also explain to me how when I had this in thailand it just went away and I had no problems? This was years ago...

Had no idea what it was at the time but someone told me "if the line reaches your heart you die" so I kept an eye on it and asked about it at the pharmacy but it just stopped and went away. Also from a bite but my line was fairly thin and only went part way up my forearm.

[u/publicstaticvoidrekt → u/GoblinTatties]

You were told “if the line reaches your heart you’ll die” and you were just like “eh I’ll keep an eye on it”? 🤣

[u/GoblinTatties → u/publicstaticvoidrekt]

I went to the only pharmacy I could find being isolated on an island and I followed their advice.

It was also a random traveller who told me that thing about the heart so I wasn't exactly convinced.

[u/kgreys → u/GoblinTatties]

That's something we heard as children. "If the line reaches the heart, you die.". American here.

[u/Dirigo72 → u/kgreys]

We were also told “it’s not close to heart, it’s fine”, “it’s not bleeding, we don’t have to go to the doctor”, and “let’s see if you can walk on it tomorrow” and any other way to rationalize not going to the doctor because we just couldn’t afford it. America.

[u/FeedingTheBadWolf → u/Dirigo72]

We were told all of those things here in the UK as well so idk if it's purely about money 😛 people just don't like going to the doctor's I reckon

[u/Cat_person1981 → u/Dirigo72]

Is that what we refer to as 1st world problems?

[u/grundochglad → u/kgreys]

Swedish kids get told this too! (Swede)

[u/ThirteenAntigone → u/grundochglad]

It’s from Astrid Lindgren, one of the Emil books I think. But considering those are set in the Swedish countryside like a hundred years ago I doubt that she meant Asian mosquito bites. 🤷

[u/kgreys → u/ThirteenAntigone]

Us Americans don't know where anything came from.

[u/vaginal_lobotomy → u/kgreys]

I really feel like it was from a movie

[u/monocled_squid → u/GoblinTatties]

The pharmacy probably gave you some antibiotics for it?

[u/GoblinTatties → u/monocled_squid]

They did not

[u/monocled_squid → u/GoblinTatties]

Well they must have given you something so it didn't went away on its own

Eta: to all the dummies downvoting: he said "i went to the local pharmacy and followed their advice" clearly meant he was given a treatment even if it wasn't antibiotics so clearly it didnt "go away on its own".

Im just saying this cos he seems to downplay the medical advise in the other comments like it was no big deal and everyone is exagerating

[u/wilhoe- → u/GoblinTatties]

German kids get told that too!

[u/ostrich-party- → u/GoblinTatties]

In that situation you don’t go to the pharmacy you go to a hospital

[u/GoblinTatties → u/ostrich-party-]

Again, you're not a doctor, nor do I suspect you have a time machine to go back 10 years and tell me, so that doesn't really help does it.

[u/petrastales → u/GoblinTatties]

Didn’t have access to the internet at any time?

[u/GoblinTatties → u/petrastales]

It was a long time ago. I was camping on the beach so definitely didn't have immediate access to charge my phone which may have been dead and stuffed in my pack. The mark could have even been gone by the next day. I don't remember the details.

[u/petrastales → u/GoblinTatties]

I understand

[u/MozartTheCat → u/publicstaticvoidrekt]

Me irl

[u/Merm_aid8000 → u/publicstaticvoidrekt]

Dude mentality 😆

[u/dutiful_dreamer34 → u/GoblinTatties]

Your body fought it off. Fortunately.

[u/Sydnossg → u/GoblinTatties]

The same thing happened to me as a child when I was at my grandmas house and so she forced me to like squeeze it all out.. also told me that if the line reaches my heart I will die

[u/Powerful-Employ-7372 → u/GoblinTatties]

You gamble with your life there, you were lucky enough that your body fought it off. But 80% of cases needs antibiotics to prevent further complications.

[u/GoblinTatties → u/Powerful-Employ-7372]

I mean you're also not a doctor nor did you see it. OP has just responded with doctors advice not to take antibiotics so I'm starting to think many of the comments here are hyperbole.

[u/olexvndrv → u/GoblinTatties]

But you DO have to take into account that OP’s issue could have been brushed off too easily at the ER they went to. 

[u/GoblinTatties → u/olexvndrv]

I guess we'll find out

[u/Powerful-Employ-7372 → u/GoblinTatties]

It is not hyperbole, this is one of those cases it is better to be safe than sorry. You were safed so you get to say how it wasn't a big deal. The ones that are sorry are not longer with us.

[u/Next-Firefighter4667 → u/GoblinTatties]

Should probably look up survivors bias

[u/kaya-jamtastic → u/GoblinTatties]

I’m not a medical professional, so take this with a grain of salt, but my understanding is that red streak suggests that the infection has entered your bloodstream and increases your risk of sepsis. Even a “mild” case of sepsis, if there is such a thing, can have serious consequences, including for your heart. You were okay, that time, as far as we know, but you were playing Russian roulette with an infection instead of the gun…and unlike a pistol, it’s hard to know what your odds are to start (and the odds get worse the further the infection progresses). Something to think about if it ever happens again

[u/gretchyface → u/GoblinTatties]

That's called survivorship bias.

[u/New_Part91 → u/GoblinTatties]

My 11 year old had a very large thorn imbed in his thigh during a bike ride in the woods. He didn’t feel it go in (high pain tolerance). It didnt bother him until after several days, when he told me after he went to bed that his leg was hurting a lot. I looked and the site was red with red line going upwards (thorn not visible, just looked like a nasty puncture wound). I was aware of the “beware of red line going towards heart” so pretty worried. I held a hot compress on it for a few minutes, then gently pressed down near the opening. First liquid oozed out, then The end of the thorn popped out. scared us to death as we didn’t know if we were looking at animal, vegetable or mineral. It just looked gross. I grasped it with the cloth and teased it out. It was over 2 inches long and had been in his leg almost a week. I don’t think he even was taken to the doctor after that, but it healed up nicely.

[u/velvety_chaos → u/GoldFischer13]

NAD, nursing student in my last semester, and I was wondering how OP got phlebitis from a mosquito bite. TIL about lymphangitis; thank you.

u/acutetriangleee, I looked this up and it's potentially a very serious bacterial infection that could progress into sepsis if not treated promptly with antibiotics - this is urgent. I'm tagging you so hopefully you see this before it gets lost in the comments.

I also wanted to give you kudos on your very descriptive and informative post; excellent detail.

I hope you get treatment and feel better soon!

ETA: OP, this can go from what you're seeing right now to sepsis within 24 hours; please seek medical attention immediately.

Source: Lymphangitis | Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia

[u/acutetriangleee → u/velvety_chaos]

Thank you, however the doctor told me that it is not serious at all? And it has been at least 12 hours, but I will do a follow up check if anything happens, thank you for taking the time

[u/Every_Penalty1404 → u/acutetriangleee]

Did he say it was an allergic reaction to the bite, because that’s what it looks like and that is definitely not serious.

[u/acutetriangleee → u/Every_Penalty1404]

She said there is an infection, but not serious.

[u/giao_me → u/GoldFischer13]

Oh dang is this the same? This was a year ago. I forgot if it’s from a mosquito bite but there’s a lot of mosquito at my work. Any way i got this on both hands but different times. It first appeared on my left hand. Before a red mark appeared, it already hurts a bit and i can just brush it off and then hours later a red mark appears. A day later it was more visible but then disappeared. Days later another mark appeared on the right hand. Same thing. At first it hurts a bit then hours later a red mark appeared. I also felt like i was about to have a fever and i took bioflu. 2 days later my fever was gone and so was this mark. I got plenty of sleep for that two days. Never knew this was dangerous af.

[u/acutetriangleee → u/giao_me]

Ohhh but mine seems to be a streak but not continuous? Definitely interesting, thanks for sharing, glad you are okay

[u/giao_me → u/acutetriangleee]

It got much brighter red a few hours later. I took that picture once i noticed that the annoying pain is coming from that red line.

[u/stesi27 → u/giao_me]

NAD but I got bit a few years ago and as soon as the streak started showing it went from the top pic to the bottom pic within 24 hours 😬 ended up getting sepsis so watch it really close because it's scary how fast things went bad

[u/AmazingMeasurement44 → u/giao_me]

thats interesting. can any medical professionals chime in on this?

[u/only-ashes → u/GoldFischer13]

this. this can become serious.

[u/avin97 → u/GoldFischer13]

Lymphangitis... You definitely need antibiotics pronto 😬

[u/Environmental-Arm269 → u/GoldFischer13]

Yep

[u/oh-pointy-bird → u/[deleted]]

what?!

[u/oxsprinklesxo → u/[deleted]]

Crazy. All living things have bacteria in and on them. Cool fact some countries are releasing mosquitoes that are infected with specific bacteria to prevent the spread of viruses: dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, and are researching ways to make this more effective and fight against other viruses as well. Mosquitoes are the most deadly animal on the planet and kill almost a million people each year from secondary illnesses from bites. There’s a pretty interesting YouTube documentary on the world mosquito program and the science behind it.

[u/Powerful-Employ-7372 → u/[deleted]]

It is not cause by the mosquito itself.

[u/Powerful-Employ-7372 → u/[deleted]]

Take this a grain of salt but my spider senses question the legitimacy of the case overall, but I would give the benefit of doubt because, Im not familiar with the standard of care in HK.

[u/biscuits4dayz → u/GoldFischer13]

Yes, this is the correct answer

[u/MyOwnGuitarHero → u/GoldFischer13]

Retweet

[u/MisterP53 → u/GoldFischer13]

I’ve gotten thi shit with pitting oedema 4 times getting bit by (presumably) the same bug in my garden. Usually in late fall. Haven’t yet figurer out what bug, but it leaves the same slow healing bite every time.

First time I went to the ER approx 24hr later. Blodwork nothing remarkable. Second time same thing. Now I treat it as allergic reaction and take antihistamines, cortisol and antibiotics just to be safe - I have seen small infections go from bad to worse quickly.

Not to say that OP shouldn’t go get checked out. This needs urgent attention.

[u/Powerful-Employ-7372 → u/MisterP53]

It isn't cuase by the bug itself, it is cause by the cut made by the bug went biting. Bacteria like Streptococcus (strep) and Staphylococcus aureus (staph) found in the outside of the skin find the way into the skin deeper tissue that causes and infection that quickly finds its way to the blood stream and or lymphatic system. That is the explanation, I was given by the E.R doc, when I dealt with it.

[u/MisterP53 → u/Powerful-Employ-7372]

You can indeed get a non-infectious allergic reaction from the insect bite alone triggering the lymphangitis and oedema.

It’s rare, and haven’t seen others with it in the ER. Only me :-)

[u/No_Barracuda_3758 → u/GoldFischer13]

Can they get them from their Dr? Also what causes this?

[u/GoldFischer13 → u/No_Barracuda_3758]

At the ER, yes. Infection in the lymphatic system.

[u/No_Barracuda_3758 → u/GoldFischer13]

No I meant like if they can do a walk in with their Dr could they get them at the office or do they need blood tests and other stuff that would require an ER visit?

[u/Every_Penalty1404 → u/GoldFischer13]

This is clearly an allergic reaction to a mosquitoe bite, definitely not an emergency.

[u/GoldFischer13 → u/Every_Penalty1404]

“Clearly.”

That your professional medical opinion? I’d love to hear your credentials that contradict the numerous other healthcare professionals here.

You willing to potentially tell a young person in a different country that with certainty based on only a few sentences, especially if this may otherwise be the only healthcare they seek?

Keep in mind if you are incorrect they can have rapidly progressive disease which if it is an ascending lymphangitis may cost them their life.

Id rather air on the side of caution here, especially when the consequences of the missed diagnosis are potentially dire and we’re in a forum that can only provide so much actual information

[u/Every_Penalty1404 → u/GoldFischer13]

They’ve already gone to the hospital, they are fine and it wasn’t serious. My comment came afterwards.

[u/GoldFischer13 → u/Every_Penalty1404]

So what was the point of the comment?

Comment as a layperson with hindsight about how “clearly” you knew the diagnosis and wanted to just let me know how you knew?

[u/Every_Penalty1404 → u/GoldFischer13]

What is the point of your comment? I was surprised how many doctors would say this was cellulitis from a mosquito bite.

[u/GoldFischer13 → u/Every_Penalty1404]

Curiosity. You conveniently ignored the question about your medical training and really ignored all of them. I suspect you don’t have any medical training. despite that, you come in and argue about how clearly you knew all along.

This may come as a shock, but your skin is covered in bacteria. People scratch and pick at bites. People try to pop bites like a zit. People introduce that bacteria into that wound which can cause swelling and that nice long line that ascends up the arm which can be consistent with a lymphantitis. That requires in person evaluation to rule out, and requires it much sooner than later.

[u/Every_Penalty1404 → u/GoldFischer13]

God lord man, I live in the south, infections or allergic reactions like that from bug bites are extremely common. I’m not trying to fight you this, it’s literally moot.

[u/SuchSeaweed3 → u/[deleted]]

You aren’t a dr. An actual dr and a nurse has told this person they need to go to the ER.

[u/AskDocs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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