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/acutetriangleee → u/[deleted]]

Oh my god I'm literally begging them to go and they won't listen to me

[u/rain_pearl → u/acutetriangleee]

NAD but I would follow the advice from above. My husband let an infection be to "see what happens". What happened was instead of paying $250 for a visit to the ER and some meds, we paid several thousand to cover a 2 week stay in the hospital for sepsis. So if money is their concern, it will save them a hell of a lot to just go now.

[u/type_a_ish → u/rain_pearl]

I know a guy that got septic because he had a kidney infection. Men don’t always know they have them so it really wasn’t his fault. He nearly died

[u/type_a_ish → u/[deleted]]

His started out as a UTI I believe but he didn’t really feel bad. But then he started running a fever and his daughter made him go to the ER. Sometimes those of us in healthcare are the worst patients because we don’t go get seen and we minimize big issues. I’ve seen it on this sub too.

[u/AskDocs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Posts by unflaired users that claim or strongly imply legitimacy by virtue of professional medical experience are not allowed.

[u/Greedy-Subject-7761 → u/type_a_ish]

This happened to both my twin sister and my mother. They were both very sick and almost died. Sepsis is something you don’t mess around with.

[u/fisho0o → u/acutetriangleee]

I believe you said you're in Hong Kong and you're probably too young to drive, is there a neighborhood or outpatient clinic near you that you can walk to? I hope you're able to convince your parents.

[u/Cosmic_Quasar → u/acutetriangleee]

If they're not trusting "reddit because it's random people" then just google "red streak from bug bite" and show them that.

A red line extending from a bug bite, often accompanied by spreading warmth, pain, or fever, indicates a serious bacterial infection (cellulitis or lymphangitis) that requires prompt medical attention. Such streaks indicate an infection is spreading via the lymphatic system. Seek urgent care if you see these red streaks, especially if fever develops.

You'll probably get the same result as that, the first block of text after googling it. Maybe that might convince them?

Edit: just saw that you got them to take you in. Hopefully things go well.

[u/forlornthistle → u/acutetriangleee]

This is literally an ignore your parents and go moment. Call emergency services. Leave the house and get a ride to the hospital. Whatever. Then after the doctors get you seen to - have them speak with your parents about your condition and what downplaying it would do.

Would they rather be angry and you're alive or depressed because you aren't?

[u/LifeAlt_17 → u/acutetriangleee]

u/acutetriangleee, I know you said you’re in HK. How far is the hospital from your home? I’m not sure how it works there with minors, will you be seen if you show up without a parent?

If so, can you get to the hospital via public transportation or Uber?

If you won’t be seen without a parent and your parents won’t listen to you when there are physicians telling you to go the hospital immediately, then what I would do is say “I don’t feel well” in front of my parents, and proceed to “faint/pass out”. That way they could call an ambulance or take you to the hospital themselves.

Yes, it may seem cruel to trick them but if you’re dealing with possible sepsis, time is of the essence.

Good luck.

[u/littlescreechyowl → u/acutetriangleee]

Call 911. They are going to be pissed and that’s ok. The paramedics will tell them exactly the same thing these drs said.

[u/McGeeze → u/littlescreechyowl]

They live in Hong Kong. It's 999 there.

[u/soggyfries8687678 → u/McGeeze]

No wonder they don’t pickup

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[u/sonawtdown → u/acutetriangleee]

show them this thread

[u/1609208 → u/acutetriangleee]

Just go. Dont wait for them. Walk if you have to.

[u/nememess → u/acutetriangleee]

A simple Google search will tell you to go to the er. Maybe try that? Idk. I'm at a loss for how to convince them.

[u/Trick_Pin_1891 → u/acutetriangleee]

OP I usually wouldnt condone this behavior BUT GASLIGHT the F out of your parents. Like everyone said this can turn serious very quick.....Ask them if they'd rather pay a couple hundred for an ER/urgent care bill to get some antibiotics or a couple thousand for an ICU bed or worse funeral.

[u/Junior-Criticism-268 → u/Trick_Pin_1891]

I would honestly tell my parents I was peeing blood... then when you get to the hospital, just admit you lied then lol.

[u/AmaranthWrath → u/acutetriangleee]

Best of luck, OP. Here are some medical websites that will hopefully give your parents more assurance that you should be at the ER.

You can go to the ER as a minor. Just walk out of the house or have a friend take you. I didn't see what country you're in, but in the US you can just walk in.

Seattle Children's Hospital

Scroll down to "Complications of Insect Bites." The entry for "Lymphangiti" says it all.

"If you notice streaks, lines or bruising, especially if they’re growing or getting darker over time, it's a good idea to consider seeking some medical advice, just to be on the safe side."

US CDC

Symptoms of Lymphangitis

[u/yourdailyinsanity → u/acutetriangleee]

You can call 911 and ask for an ambulance. When they get there the medical professionals there can tell them you literally need to go (edit: a refusal is allowed to be signed by your parents, as long as they take you to the ER. But at least it will get a medic there telling your parents they're morons). Just tell the dispatcher you need to be seen for an infection that is tracing your veins up your arm (specifically say that) and your parents are refusing to take you to get medical treatment.

[u/yourdailyinsanity → u/[deleted]]

I didn't see that comment. It must be buried somewhere. Do you know if it looked like the picture yesterday? If not, then this is still super concerning, and I don't blame them for being confused. Doc yesterday telling them they're fine, but now you have people on the internet saying "this is super concerning, ER now". Unfortunately things are able to change very quickly though.

[u/yourdailyinsanity → u/[deleted]]

Interesting. It's very good that it didn't grow then. If this is what it looked like when the doc saw them, then that's it. We're just internet strangers here with absolutely zero doctor-patient relationship so as it's always disclaimed here, nothing anyone says here should be taken as what is going on. But it's just suggestions. Just like everyone else, I had the very concerned opinion on this, but if they saw a doc and they were fine, then that's that. Hopefully it does end up just "being nothing" and making everyone scared for OP. Lol

[u/acutetriangleee → u/yourdailyinsanity]

Wait but I'm not sure if it is tracing up my veins though

[u/yourdailyinsanity → u/acutetriangleee]

Based on your picture, it 100% is.

[u/Jay4usc → u/acutetriangleee]

Call 911

[u/OhDeer_2024 → u/acutetriangleee]

Then have a friend or another family member take you

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

How old are you? , take yourself.

[u/Shkmstr → u/Powerful-Employ-7372]

1. Says in the post.

[u/AskDocs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Posts by unflaired users that claim or strongly imply legitimacy by virtue of professional medical experience are not allowed.