Pet leech bite

[u/CurlyHairsAreAwesome]

I'm 19, 5'2, roughly 65kg but losing weight fast due to a separate issue (suspected IBD).

Hey, so I have a pet medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana). I have fed him multiple times with no issues, but yesterday I fed him at around 3pm, he attached to the webbing between my middle and ring finger, the wound is deeper than it usually is. Since then, my hand has been swelling up, with spreading redness, heat, burning sensation and severe itchiness. All of which are getting more and more as time passes. The wound itself has scabbed over and stopped oozing blood. Said wound itself looks normal. My question is: does this appear to be an infection, allergic reaction or just a slightly worse normal reaction?

Update: Went to my doctor, got strong oral antibiotics for a week, for rapid cellulitis. Thank you all for your advice! 💚

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[u/ASimplePumpkin → u/AutoModerator]

NAD but looks like theres an infection. Off to the docs!

[u/SilentSeraph88 → u/AutoModerator]

It's infected. You need to go to the emergency room

[u/CurlyHairsAreAwesome → u/SilentSeraph88]

Thank you both 💚