Consequences and complications after a gnat bite

Summer is not only a wonderful time for rest and vacations, but also a time when danger lurks everywhere. Barbecues, spicy and fatty foods, heat and sunstroke, injuries, insect and snake bites. Even the most common midge can cause great harm.

How long does a midge bite last?

The bite mark usually does not go away for quite a long time. If left untreated, it can last a week or more. Up to 10 days is considered normal. If the bite mark does not go away or even the condition begins to worsen, this is a cause for concern. You should see a doctor who will examine the bite site and determine the presence of pathology. The sooner you start treatment, the easier it will be to get rid of the consequences of the bite.

If you take all necessary measures and carry out treatment immediately, the bite can disappear in 3-4 days on average. If the pathology is neglected, an infection will get into the bite site, or an allergic or inflammatory reaction will develop. Then the bite can last up to a month or more.

Complications and consequences

The midge itself is not as dangerous as the consequences and complications after a midge bite. Therefore, everyone needs to know the main signs, consequences of bites and principles of first aid.

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A scratched midge bite

Bites should never be scratched, as they may become infected. This will lead to the development of an infectious and inflammatory process, and the occurrence of an allergic reaction. Scratching is dangerous primarily because of infection. Usually, the process is accompanied by severe itching, burning, and irritation. To prevent the condition from worsening, further scratching should not be allowed. To relieve itching, apply a bandage soaked in water or an anti-inflammatory lotion to the bite site. Apple cider vinegar also helps well.

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The midge bite fester, abscesses, pustules

The bite site may become infected if it becomes infected. This leads to the development of a purulent-inflammatory process, the spread of infection to nearby tissues. Abscesses and pustules are formed, which are sources of infection. So, if the abscess breaks through, pus will come out of it, which will then spread throughout the body and can form a new source of infection. In no case should the abscess be allowed to break through or scratch. It is important to provide the necessary treatment. Self-medication should not be done under any circumstances, it is necessary to visit a doctor.

The danger is the spread of infection to adjacent tissues, infecting them. The most severe complication that can develop is sepsis, or blood poisoning. Sepsis must be treated immediately, as it can be fatal if left untreated.

In case of abscesses and abscesses, systemic therapy may be required, in which antibiotics and their combinations are prescribed. The drugs are prescribed for oral administration. Self-medication is prohibited, an antibiotic should be selected by a doctor. Moreover, the choice of drug should be determined by the results of tests. Thus, an antibiotic is selected depending on the pathogen that caused the disease. First, a bacteriological study is carried out, during which the pathogen is determined.

Then an antibiotic sensitivity test is performed. The test allows choosing the optimal dosage of the drug. This stage is excluded only in case of severe suppuration, risk of developing bacteremia and sepsis. This is due to the fact that with sepsis there is usually no time to conduct the test, since the disease progresses very quickly. And such an analysis requires less than 5 days. The patient can die within 1-3 days, and sometimes (with accelerated metabolism) even several hours, if no measures are taken.

The most complex and severe drugs are considered to be a combination of amoxicillin and sulbactam, ampicillin and sulbactam. They are used for severe forms of infection that are difficult to treat.

Wound after a midge bite

Wounds occur extremely rarely, however, this also happens. The reason for the development of wounds after a bite is, first of all, a decrease in immunity. Also, the formation of wounds can be facilitated by a violation of the integrity of the skin and the penetration of infection.

Quincke's edema after a midge bite

This is the most severe form of allergic reaction, which is accompanied by increasing swelling. The nasopharynx and pharynx swell. The greatest danger of this form of swelling is that death from suffocation may eventually occur. This swelling is also characterized by the fact that it tends to constantly progress.

Erysipelas after a midge bite

Erysipelas is a popular name for gangrene, that is, a dangerous purulent-inflammatory process that is accompanied by the development of an anaerobic infection. The process is accompanied by tissue suppuration and constant progression of the purulent-inflammatory process.

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Black scabs after a midge bite

Black scabs can develop if the insect sting remains in the wound after the bite, which continues to produce toxin. The cause may also be the penetration of infection and the development of a purulent-inflammatory process.

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Enlarged lymph nodes after a midge bite

Lymph nodes are the most important organs of the immune system, which are designed to protect the body from the spread of infection and its penetration into the body. Lymph nodes are the organs in which lymphocytes are formed, which act as killers of cellular genesis, aimed at destroying infection. In the event of penetration of infection into the body, or any other genetically foreign agents, an increase in lymph nodes may occur.

When making a diagnosis, the doctor always palpates the lymph nodes. If they are enlarged, we can talk about the presence of an inflammatory and infectious process in the body. It is worth noting that the enlargement of the lymph nodes occurs only in response to a bacterial infection or bacterial toxins. This is one of the most important clinical signs.

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Hematoma after a midge bite

A hematoma is formed as a bruise at the site of blood leakage from a damaged blood vessel. Most often, a capillary is subject to damage. Due to various reasons, blood vessels may have reduced elasticity and insufficient strength, as a result of which they rupture with the slightest damage.

To dissolve hematomas, various lotions and compresses are used. To apply a lotion, prepare a gauze bandage: fold the gauze or bandage in several layers, soak it in a previously prepared decoction or solution, then squeeze it out slightly and apply it to the skin, directly to the bite site. Then fix the bandage tightly. Remove after about an hour. Wipe the bite site dry and lubricate with a greasy cream, for example, Vaseline, glycerin.

To apply a compress, soak cotton wool or a bandage in the solution and then apply it to the damaged area of the body. After that, place a waterproof layer on top, for example, cellophane or a bag. Apply a soft cloth on top. Regular linen cloth works well. Cover with a warm woolen cloth on top. Keep the compress on for at least 30 minutes. After removing, apply dry heat for at least 30 minutes.

For bites, you can make various compresses and lotions. Herbal decoctions are used as a basis, which help to quickly relieve swelling, pain, and inflammation. Decoctions help eliminate hematoma, dissolve exudate and seals, and prevent further inflammation. You can use one plant or a mixture. Let's look at some proven decoctions.

• Recipe No. 1. Chamomile, small-leaved linden flowers, raspberry and elderberry leaves are brewed in the ratio 1:2:1:2.
• Recipe #2. Brew equal parts of linden flowers, hawthorn berries and raspberries. Honey can be added.
• Recipe No. 3. Use a mixture of coltsfoot roots, linden flowers, marshmallow root, and blueberry leaves in equal parts.
• Recipe No. 4. Use a mixture of oak bark, sage leaves, and anise fruits in a ratio of 1:3:2.
• Recipe #5. A mixture of eucalyptus, calendula and lavender flowers in a ratio of 2:1:3. This mixture is also effective for abscesses, since eucalyptus acts as an antiseptic that destroys bacteria, and the other herbs have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Diagnostics gnat bite

The essence of diagnostics comes down to determining the clinical picture and determining the exact cause of complications. Diagnostics is very important, since the treatment of the consequences and complications after the bite of midges and other insects is mainly etiological, that is, aimed at eliminating the cause of the development of pathology. Diagnostics is important at an early stage, so you need to see a doctor as soon as possible when the slightest signs of complications appear.

Typically, diagnostics take place in several stages:

• Stage 1. The doctor interviews the patient, collects general information about him, anamnesis of life. At this stage, it is important to determine whether there are additional factors that contribute to the development of complications, and what complications should be expected. At this stage, it is possible to assume the approximate direction of complications. For example, if a person says that he has been working for about 10 years without going on vacation, and at the same time, in his work, he daily encounters toxic substances as harmful factors of production. As a result, it can be concluded that the person has a reduced immune system, chronic fatigue syndrome is noted. Such working conditions may indicate the presence of neuropsychic overstrain in a person, the presence of constant stress. Working with toxic substances can indicate chronic intoxication and cause immune tension, which already predisposes to complications. In particular, this can lead to the development of a bacterial infection, inflammatory processes, allergic reactions.
• Stage 2. Then the doctor collects the anamnesis of the disease (bite), on the basis of which he can judge the features of the course of the disease, predict its further development and outcome. At this stage, the doctor needs to know how long ago the bite was received, under what circumstances the insect bit, how the reaction to the bite developed, what causes discomfort, under what circumstances the deterioration occurs and what factors contribute to this.
• Stage 3. It is necessary to know whether any treatment was carried out, what its effectiveness was, what other measures were taken. It is also important to know whether the person received any preventive measures, information about preventive vaccinations is important.
• Stage 5. The doctor examines the patient. Classical research methods such as palpation, percussion, and auscultation are usually used.
• Stage 6 – palpation. During palpation, the doctor feels possible foci of infection and inflammation, assesses the degree of hyperemia, tissue swelling, and local temperature.
• Stage 7 – auscultation. During auscultation, the doctor listens to breathing, heartbeat, and other audible reactions of the body.
• Stage 8 – percussion. During percussion, multiple lesions can also be detected by listening, such as foci of inflammation, swelling, and compaction.
• Stage 9 – laboratory tests. Most often, clinical tests are prescribed: blood, urine, feces. They allow you to assess the general direction of the processes occurring in the body. They can indicate an inflammatory, infectious, or allergic process. Based on these tests, other, clarifying tests can be prescribed.
• Stage 10 – if necessary, clarifying tests are carried out (coagulogram, immunogram, coprogram, bacteriological, virological tests, smears, scrapings, allergy tests).
• Stage 11 – instrumental analyses (carried out if there is a suspicion of the development of an inflammatory or infectious process in any organ or system). Such methods as gastroscopy, radiography, ultrasound, colonoscopy, electrocardiogram, ultrasound of the heart and other studies are used. Computer and magnetic resonance imaging are also used, which allows assessing the condition of the skeletal system and soft tissues.

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Differential diagnosis

To establish a differential diagnosis, it is necessary to determine whether the suppuration is really a consequence of a midge bite, or whether it is a completely independent disease that has similar symptoms. If it was possible to verify that it is really a bite, and the reaction develops at the site of the insect bite, it is necessary to confirm the bite of a midge, and not of any other insect. A doctor can do this based on general clinical signs. Thus, a midge bite looks like a small red spot that spreads in width and does not tend to rise. An experienced doctor will always be able to distinguish a midge bite from any other bite, so self-medication is not allowed. You need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

During differential diagnostics, it is necessary to exclude allergic reactions, inflammatory processes, infections, diabetes mellitus, and other manifestations accompanied by itching, skin rashes, and spots. For this purpose, a survey and examination of the patient are conducted, and laboratory and instrumental diagnostics are used. During differential diagnostics, consultations with other specialists may be required. It is also necessary to determine the exact cause of the complications. This can be helped by monitoring the spots over time, as well as questioning the patient.

How to distinguish a midge bite from a bedbug bite?

Bedbug bites are small, pink, and look like rashes. They are distributed over the body in certain areas, often several bites accumulate in one place. Midge bites are distinguished by the fact that they are usually single, red, flat (spread over the surface of the body), and tend to expand in the horizontal plane. They do not protrude upward.

Therefore, bites must be treated and disinfected immediately so that the consequences and complications of a midge bite do not spoil the impressions of the summer season and do not ruin your vacation.