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Suggest Treatment For Redness On Skin After Mosquito Bite

Posted on Tue, 7 Jul 2015

Question: My son is 1 year old and has two mosquito bites he got two weeks ago on the back of his neck that won't heal. They have been large and red splotchy colored for most of that period, until yesterday when they looked as of they were going away. Now this morning they are worse than ever, large and red again with white coloring in the middle, about the size of a XXXXXXX He hasn't scratched or touched them at all. He has no other symptoms. I have used topical cream for bites on it with no luck. I am just worried about the lack of healing and awful appearance...shouldn't these have healed by now for babies this young, or
Should I be worried about an allergy or disease from these bites? They are flat and not welted at all.

Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I would like to get him examined by a physician to rule out any infection

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

The mosquito bite lesion usually subsides within 4-5 days,but sometimes may take 10-14 days.
The reaction following the bite varies according to the individual's response.
It can be small red lesion to serious life threatening reaction.
The common causes of delayed healing of the lesion are secondary infection or persistent allergic reaction.
It is important to differentiate between these two, as management mainly depends on that.The allergic reaction can be managed well with mild steroid ointment and antiallergic syrup; while if there is secondary infection, antibiotic will be needed.
As you have noticed increase in size and white coloring in the middle,this is more suggestive of secondary infection(cellulitis/abscess).
So I would like to get him examined by a physician, so that he can examine the lesion directly whether any secondary infection is there or not(you can also attach an image so that I better able to help you out).

Please do ask if you have any more query.
Wish him speedy recovery.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (12 minutes later)

I have images, how do I attach them?

Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
You can attach them in report section

Detailed Answer:
You can attach the images in the report section.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (9 minutes later)

I have attached 3 photos.

Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Sorry for the inconvenience

Detailed Answer:
Sorry for the inconvenience,but I am not able to find the images in the report section. I would request you to reattach the report. Or you can email it to YYYY@YYYY and ask the team to attach the photos to queryID: 199979.

Thanking you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (11 minutes later)

I tried to attach again, one image is successful it says, while the others say they are attached but have a red X. Please let me know if it doesn't work again.

Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
To me it does not appear to be infected

Detailed Answer:
I have gone through the image.Both the lesions have white coloring in the middle but it does not appear to be infected.It is called central pallor and is found in insect bite dermatitis.
I would suggest you to apply mild steroid(mometasone) ointment twice a day for early healing and oral antiallergic syrup like cetrizine.
Please get it prescribed by a pediatrician as both are prescription medication in US.

Wish him speedy recovery
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (2 hours later)

Ok thank you. These could also be tick bites, as he has been exposed several
Times to wood ticks this spring. Would that make a difference?

Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
The management will remain same

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again

Both tick bite and mosquito bite comes under insect bite dermatitis.
Like mosquito,tick can carry diseases which can cause manifestation like fever,myalgia or can be limited to the skin reaction only.
The management remains same in both the condition.Only thing is that in tick bite one has to remove the tick or its sting from the inflammation site.As already 15 days have been passed I don't think that tick or its sting still stay there.

So get the medication prescribed and use that for early recovery.

Regards

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. Raju A.T