I am 65 yrs. old and was bitten by an insect on the back of my ankle unknowingly about three weeks ago. I noticed it when it began to itch. It became very red and inflamed and is at least 2-1/2 or so inches in diameter. I thought it would heal just as most bites do. But it didn't. I went to an urgent care on 5/12/16, and was given cephalexin...one capsule twice per day. I've been taking it for three days now. The bite is showing improvement. But the day after starting the antibiotic, I awoke with a fever of nearly 102 degrees. I was extremely tired, and my joints all ache. also have an almost constant cough. I still have these symptoms but the fever varies from 100 to 102. I looked for these symptoms online and they are consistent with bacterial endocarditis. In 1985, I was pregnant and experienced skipped heartbeats with the skipped beat then catching up. This caused an uncomfortable cough like reaction with each of one, and during a twenty minute time period I probably had the skipped/catch-up heartbeat, and cough approximately once each minute. My cardiologist then advised I had mitral valve prolapse. I've had numerous tests run in hospitals and with my cardiologist, and am now told it was over misdiagnosed then. The tests don't show it now; however, I sporadically have flip flop heart symptoms over the years since....just not when they've run tests. I occasionally have chest pains and run to the ER, but am told I am fine. My mother had a heart attack at 44. So I don't know what to do with this infected insect bite. Should I continue with cephalexin, head to the ER, or call my internal medicine physician in the morning who does have hospital privileges? I'm concerned. Thank you!