Daughters Skin, Bug Bite or Something Else??

Updated on August 12, 2010
G.K. asks from Three Rivers, MI
23 answers

Hi everyone! I need some help! My two year old daughter has 4 bites or the start of some skin issue on her scalp and around her hairline. I found one when I saw a drop of blood pooring out of a spot where she had scrached. The areas are 1/8" big, very red and dry, scaly, and have a dot in the middle (that's what makes me think they are a bite). I put some protective ointment on them yesterday, but today they look the same. Also, last night a day after I found the spots, she had a 101.6 temperature. She eats and is her usual self this morning. What do you think? Should I wait this out or call the doc? If any of you can relate to this type of skin discription, please let me know your story. Thanks!!

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So What Happened?

Thank you for all of your advise! I called my peds office and they assured me that they were probably the biting gnats and that her fever was probably not related. I actually have a low grade fever myself, so I feel convinced it is simply a virus. The bites are healing well and I feel much more at ease about the whole thing. Please remember to use bug spray on all of your little ones!

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A.T.

answers from Lansing on

Call the doctor. The fever and the rash combined could be many different things from chicken pox to celiac disease.

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C.K.

answers from Detroit on

G.,

I'd get to the doctor's office right away. Even if these are simply bug bites, the fact that they're on her scalp and hairline would worry me because of their proximity to her eyes and brain. My neice got a bee sting on the side of her head near her eye, and luckily my sister rushed her to the emergency room because they said the sting could have traveled through the bloodstream and caused major damage. I'd rather be safe than sorry, and if it's no big deal, at least the doctor can prescribe an ointment that might help the healing along. Good luck!

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N.W.

answers from Detroit on

Defnitely go to the doctor. My son had the same thing and it ended up to be a staph infection that needed antibiotics. A bug bite can lead to this as well. It is probably nothing, but just have them look to be safe. Make sure to keep check on her fever too.

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L.B.

answers from Detroit on

Hi G.-
I'd run it past your doctor. Sounds to me like it might be a spider bite...but I'm no doctor. :o) It seems the spiders are everywhere right now. My daughter had something similar a couple of times. She'd wake up with them. And always around her sweet little face. One time the doctor confirmed my thoughts that it was a spider bite and instructed me to let it run its course. Another time she had scratched it and the doctor felt it best to give her an antibiotic ointment.
Take care!

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N.W.

answers from Detroit on

I would at least call the dr. and explain to him/her what is going on. The fever makes me nervous if it is in fact a bite of some sort.

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C.K.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I wonder if its chicken pox or the start. If not could be a spider bite. It depends just wath them and her. If it a bite. Regular toothpaste will draw out the itch works wonders. You have to use the paste kind though the other will not work well. Christy

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L.D.

answers from Detroit on

Hi G.,

I just took my daughter to the doctor this morning for a similar reason. She had a bug bite on her forehead which had swollen so much, she couldn't see out of one eye. The doctor said she's allergic to bug bites, and to give her Benedryl. It sounds like your daughter has been bitten by a black fly; they bite along the hairline and leave a red crust. You can treat the bite itself with Neosporin so it doesn't get infected, and give her Benedryl if she swells up a lot.

Good luck! My next step is to look for an all-natural bug deterrent that I can use on my daughter every day.

L.

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R.P.

answers from Detroit on

It could be something else, but PLEASE check with someone who is very, very knowledgeable about LYME Disease. The tick that transmits LYME the most is only the size of a pinhead (head of a common pin) and fever/aches/chills of unknown origin are typical symptoms of the "incubation" period of LYME. Two (2) weeks of antibiotic NOW will typically stop this. If not stopped within 60-120 days, the LYME will leave the blood or circulatory system and spread out into all the body systems. From head to toe!

The only local contact I can offer is the Dr. who has been treating our daughter for some ten (10) plus years. You should know that it took us over ten (10) years to just diagnose the LYME. You can read up on it online. Do it now!!!

Dr. Ray Breitenbach,MD,MS 3901 Highland Rd.(M-59 W)Waterford Twp.###-###-#### is our guy. If he can not see you immediately I'm sure he can refer you to someone who can.

We may be over sensitive, but please believe us, you do NOT want to take a chance. LYME does not always have a "bullseye"

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C.S.

answers from Detroit on

G.

BUG BITES...ding ding ding....lol I just took my 5 year old to the doctor on monday for the same thing, she had it along her neck and head they itched bad and were a little pussy so they got infected, he had me give her zytec since she had an allergic reaction to it or you can use benedryl. and put a hydrocordinzone cream on the spots or he said use a cold wash cloth on the spots to give relief.

and my daughter isnt the only one to have these, alot of my friends kids all have the same problem, that time of year bugs are out in full force.

if she had chicken pox they would start on the torso not the head

if they look infected i would take her to he doc though so he can put her on antibiotics

hope this helps
C.

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

G.
If she has a fever I would take her to the doc because even if it is a bug bite it sounds like she's having a reaction to it.
I'm not one to run to the doc but in this case I would since it could become a serious problem if she's allergic to whatever it's from.
I have a niece with serious allergies and with her every second counts, but it didn't start out that way. Hope this helps your decision.

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S.G.

answers from San Francisco on

if you don't know what it is just take her to the doctor because he or she will tell you what it is it and it might be something serious!!! DON'T TAKE CHANCES!!!

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S.R.

answers from Detroit on

Why would you NOT call the doctor?

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B.J.

answers from Detroit on

Definately get it checked out with the doctor. The fever and other questionable symptoms would signal me to go to the doctor promptly.

Good Luck!

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A.T.

answers from Detroit on

CALL THE DOC!!! She is only 2 years old, and having a fever the very day after you see something that looks like bug bites is not good!!! Do not wait! Even if you have to take her to the ER! Good luck.

A.

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L.D.

answers from Detroit on

Hi G.,

It sounds like it could possibly be chicken pox. Even if kids have been immunized they can still get a mild case. When our son got them (he had been immunized), he only had a few and they were grouped together. Thankfully they didn't last long and aveno oatmeal baths were a great help.

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C.C.

answers from Benton Harbor on

I'm not sure if you are familiar with Black Flies but Ive noticed them the last couple of weeks. They are very small, almost gnat like flies that like the scalp and hairline area. They bite and many times draw blood so she may not have scratched the site. This is their time of year, they won't last long, but they are relentless while they are here. I would just try some good repellant when you go outside although I don't know which is best to keep them away. I hope I helped.

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A.S.

answers from Detroit on

iT SOUND LIKE MAYBE BED BUGS.MOST OF THE TIME THEY GET YOUR LEGS OR ARM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT COVER. BUT IF THEY ARE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE BED AND THE BED IS BY A WALL. tHEY LIVE IN THE CARPET AND THE CRACK OF THE MOLDING

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E.V.

answers from Grand Rapids on

If it is a bug bite and she is scratching it, it can actually become infected and worsen. I'd go ahead and take her in to the doc.

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E.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Sounds like spider bites to me. Usually they leave the hole in the middle. However, I would call the doc because of the temperature. Usually bites don't have a temperature reaction unless the child is allergic.

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C.B.

answers from Detroit on

I'd have it examined, then you know what you're dealing with and can treat it according to your preferences.

PLEASE tho, no steroid stuff. The skin is a porous organ and absorbs. I don't think it's necessary to provide steroids. You have options.

But remember it is spring and it's the onslaught of flea, mosquito, etc season.

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

Her temperature is what is alarming. It could be from a tick. If that's the case she could have a serious problem. Take her to the doctor ASAP!

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A.R.

answers from Saginaw on

I would get her to the doctor right away. With the MRSA scare, its better to be safe than sorry. I don't want to scare you, but I've read stories, and most started with a bump or rash that parents overlooked or didn't think was serious enough for a doctors visit. It could possibly be ecxzema(not sure if that is spelled right). Best bet, have a doc check it out.

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M.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Considering the fever, you should have the doc check her for Lyme disease or any other tick bite disease. Don't wait as this can lead to severe problems if overlooked. Best wishes
from a Gramma who was a Microbiologist for 31 years. M. B.

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