What Kind of Insect Bite Is This? How to Treat It?

Updated on September 14, 2011
S.K. asks from Chicago, IL
13 answers

My 16 month old has this insect bite on his legs(in 2 places ) that looks weird to me. It's about 1/2 an inch wide with small little blisters within a big one. Also one big blister is filled with water or pus. My son doesn't mind it when he is playing etc but yesterday had a hard time trying to get him to sleep as he kept reaching his legs to scratch it. He would constantly rub his legs to the sheets or simply cry maybe it itched a lot. I applied some hydrocortizone but that didn't seem to help with the itching much I think.
What else can I do? I am worried he is going to scratch it and it may get infected :(

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.K.

answers from Boston on

You might want to have it looked at. Cellulitis can look blister like, poison ivy, etc we aren't drs and it's hard to even tell with just a description.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Washington DC on

That bite sounds very weird. I MIGHT get it checked by a Dr...

Sometimes I treat bug bites on kids as boo-boos. I put some anti-itch ointment on it and then a band-aid.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.S.

answers from Appleton on

I'm just wondering if it might not be a bug bite. Maybe poison ivy or oak? I've never seen a bug bite blister...? When in doubt, most docs would rather have you bring them in or at least call.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.R.

answers from Des Moines on

Is it possible that he's been exposed to Chicken Pox. It starts out that way with a single, itchy blister. If so, it may take several days for more to pop out. Some kids only get a few blisters while others are covered. Check his back and under armpits for more.

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

Hmmm, if you didn't live so far north I would suggest that it was Fire Ant bites. They leave blisters behind and can itch. Other than that, I got nothing.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.M.

answers from Omaha on

Sounds like a centipede bite. I'm allgeric to about all insect bites and my poor son is too. When anything bites him he gets covered in hives!

I don't know about a 16 month old but here are some itch remedies. Best of course is if you break open a capsule of benadryl and rub the dry powder right on the bite. I'd cover it beings it's an infant if I went that route but I'd exhaust all others before I did that. The easiest is get an anti bacterial soap. Best is dial original. It's the yellow bar. Basically make a paste out of that and a bit of water and rub it onto the bite and it will stop the itching and isn't toxic in the slightest. They also make over the counter sticks that are pretty much just ammonia. Works sometimes though.

But when I was little we always used the dial soap. Funnily enough nothing ever helped but my 80 year old grandmother had M. for a week one summer and knew right what to do when I got a bite and darned if it didn't work like a charm!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.G.

answers from Des Moines on

I agree with Jill S. on both thoughts.
I am deathly allergic to spider bites and they start out looking that way on M.. I have to get anti-venom shots.
MRSA was also my next thought. I have had it several times and it looks like a bite with a blister to start. It is a drug resistant Staph infection which can quickly turn deadly. I almost lost my DH a few years ago when he quickly went septic with MRSA.
I would get this checked by a doctor quickly!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

circle it with an ink pen to monitor if it gets any bigger. you can use a baking soda paste just mix water and bs make it thick glob it on then put a gauze pad on it and use a couple of band aids to hold it in place you can also use an old sock cut the toe area and pull it over the bite. gl get it checked out if its still there tomorrow.

S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

i think fire ants too

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Green Bay on

Spiders bite in a line near the waist or where there is something to stop them.
This may be a start of mrsa. Please have it checked quickly and aggressively. See if some topical hydrogen peroxide helps. Itchly could be poison ivy or oak, but usually below the knees or on the arms. Unless the weeds were tall and he is little. Go online to see what helps for this to see if it helps maybe

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.N.

answers from Minneapolis on

Try Benedryl cream.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Can you cover the bite?

Maybe you should have it looked at. Does the pediatrician say Benadryl is OK? Check with them for the OK and the proper dosage.

R.B.

answers from La Crosse on

sounds like a centipede or a spider bite. I have had both.. .yuck! Keep putting some anti itch cream on it and some neosporin on it and maybe a band aide to keep him from scratching it and causing an infection. With in a day or two it should be better.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions