In my experience with bites, that sounds like a typical mosquito bite reaction, though it's hard to tell without a visual. Your usual short-term experience is what sounds unusual (and nice!) to me! Mine always get really red, swollen, horribly itchy and last for a few days.

It's a good thing to get checked out since it's abnormal for you. I hope you get relief soon!

Could be cellulitis...........go to doctor and have it checked out.

Yes, I would be worried about cellulitis, since it got worse over the last 24 hours -- although it could be a strong allergic reaction. My daughter had such an allergic reaction to brushing up against stinging nettle (we think) while horseback riding -- her entire leg swelled, got red & hot. Go to the MD if it isn't getting better overnight.

If it is still worsening now, really think about going to the emergency room.

Rhizo. Are the multiple bites close together?

Rhizo - since this is an unusual reaction for you, I urge you to see a doctor.

I am an outdoor person with a passion for horticulture and have been bitten/stung numerous times in my life with the usual mild irritation. One day, very unexpectedly, a bite resulted in a near death experience (my doctor's words). Since then, I have to carry Benadryl Capsules and an Epi Pen, and get to a hospital if necessary.

Oh gosh, sorry you are going through this. That many bites could very well be causing a worse than usual reaction.

Not to hijack your thread, but I also was bitten yesterday afternoon but by a yellow jacket. It got me on the back of the hand and usually it hurts like heck then I try to forget about it. Well it continued to sting and got red and swollen, never had that happen. This morning the bite area looks like a water blister and is still smarting. I wonder if the stinger is still inside or something?

My three year old grand-daughter seems to have unusual reactions to mosquito bites The darn things (mosquitos) seem to get in my home by magic. and the girl does go outside occasionally. her mom (my daughter) doesn't like to use any repellant sprays. anyhow, any bite on the little girl gets red and hard, the pediatrician told her to apply ice.

AfterBite applied promptly, soothes mosquito bites for me. The active ingredient is ammonia.

Also cortisone cream.

There’s also a Benedryl ointment (in a tube). It works well for me on most bites. I can have bad reactions to small spider bites and the topical Benedryl really helps.

Rhizo, I know what you mean about the mosquitos this year. I cannot go out to even get the mail (long driveway) without spraying myself. I am a magnet.

Anyway, if they are not close together, I would apply some ice and Benadryl ointment and re-check in an hour or so. If not better, I would call your GP’s office. We also can call BCBS 24/7 and speak with an on-call nurse with questions, so if you have a resource like that with your insurance it would be prudent to do so.

Not fair that insects have turned on you, Rhizo, considering your long interest in them! I don't have any wisdom to share about your bites, but I'm sending sympathy. My first thought was similar to Mamapinky's: Maybe they aren't mosquito bites.

I have no advice, but I hope you are already feeling better.

I hope you are okay now. This has been the summer from he11. I walked on my porch yesterday for two minutes and was covered from head to toe in clothing except for the bottom of my legs where my capris ended, and there were five mosquitos on one leg!! West Nile virus is prevalent in PA so please get checked.

rhizo - I had the same thing happen and was sent to the pharmacist first. (We were in Italy.) I was carrying Polysporin and Lanacane but she told me that I would need to apply hydro-cortisone cream several times a day to the swollen area. So I bought and used it and it worked.

I can't take anti-histamine so the Benadryl was not an option. After-Bite is sold in Canada but it did nothing the year before so this time I took the Lanacane. My aunt used to swear by Javex Bleach for the itch and frankly she had a point. All bugs seem to love me.

I also get the blisters after the fact and they break. It has been 2 months since our return and I still have the marks. If in doubt I would have it checked out (which is why I was sent to the pharmacist) because another guest at the B & B the year before had to go to the hospital at 3:00 a.m. after a very strange spider bite.

I hope you feel better.

Thanks, everyone.....I'm doing much better today. I was a bit worried about cellulitis yesterday, knowing that insect bites can be a source of entry for bacteria.

There is no question that these are mosquito bites. There are seven feeding sites, but some may have been done by the same mosquito coming back to finish her meal. Some are fairly close together.

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow even though I'm not worried about a bacterial infection. This reaction was very severe for me, I still can't get over how swollen, red, and horribly itchy these bites became. Scared me.

In all my years as a busy horticulturist, bitten by some pretty nasty six and eight legged creatures, I've never had this happen. I need to find out what's going on.

Your experiences and suggestions for relief are much appreciated by the both of us.

Rhizo, I had lunch with my DD today and mentioned your problem. She is a Nurse Practitioner in the ER in our neck of the woods. She said you could have developed an allergic reaction to mosquito bites. That was just her first reaction to what I told her, without knowing your history and looking at your skin of course. I’m glad you will be going to your doc to let him take a look while the bites are still prominent. Please let us know.

I was also thinking an allergic reaction. I know it sounds odd but if you have some Milk of Magnesia try dabbing some on there. I've done this before with bug bites and it helps calm the area. At least until you get to the dr. Hope it gets better :)

What did the doctor have to say?

Glad you are feeling better, rhizo. My hubby would commiserate with you as he has strong reactions to mosquito bites and they seem to love chomping on him while they don't come near me unless hubby is not around. I must taste bad.

We have had success with relieving itchiness and swelling using home remedies such as applying calamine lotion to the bite areas or mixing baking soda and water into a thick paste and applying to the bites.

Well, my doctor about had a fit when she first saw this mess but once I explained about the mosquito bites, she calmed down. I am being treated with a round of antibiotics because one area of the arm is presenting exactly like cellulitis.....swollen, red, hot, and painful. I have also been carrying around a lowgrade fever for two days.

I am to continue with icing (helps a lot), benadryl cream, and antibiotic ointment.

I've brought home a can of DEET, which I can spray on my clothes, though I cannot use it on my skin. My herbal repellent has been very effective, I just need to remember to use it.

So....an allergic reaction to a large number of mosquito bites in one small area which may have precipitated an incident of cellulitis.

So glad you went to the doctor. I remember my friends insisting I go a few years ago. I thought them a little over reactive. Who goes to the doctor for a bug bite?! I was humoring them but fully intended to ignore them once I left their company. Don't know what possessed me to reverse direction on the way home and go to Urgent Care but they were right, I had cellulitis. I had never heard of it before. I was lucky, went the very next day. Never suffered any pain, just severe itching despite using Benadryl. It's my understanding that cellulitis can be extremely painful if left untreated.

Oh goodness! You really did have a bad reaction!

I’m glad you went to your doctor and have started treatments that will get things under control.

Cellulitis can be not only painful, but very dangerous if left untreated-- especially in an extremity, it can move fast. If you'd mentioned the fever before, I would have been saying to go to your MD or an urgent care immediately!

So I am very glad that you went to your MD and are being treated. Don't neglect to finish the antibiotic, and if you start to feel ill or the effected area worsens or spreads, go to the emergency room. I say this because I have seen numerous cases of septic shock, that started as a cellulitis -- some that started from just a bump to the leg!

I'm glad you did go to the doctor and get this checked out Rhizo. Cellulitis infections can rapidly become life threatening. Also glad it was able to be treated with oral antibotics. Cellulitis is problematic for my daughter and she always ends up on antibotic drip for 24-48 hours prior to oral meds.

I hope you feel better soon.

No advice. Hope your better.....?

Hello all....our cable and internet connections have been totally out until yesterday, so couldn't get back to you for a final report.

Once the antibiotic kicked in (she also gave me an injection in her office), the symptoms dissipated quite nicely. I continued to use cortisone cream and benadryl ointment as needed as the redness and itching at a couple of the bite sites lingered for days.

Am symptom free today, with the exception of red spots and discoloring where the worst of the swelling was. I'm feeling that I got lucky on this scenario.

I certainly feel much better educated about cellulitis after this incident and it is forever noted on my medical history. Thank you again for your help and support, xxxxooo.

Symptom free sounds very good indeed, Rhizo! So glad you're all better.

My friend was stung on the bottom of her toe last week. She is not allergic to bees so didn't think anything of it, after she got the stinger out. Within a couple of days that whole area of her foot swelled and turned red; turns out the sting area had become infected, requiring antibiotics and steroid cream. Whoddathunk?

Rhizo, I'm glad you had good care too.