Thursday, July 22, 2010

Who knew one tiny mosquito could do so much damage?

One tiny mosquito. One huge reaction.

I've had about 10 mosquito bites in my life and this is the third to swell up like this.  Actually, by the time I went to bed last night this bite looked even worse. 

Mommy talked to the nurse at my pediatrician's office yesterday, and she said that Benadryl is our only course of action unless the bite site begins weeping, I start running a fever, or my actual eye turns red.  Thankfully, though, none of those things have happened.

Mommy is no stranger to swelling when it comes to mosquito bites.  She's always been one of those "quick swellers", herself.  My swelling, however, goes above and beyond what Mommy is used to...which leaves both her and Daddy feeling very nervous.

So, to help put my Mommy and Daddy at ease, I decided to solicit advice from you.  Any one out there have experience with similar reactions to normally-innocent-bug bites?  If so, what remedies have worked for you?

15 comments:

Jessica Miller Kelley said...

Oh my gosh! That is awful! I've never seen anything like that from a mosquito bite. Hope the Benadryl works!

Britt said...

Awwww, poor Katie Bug! I sadly don't have any advice, but I hope things get better soon for her!

Kelly Chambers said...

Oh no, poor Katelyn! Hope she is better soon!

Brooklynn said...

Oh my! Poor Katie Bug. Those dang mosquitos! I don't have any advice either based on the fact I don't have any children but I hope she gets better soon!!!!

Kristine said...

AWWW Poor thing! I've never had that happen to my kiddos, so I'm sorry I can't offer any advice :(

Bradshaw's Buzz said...

Oh Poor Baby!! A friend of mine's daughter is allergic to the actual sting not the bug that caused it itself. She swells up to everything and they are just making sure she has DEET on her as well as having Benadryl and hydrocortisone creame on hand.

Mary said...

Aww, sweet girl. Hope she is better. I am no stranger to the swelling that comes with mosquito bites, either. Unfortunately Judah has picked up that trait, too. We've not had anything this bad, thank God!

Havard Family said...

Ryder does that!! The first time I freaked out because Faith has never had that reaction to bug bites. Benadryl is what Ryder's Dr also said to treat it. The swelling would go down soon after I gave it to him. Hope she feels better asap!

Anonymous said...

My mom used meat tenderizer to make a paste. It is supposed to draw out the poison and dry it out. I do not know how well that would work at her age or on that location because you have to sit still while it dries. Ask my mom. She may have other tips that she used with me (dani k. ). She had to deal with my swelling from ants and mosquitos for years. I never had one on my eye, but if I had it would have looked just the same.

Amy said...

We use meat tenderizer, too. Works like a charm on most bites, but I wouldn't use it near your eyes. Hope you are feeling better.

Sara said...

Poor Bug! This used to happen to Zachary with his bites. His whole little arm would swell like Popeye! It made me nervous, too. I used Benedryl and Cortizone cream and had to just wait it out. I always had it on hand so whenever he got bit I immediately gave him a dose. He also had major reactions to ant bites, too. So you might want to keep an eye out for that.

Good news is he did outgrow it around 1st grade. Hang in there.

I LOVE reading your blog. It is one of my favs. :-)

Rachel Moss said...

Dani & Amy- Thanks for the tip on meat tenderizer. We'll have to give that a try on the next nonfacial bite.
Sara- I've been carrying Benadryl around for a while, but I guess I need to throw some Cortizone cream into the diaper bag, as well...Miss Toni's gonna love Bug's "to do" list! I've been hearing that most kids outgrow these bad reactions, which makes me feel much better.

Zion said...

Poor thing. That is crazy. I looked that way when I had a bee sting and it is because I was allergic. My whole eye swelled shut, obviously that's different though. I hope she is doing better :(

Heather Hamilton Photography said...

My daughter's eye looked exactly the same this weekend. I am assuming from a mosquito. Did your daughter have a yellowish bruise after the swelling went down?
Heather

Rachel Moss said...

Heather- Sorry that I'm just now seeing your post! Yes, K's eye did look bruised for a long time after the swelling went down. The swelling lasted for a few days, but the discoloration lasted for several weeks.