Poisonous weeds or bugs?

Question: I walked through some weeds in northwest PA yesterday during a canoe trip (pit stop). Suddenly I felt like I was walking through thorns - the sides and backs of my knees started to swell and looked like bug bites - about 10 on each leg, then they went back down, but i am left with a stinging sensation like i have been burned. My skin is swollen and slightly red now, but there are no welts or anything. Any ideas? Was this a weed or a nest of some kind of bug?

Answers:
My guess would be stinging nettle.

The effects are immediate as formic acid is secreted from the broken hollow hairs on the plant causing a skin rash.

Applying a paste of baking soda made with a little water soothes the sting for most people if applied to the site immediately. I carry a small vial of baking soda for this purpose when hiking in the woods.

Human spit tends to be slightly basic and when rubbed into the itchy area will help if baking soda is not handy.

Other Answers:
I'd say some kind of bug. No plant I know of has an immediate effect such as what you described.

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Probably stinging nettles, a weed. sounds like chiggers go to ur doc and have him look at it but my bro had the same situation happen and his doc sad chiggars

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I get that reaction to sometimes in the tall weeds,my parents live in NE PA,it can't be to bad cause they just go away.I wouldn't woory,thell go away.

Sounds like plant. try this- Take a warm bath in Epsom salts. Gently towel off and look VERY closely or feel gently with your finger to fine a HAIR thin VERY small needle from the plant where the bumps are.if you can't find them get tape, like scotch tape or packaging tape and place it over and then pull it off, it should remove the needles.put some Calamine lotion on.if this doesn't help it was a bug.also take Benadryl it will help. GOOD LUCK :)

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