Need Help identifying an Insect bite or sting?
Question:
By the time I got to some light, the wound was a small red, almost bloody area, and the surrounding skin was turning white. Ten minutes later I noticed my thumb was much more swollen than the other.
It's been four hours now, and the pain is still almost as bad as it was initially.
I've been stung by hornets- this sting hurts worse than that, and the hornet stings I got went away in about 3 minutes, while this have been consistent for 4 hours.
Now the wound itself is gone, except for a reddish tone to the area's skin, and the fact that the thumb is still swollen.
Anyone have any Idea as to what could have stung me? I live in Texas, and we have many spiders and the occasional scorpion.
I was just wondering if anyone could help, or if anyone else has had a sting's pain last this long.
Answers:
I was stung by a honey bee last year on my top left rib. I was in constant pain for over 3 weeks. The swelling went from my left breast to my belly button all the way across my left side. I couldn't even lay on that side when I slept at night. The pain was unbearable. The sting mark ended up turning into a ulceration type area that took a long time to heal. I found out later that it was an africanized honey bee. I guess after being stung several times in my life I am finally allergic to them because now, if a sweat bee (they usually do not show ill effects) stings me it swells really bad. A sweat bee stung the outer corner of my eyelash and before it was over i had two swollen eyes for a week. It looked like someone sucker punched me in both eyes!
Anyway, whether it was a bee or a scorpion, It all depends on how much poison they injected while stinging and it can also hurt as you've said because it is on your finger...many many nerve endings. Pack it with ice every 15- minutes then 15 off. Take some Benadryl and some Tylenol every 4-6 hours...not exceeding the dosage per 24-hours. It should get better soon. Spider bites don't usually hurt at first...that comes later and it's not a single hole it would be a double hole (two fangs). It sounds like a bee or a scorpion...I wouldn't think a scorpion would be in hay though, maybe? Good luck.
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