Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I was itching all of a sudden today while eating dinner. I thought it would be a normal itch, so I resisted itching. After around 70 minutes, when I itched on my groin and thigh area, it started itching too much and when I saw under my shorts, it was full of mosquito bite-like appearance. Then, I saw one small hairy caterpillar on the outer edge of my trousers. So, this itching was because of that. I have included a picture of that insect. It is not the exact picture, but it is for your reference. I applied some salt and turmeric and washed with facewash since it was neem and soap two to three times and took a full bath. I consumed one allergy tablet as well. Now itching is under control. I want to know what I should do now and if is there anything that I did wrong or should have done that I did not. No injections, as the hospital is very far. Also, I do not know if it crawled in my bedsheet as well. I will sleep on it. Should I change my bedsheet? Actually, due to some problem, I cannot change it, so is there any way to wipe it if it is absolutely required?
I have one additional query. Should I always use an antibacterial soap if I have recurrent boils or folliculitis on my body?
Can I use normal soap and shampoo?
Can you recommend any antibacterial hair shampoo that can be applied to hair and one antibacterial body wash if there is any?
Please help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I have seen the photograph (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). The insect could possibly be a kind of caterpillar commonly called as blanket worm. One may get reactions to its sting with rashes and urticaria. Apply Calosoft AF (Calamine, Aloe vera, and liquid paraffin) and take a Levocetirizine 5 mg tablet to control itching. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her, and with their consent take the medicine. You may require injections and antibiotics if there are sores due to its sting and if the rash is bad, you may need medications for a couple of weeks. Definitely, the blanket sheets and clothes need to be checked and changed. Please see a doctor to confirm the insect bite.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for your reply.
Today after waking I observed those bites. Yesterday they were thick mosquito bites like appearances grouped together from my right waist till the right knee including my thigh and some in the groin area. Today, there is no swelling or mosquito bite-like rashes. There are instead red dot-like bites in place of swellings. I think they are now more visible since yesterday they were under these swellings. There is very little itch only if I think about it. I did not take any allergy tablets today. Now, I would like you to answer all my questions.
As I wrote yesterday I only rubbed it with salt and turmeric and first washed it with neem facewash and then with soap twice and then took a full bath, I read on the internet that the first step should be to use duct tape and remove those spines or hairs and then washing. I did not have duct tape yesterday and even if I had I could not have used it since my leg is quite hairy. So, my first question is was
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Hairspray spines that are visible are to be removed. Those which are not visible cannot be removed by duct tape either. If you have washed the area thoroughly, it is sufficient. Clothes need to be checked repeatedly for insects before wearing. You can take an antihistamine tablet. There is no harm. They reduce redness and irritation too. They also limit the spread of allergies. Regular use of antibacterial soap or shampoo is not advisable. Whenever you have boils, it is important to treat them first with appropriate antibiotics rather than medicated soaps and shampoos which are not of much help in treating boils. However, you can use them intermittently. Boils in the scalp may be due to dandruff when you require an antifungal shampoo like Scalp (Ketoconazole and Zinc pyrithione formulation) rather than an antibacterial one.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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