Bug bites! But from what? Advice, please.

[Robin_K]

I've been freaking out lately because I feared I might have Lyme disease, but now I doubt it. I keep getting bad insect bites, and I don't know from what or where.

The bites are all on my left side. I had two on the back of my upper arm last week, like mosquito bites but far itchier and with obvious stings in the center. Three days ago I had another on the back of my forearm, which led to a rash and a very large and hard area -- sort of a knot. That's what made me think it might be Lyme disease. Two days ago I had two very small stings on knuckles of different fingers. One turned purplish, like a bruise. This morning I have two bites on the back of my upper left leg.

I notice these late in the day and early morning, at my desk or waking up. That doesn't mean that I'm bitten at these times, just that I notice then. For the most part they look to me like a severe reaction to mosquito bites, but I've never had problems with that before, and I seem to get them only inside.

I live in the central northern part of the country. I've checked online, and it doesn't seem to be characteristic of spiders that would be found here, or of ticks, biting flies, bed bugs, fleas, etc. And I surely would notice a wasp on my knuckles.

I've hung flypaper, washed and bleached my bedding and Lysol-ed my pillows. I turn over a lot in bed, so having them all on my left side makes me associate this with my desk chair, an old family wicker chair.

Any ideas what this may be, and what to do?

[Zorro]

If you are able to, take pictures of the bites and if you don't have a private doctor, check in  at an ER or a clinic in your area.

The general description of what they look like could be spiders and/or fire ants. I am no authority though and it would be best to report this to the proper authorities.

[Robin_K]

Thanks, Zorro. Wiki says there are no spiders in my state that could bite like this. Anyway, here are the latest bites, on the back of my left thigh. I noticed one before bed last night, the other this morning.

All advice will be very welcome.

[gonZo]

I think you should probably call an exterminator. Are those red areas inflamed, or are they hematomas?

[Robin_K]

Both, Gonzo. Thanks very much for taking an interest!

[DruulEmpire]

We live in an age of trains and trucks, so I would not trust all spiders to know where they "should" be.

I once was bitten by a spider -- that is to say, I never saw the fellow, nor did any research on him (or her), but the way my ring finger was swelling up cried out for Occam's razor.  At dead minimum I hope Neosporin is able to help some.  Meantime, your gonZorro advice sounds highly sensible.  Best luck. 

[pedonbio]

The photo helps a lot. I have no clue what kind of bug did it, but it is clear there is an allergic reaction. I would suggest using Neosporin on one and Benedryl or a similar cream on the other and see which improves the most in 24 hours.

Regarding the cause, there are lots of bugs we share our homes with, but remember that unless you are in Antarctica, you are never more than a meter away from a spider. They don't have to bite to cause an allergic skin reaction; just walking on your arm will do it.

[Robin_K]

Very helpful, Pb -- and everyone. I really appreciate it.