Well this makes two years in a row that dd was bit by a deer fly and had a bad reaction. this time on her tricep. I took her to the drs, and they gave me the dose for benedryl and a script for antibiotic (which they dont want me to start till tomorrow unless the benedryl kicks in). I have been doing baking soda paste or caladryl(sp). Is there anything else I can be doing for her? her arm is red and swollen and does have heat coming from the tricep. also its only her tricep that is swollen not her whole arm. Give me some tips I dont want this to get worse. TIA
I forgot to mention I am giving her tyl/mot NOT at the same time so dont freak. and as for the cortizone cream it does nothing for her. The alcohol I will try tomorrow. thanks.
I just read in Better Homes and Gardens that applying heat can deactivate the venom/saliva. Try a heating pad.
Rubbing alcohol will help bring the fever out of it.
Ask your doctor about giving her Allegra. It is stronger than benedryl. I was bitten by a horsefly the end of last summer and it got pretty nasty as well. It blistered the size of a 50cent piece and my leg (it was on my lower calf/ankle area) was pink, hot and swollen for about 8 inches in diameter. It was to the point I drew a circle around it with a permanent marker to keep track...
The caladryl did practically nothing, but the hydrocortizone cremes did help some. The most helpful, though, by far, was the fexafenadine (generic allegra). Ask your doctor. Allegra is available over the counter now, so you won't need a prescription, just dosing instructions most likely.
I waited 3 days before I went to the doctor (was bitten on a Friday) and I thought for sure it was infected--but it wasn't. Just gross and painful and ITCHY!!
Oh.. and elevate and ice (on for 20 min off for 20) (no heat).
If she will tolerate it, ice may help bring down some of the swelling. A cream with cortisone, but I might ask the pharmacist first since she is taking benadryl. She also can still have tylenol or advil in addition to the benadryl to help with pain.
