Red, Painful, Knot On The Back Of Neck. Small Bite Mark Visible, Cleaning And Riding Horses. What Can It Be?

Posted on Sat, 23 Jun 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 Answered on

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : My daughter has a red, painful, knot on the back of her neck about the size of a quarter. You can see a small bite mark in the middle. She has been riding horses all week as well as cleaning out their stalls.

Answered by Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (4 hours later)

Hi

Thanks for posting your query

The information provided points to an infected sebacous cyst

Did you notice the swelling all of a sudden, or has it been there and now has started increasing and has gone red and painful ?

If it was there and has changed now it definitely is a sebaceous cyst or it is a small boil secondary to a mosquito sting

In either case start a good broad spectrum antibiotic with an antiinflammatory agent

If there is sure history of a bite, do add a antihistaminic

If it does not start regressing in another 48 hours or increase, see a surgeon in your area

Hope this help
Do get back in case of doubts

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar