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Suggest Treatment For Swelling And Numbness In Leg After Bug Bite
Posted on
Thu, 29 May 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 29 May 2014
Answered on
Wed, 25 Jun 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : I have a pulmonary embolism and I am on warfarin. I have had a severe allergic reaction to bed bug bites with swelling at the bite and leg numbness. Is this something that needs to be checked out at the ER or something that comes with the reaction.
Brief Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCM
Detailed Answer:
If you are sure that this is just allergic reaction to bites then you dont need to visit ER. Just keep your legs elevated, take some antihistaminic, apply ice compresses on it and rest. But this numbness may indicate something more serious but rare and it is called compartment syndrome. It means that swelling is so significant that it presses nerves and vessels and it can be serious condition which require medical attention. You ll notice it if there will be numbness with loss of motility in foot and tese skin above it with loss of arterial pulsations. In this case you need to visit ER.
Other possible conditions are deep venous thrombosis but it should be prevented with warfarin. Also, if you had hit then it could be heamtoma of legs which is seen in people who are taking warfarin.In this case the treatment is same as for allergic reaction,you just dont need antihisatmine.
Wish you good health. Regards
Hi and welcome to HCM
Detailed Answer:
If you are sure that this is just allergic reaction to bites then you dont need to visit ER. Just keep your legs elevated, take some antihistaminic, apply ice compresses on it and rest. But this numbness may indicate something more serious but rare and it is called compartment syndrome. It means that swelling is so significant that it presses nerves and vessels and it can be serious condition which require medical attention. You ll notice it if there will be numbness with loss of motility in foot and tese skin above it with loss of arterial pulsations. In this case you need to visit ER.
Other possible conditions are deep venous thrombosis but it should be prevented with warfarin. Also, if you had hit then it could be heamtoma of legs which is seen in people who are taking warfarin.In this case the treatment is same as for allergic reaction,you just dont need antihisatmine.
Wish you good health. Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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