A Changsha man's thigh was swollen and pus was coming out. It turned out to be caused by a flea bite.

Changsha Evening News Changsha on Palm August 24 (by all-media reporter Yang Weiran, correspondents Peng Youhua and He Rang)

"In late summer and early autumn, high temperatures and frequent rains mean that mosquitoes are still rampant. Do not take insect bites, especially skin ulcers, lightly."

Wang Haizhen, deputy chief physician of the Department of Dermatology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), reminded today that a patient who was bitten by fleas and was admitted to the department a week ago is still receiving treatment.

A man was bitten by fleas but did not take it seriously, which led to swelling and pus discharge from his thighs. More than a month ago, Mr. Shen (pseudonym), who was in his 40s from Changsha, was accidentally bitten by fleas on his lower limbs on a lawn near his company. He began to develop erythema and edematous papules, which were itchy and painful. His skin broke after scratching, but Mr. Shen did not take it too seriously.

Later, he bought some topical anti-inflammatory and antipruritic drugs, but they had no effect. The rash spread to the base of the thigh, and the entire thigh was swollen and pus was flowing. On August 17, Mr. Shen went to the dermatology department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), more than a month after he was bitten.

After a week of hospitalization with a combination of Chinese and Western medicine, Mr. Shen's symptoms improved and his condition is currently stable.

How could he be hospitalized for a small flea bite? Wang Haizhen said that Mr. Shen suffered from insect bite dermatitis, and the delay in treatment induced autosensitive dermatitis.

Insect bite dermatitis is also called "papular urticaria" in medicine. It often occurs in exposed parts, such as the face, neck, limbs, etc. It usually manifests as red edematous papules, with blisters and bullae on the surface. Bite marks can be seen in the center of the lesions, with stinging, burning, and itchy sensations. In severe cases, the injured area may develop symptoms of impetigo and fever.

This is an inflammatory reaction of the skin caused by bites of insects or arthropods, or contact with the poisonous hairs of insects. Common insects that cause dermatitis include mosquitoes, bed bugs, fleas, mites, midges, wasps, etc. In addition, some caterpillars, such as mulberry caterpillars and stinging caterpillars, can also cause symptoms when their poisonous hairs pierce the skin.

"Due to the different types of insects biting humans and the different physical conditions of the bitten individuals, the bite site will show different skin reactions. Milder patients will only experience itching and rashes, but severe ones may be infected with infectious diseases such as malaria, epidemic encephalitis B, and dengue fever."

Wang Haizhen said that Mr. Shen's delay in treatment caused his condition to worsen. In this regard, the doctor mainly used traditional Chinese medicine with the effects of clearing heat and dampness, dispersing wind and relieving itching, combined with cupping and bloodletting therapy, with obvious results.

After a week of hospitalization with integrated Chinese and Western medicine, the patient's symptoms improved and his condition is currently stable. Photo courtesy of the hospital

In terms of prevention, personal hygiene and environmental hygiene should be maintained. How to prevent insect bite dermatitis and how to deal with mosquito bites? Wang Haizhen reminds citizens to do the following:

First of all, you should pay attention to personal hygiene and environmental hygiene. Take a shower, wash and change clothes frequently to avoid the smell of sweat from your body attracting mosquitoes. Keep your home clean, ventilate it frequently, change your bed sheets and quilts frequently, remove weeds near your home, and avoid stagnant water, otherwise it is easy for mosquitoes to breed.

Secondly, you should take good protection when doing outdoor activities. When you go out, you can spray floral water on your body, apply wind oil, wear long-sleeved clothes, and do not sit in the grass to rest to prevent mosquito bites.

In addition, when there are many mosquitoes at home, it is recommended to place a mosquito net or use safer mosquito coils to drive them away. People with high sensitivity should carry a first aid kit with them, including adrenaline, syringes and antihistamines.

After being bitten by mosquitoes, first, avoid scratching to avoid secondary folliculitis and impetigo; second, apply cooling oil, floral water, Sanhuang lotion, paeonol ointment, Fuzhiqing ointment, compound phellodendron liquid, etc. appropriately; third, people with allergies need to avoid certain foods appropriately, try not to eat or eat less "irritating foods" such as seafood and beef. If itching is obvious, take anti-allergic drugs under the guidance of a doctor.

If you are stung by a bee, you should immediately remove the stinger and squeeze out the venom, then rinse with water and apply ice or cold wet compresses locally. If the poisoning is severe and there are obvious systemic symptoms, you should seek medical treatment promptly.