What should you know about cellulitis from a bug bite?

A bug bite may be itchy and local, but a bacterial infection can develop if the skin is broken. Cellulitis often makes the surrounding skin increasingly warm, painful, red, and swollen, with the affected area extending beyond the original mark. Do not assume every red bite is infection; the pattern over time and your overall symptoms guide assessment.

Clean the area gently with soap and water, cover any open skin, and avoid scratching, squeezing, cutting, or trying to drain it. Raise an affected arm or leg when practical if swelling is uncomfortable. Do not use leftover antibiotics or another person's medicine. Contact a clinician promptly if redness expands, the skin becomes hot or painful, or fluid drains from it. Explain when the trigger occurred and how the area has changed.

Seek urgent help for rapidly spreading redness or swelling, severe pain, Fever, shaking chills, faintness, confusion, breathing difficulty, or a purple or blistered area. Get earlier advice for changes near the eye, face, or a joint, and if you have Type 2 Diabetes or reduced immune defences. A worsening infection can extend into deeper tissue or the bloodstream; sudden severe illness can signal Sepsis.

Ask whether the area resembles a local reaction or Cellulitis, whether prescription treatment is needed, how to care for any wound, and which changes should prompt same-day review. Ask what improvement should look like after treatment begins.