Update on the bug bite situation.
So the doctor that saw me yesterday drew a little line at the end of the "tail" part of my tadpole wound (the actual swelling being the head of the tadpole, and the swollen line coming from it, the tail) and told me that if it goes past that line, I should go back to the emergency room.
This morning, the tail was about 10 cm past the line he drew, and advancing rapidly towards my underarm. Seeing that the wound was on my left arm, and I was concerned about the infection getting to my heart and such (plus the doctor told me to go back), I went to the emergency room at around 7:30/8:00 this morning.
Long story short, the doctor tells me that the tadpole's tail is acute lymphantitis. Here's copypasta from a medical site:
"In acute lymphangitis, bacteria enter the body through a cut, scratch, insect bite, surgical wound, or other skin injury. Once the bacteria enter the lymphatic system, they multiply rapidly and follow the lymphatic vessel like a highway. The infected lymphatic vessel becomes inflamed, causing red streaks that are visible below the skin surface. The growth of the bacteria occurs so rapidly that the immune system does not respond fast enough to stop the infection."
So I got an IV of antibiotics, told to continue the course of antibiotics given by my original doctor, and it should be better in 24 hours. I can still type and such, though the swelling does hurt.
While reading the medical entry, I found this:
"Acute lymphangitis is most often caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. This potentially dangerous bacterium also causes strep throat, infections of the heart, spinal cord, and lungs, and in the 1990s has been called the "flesh-eating bacterium." Staphylococci bacteria may also cause lymphangitis."
Oh hey flesh eating bacteria isn't that reassuring.
Ah well. Here's to hoping I'll be better by the weekend :D
And now, back to eating my delicious corn.
This morning, the tail was about 10 cm past the line he drew, and advancing rapidly towards my underarm. Seeing that the wound was on my left arm, and I was concerned about the infection getting to my heart and such (plus the doctor told me to go back), I went to the emergency room at around 7:30/8:00 this morning.
Long story short, the doctor tells me that the tadpole's tail is acute lymphantitis. Here's copypasta from a medical site:
"In acute lymphangitis, bacteria enter the body through a cut, scratch, insect bite, surgical wound, or other skin injury. Once the bacteria enter the lymphatic system, they multiply rapidly and follow the lymphatic vessel like a highway. The infected lymphatic vessel becomes inflamed, causing red streaks that are visible below the skin surface. The growth of the bacteria occurs so rapidly that the immune system does not respond fast enough to stop the infection."
So I got an IV of antibiotics, told to continue the course of antibiotics given by my original doctor, and it should be better in 24 hours. I can still type and such, though the swelling does hurt.
While reading the medical entry, I found this:
"Acute lymphangitis is most often caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. This potentially dangerous bacterium also causes strep throat, infections of the heart, spinal cord, and lungs, and in the 1990s has been called the "flesh-eating bacterium." Staphylococci bacteria may also cause lymphangitis."
Oh hey flesh eating bacteria isn't that reassuring.
Ah well. Here's to hoping I'll be better by the weekend :D
And now, back to eating my delicious corn.