Pharmacy First condition
Infected Insect Bites
An insect bite or sting that has turned infected, reviewed at our Crewe pharmacy without a GP appointment.
Most insect bites and stings are harmless and fade within a few days, but now and then the surrounding skin becomes infected. Through NHS Pharmacy First, a pharmacist in Crewe can assess an infected bite without a GP appointment.
Normal reaction versus infection
It is perfectly normal for a fresh bite to be red, itchy and slightly swollen for a day or two. The signs that point to infection are different: redness that spreads and intensifies after a couple of days, increasing pain or swelling, warmth to the touch, pus, or feeling generally unwell with a temperature.
What the pharmacist will do
The pharmacist examines the affected area, asks about your symptoms and history, and explains whether it looks infected. Where the NHS pathway supports it, treatment can be supplied directly. If the infection is spreading or you feel unwell, they will arrange the right onward care.
Self-care
For an ordinary bite, keeping the area clean, resisting the urge to scratch, and using a cold compress with simple itch relief usually does the job. The pharmacist can recommend suitable products and point out the warning signs to keep an eye on.
When to seek urgent help
Seek urgent help if the redness spreads quickly, you feel very unwell or feverish, or there are any signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing — call 999 for these.
Symptoms
Spreading redness, warmth, growing swelling or pain around a bite, sometimes with pus or feeling generally unwell.
What the pharmacist can do
Our pharmacist looks at the affected area, advises on care, and where it is clinically appropriate supplies NHS treatment directly.
When to see a GP or seek urgent help
Seek urgent help for a quickly spreading infection, a high temperature, feeling very unwell, or any sign of a severe allergic reaction.