Is this normal for an ant bite?

Question

I got about 8 ant bites in one evening the other day but i have one near my ankle and its made it all swollen (as if it was sprained) and quite a large area around it (the whole of the bottom of my leg) is totally numb and solid and it hurts a lot to walk on it. I'm just wondering is this normal for an ant bite and how long should it take to go?

Answer 1

It seems you are having a very severe reaction to the ants. We all have different reactions to stings and bites and normally it causes just a mild irritation. The body reacts to the sting by rushing Histamine to the area and this is what causes the swelling, irritation and pain. If you are in such difficulty it is best you see a doctor or get to the A&E. The immediate treatment for a sting is to apply an Ice pack on the area affected, a bag of frozen peas will do. Put an antihistamine cream on it, such as Anthisan. If you go to a chemist for the Anthisan ask for something to take such as Piriton. You can then attack the problem from inside as well as on the skin. They will not give Piriton to a juvenile and if you are you will need to take an adult with you.

If you develop red patches on an area of your body other than the bitten part you really must get to a doctor quickly as you could be going into a condition called Anaphylacsis. This is a very extreme shock condition and can be life threatening. If your breathing becomes noisy or you have difficulty getting your breath dial 999 and call an Ambulance.

Answer 2

No, that's not normal.  You are likely having an allergic reaction.  Apply topical antihistamine and see if that effects it.  If not, see a doctor ASAP.