Expert: Charles Cusumano PA-C, DFAAPA - 5/23/2004

Question
Question   Not sure who to direct this to, if not you, please let me know which one to send it to. Thanks! I first sent this to Dr. Donovan's, he's suggested to check with someone else, he said he thinks he does know, but would not want to give me the wrong information.

I'm looking for information on possible infection from a mosquito bite, and I came across your contact info. On Wednesday, I was bitten by what I'm assuming was a mosquito, as this is the time of year for them in OK. Although I'm like a mosquito magnet, I've never had a bite like this one, they've never made me feel ill before. This is a huge, swelled area around the bite, which got worse Thursday, it's approximately 1" x 1/2", back of the shoulder area, and there was a piece of something it left behind in the center of the bite area that I gently removed with tweezers. I've felt slightly ill, and it's been a painful bite. Friday morning, had some neck pain which turns out to be what looks like a swollen lymph gland on side of neck just above the shoulder area where the bite is. Question - Can infection from a mosquito bite spread beyond the immediate site of the little nasty bug's bite? Just curious. I'm sure it will go away soon, and I'll feel better, but I was only wondering.  

Answer
Hi Jean,
I highly doubt that this is a mosquito bite. It sounds more like a sting from a hymenoptera of some kind. Mosquito bites seldom, if ever, get infected or spread to lymph nodes. I would recommend a visit to your healthcare provider and see if antibiotics are in order. Possibly, a steroid injection might be a good idea. I wouldn't just let this go.