VERY itchy red rash :/

[bonniebird]

I got a very very red itchy rash last night, drove me mad, mostly on my torso but spread to my arms and legs and neck by this morning. I got an emergency appointment and the doc says I have had a very severe reaction to something, she is thinking this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17907874

I walked in Nunhead Cemetary yesterday with the dogs, so if you are allergic to things like insect bite etc, be careful

[Gidget]

Ew. Thanks for posting. Did you get a prescription for something or just take antihistamines?

[bonniebird]

Yes Epaderm to be applied twice daily, Betamethasone valerate twice daily, prednisolone four a day and chlorphenamine 4 times a day

[Gidget]

Blimey - that's a lot of stuff!

Hope it works for you.

[Penguin68]

This moth's caterpillar is active (according to the 'cutting') in May - it is now September, so unless, as is possible, there has been a very unseasonal hatch I cannot see this itself being the cause. Tne fact that it started on your torso (which I assume would have been mainly covered during your walk) and only later spread to your arms and legs and neck (more likely to have been immediately exposed on your walk with the dogs), does not suggest a direct topical contamination - unless you have found caterpillars in your clothing. Have you changed your washing powder (or hung things out to dry where pollen could have blown into them - things such as ivy are flowering now)?

Whatever the cause, it must have been maddening for you and slightly scary. I do hope the wide range of remedies you have been offered work.

[bonniebird]

Yeah I read that too Penguin68, the doc asked me if I had changed any powders etc, I haven't. Yes my torso was covered well, it started on the right side of my body, I thought I had a bite, I do hang my washing in the garden weather permitting, no caterpillars in clothing, not even seen them in the garden, yes it is maddening, I was scared in case I had shingles! :( Thanks for your comments, I hope they work too, the steroid cream has made the itch subside a little, the anti histamines are strong and she said will make me tired, joy! I have always been very allergic to insect bites etc so could be anything I guess. Thanks again!

[Carrie]

Having endured a camping holiday in France which was infested with Oak processionary caterpillars some years ago I can confirm that the irritation arises where the hairs touch your skin, eyes etc so unless you were walking in the buff this does not sound like they are the culprits - wrong time of year as well as Penguin68 says. We had to leave the campsite early as my daughter's eyes swelled up and she was beginning to find it difficult to breath - they are very nasty little critters.

[Captain Scarlet]

Sounds Like the Brown Tail Moth Caterpiller.....Did you you see any Spiderweb type tents In shrub bushs or low trees

when you was walking your dogs? A single Caterpiller hair caught in your clothing can cause severe irritation to the skin and in some cases temporarily blindness if hair makes eye contact.

see Doctor or get antihistamine cream.

[woodrot]

get.rid.of.your.cat

[civilservant]

er, woodrot, I think it was a cat-erpillar...