Think I've got a false black widow bite.

[GirlAfraid23]

I have a really itchy lump on my leg. It's red and warm to the touch and sore.
I woke up and felt it itching, a bit like a gnat bite.
Anyone know what to do?
The media have been making me worry about this spider lately :(

[Annie0904]

Those spiders only bite if you go near them, they are more scared of you than you are of them! Take a antihistamine tablet or put some antihistamine cream on it.

[GirlAfraid23]

I haven't been near any but I'm away at the moment in the country and worried it got into the bed or something.

As I'm away I don't have any antihistamine cream at the moment :(

---------- Post added at 21:57 ---------- Previous post was at 21:56 ----------

Does it sound more like a gnat bite because it's itchy?

[Annie0904]

It could be a midge bite, it sounds like one. Toothpaste can stop it itching or the inside of a banana skin.

[HoneyLove]

I've avoided the stories about these guys in the media, I know it's the last thing someone like me needs to have in their mind lol.

Annie I never knew that about toothpaste & banana skin, will have to give that a try next time I get an itch bite! Although now that the summer is over, I hope it'll stay in my head until it's bite season again next year

[Rebexy]

Although the stories are only coming into the media now, false widows have actually been in Britain for well over 100 years, so you only have as much chance of being bitten now as you have had your whole life. The bites aren't actually dangerous, NO ONE has died from one, there are just a little more painful than a bee sting. I would suggest a bit of antiseptic cream to stop the itching and cool any stinging.

[HoneyLove]

Thanks for that Rebexy, I didn't know that. Funny how the media blow things out of proportion so wildly! I won't worry about them now