What is lymphangitis after an insect bite?
Lymphangitis does not always have to be associated with an insect bite. In itself, lymphangitis is a relatively rare inflammation of the lymph vessels located in the subcutaneous fatty tissue. In the past, lymphangitis was colloquially called “blood poisoning”, which is not quite correct. In the further course of the disease, however, lymphangitis can develop into blood poisoning, a so-called sepsis, when the inflammation spreads from the lymph vessels to the blood. The insect bite is, however, only one of many ways in which lymphangitis can develop.
Causes
In connection with the insect bite, bacteria are the cause for the development of lymphangitis. These are either brought directly into the human skin by the bite or later rubbed into the wound by itching and scratching. If the bite and thus also the bacteria accidentally hit a lymph vessel, the inflammation of this vessel can occur.
As the lymph moves along the lymphatic pathways towards the heart, the inflammation also spreads in this direction. A cardinal symptom of the inflammation becomes apparent on the surface of the skin, namely redness. In extremely rare cases, lymphangitis can also be a form of allergic reaction to the insect venom, which then spreads along the lymph channels. In general, however, it is bacterial inflammation that is responsible for the clinical picture.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on a combination of the clinical picture of the disease and matching inflammation values in the blood count. If the inflammation spreads to the blood and there are enough bacteria in the blood, the causative pathogen can also be identified during blood sampling. In addition, those affected usually have a fever or show other symptoms of an infection. In most cases, however, it is “the red line” that spreads from the extremities towards the heart.
I recognize lymphangitis after an insect bite by these symptoms
Lymphangitis after an insect bite is not a clear symptom from the outset. However, first indications can be that the actual insect bite is inflamed, begins to fester or takes much longer to heal. A further clear indication for the presence of lymphangitis is a superficially appearing reddened stripe that runs along the lymph vessels.
The spread of this redness increases from day to day if the inflammation is not treated. The direction in which the reddening progresses is adapted to the lymph flow; from the periphery to the central area, where the lymph vessels gather and return the lymph to the venous blood system. Most of the affected persons also complain about unspecific symptoms of the disease such as fatigue, muscle and limb pain, etc. Furthermore, the reddened region is painful under pressure, which is another indication of an inflammation that occurs just under the skin.
