I have this bug bite on my arm. is it serious.

I have a red lump on my arm from poking a bug bite with a needle; how long will it be until it goes away!?

• I had a little lump on my arm from what I thought was a bug bite, but after I poked it, it just bled into itself and turned red and became much larger. Will this go away on its own?

• Answer:

  It sounds like you may have given yourself an infection. If the area "bled into itself" it would have bruised not turned red. You can try holding a moist warm towel on the area for 20 minutes several times a day while you wait to see a doctor. If it continues to get bigger or if you see a red streak following the path of a vein go directly to the emergency room and oh yeah, lay off the home surgeries until after med school.