Jellyfish alert

The C on the back of my hand stayed itchy for several days and grew , becoming more welt than weal. It's now scabby but is not obviously fading. And I'm reminded the jelly fish season is approaching. Last year on holiday we kept a high alert for jelly fish - without either letting it spoil our fun or having a clear idea what to do. If a flea bite can bring me out in weals, what will a jelly fish do? And what on earth does this have to do with salicylate?

My plan on holiday is to take a montelukast daily. Last year I drank quite a lot of wine - and suffered for it throughout the autumn. It will be hard to resist temptation - especially if it's cheaper than water.

RAS

Weal bad news?

I think I must have had an insect bite on my right hand. I had forgotten what insect bites can do. It itched a little and then went scaly. That was alarming as I thought I might be getting hives on my right side.

Over the last couple of days it has grown into a large C branded on the top of my hand. It's astonishing how useful this diary is - as I had completely forgotten about weals and welts. This happened two years ago when I was attacked by fleas and I identified the problem as papular urticaria.

In the light of today's news linking allergies to protection against cancer, it's maybe reassuring to know I can still get these bizarre reactions. However this particular welt itches like hell and I am wondering whether to try an anti-histamine cream, as I did before. I just hope it's not something worse - like scabies.

RAS