Today Show host Maura Derrane has taken to social media to share a health scare that has left her on medication but still experiencing terrible pain.
The RTE star posted a picture on Instagram showing how she had noticed a red mark on her ankle on the morning of Tuesday, May 9.
The next day, however, the mark "literally blew up".
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The TV presenter and journalist did not miss a step during the live Today Show episodes this week, despite the fact that she was experiencing great pain as the mark continued to expand leaving a painful-looking bruise around where the supposed bite was, Galway Beo reports.
Both Derrane and her doctor believe that the mark on her ankle may be the result of an insect bite or a spider bite.
Her doctor, Dr Doireann O'Leary immediately prescribed an anti-biotic as soon as she saw the progression of what was previously a small puncture wound.
The Aran Island native then took to Instagram to share images of the horrific swelling and bruising that arose in the wake of the bite.
Posting a picture of her ankle on the social media platform, Maura said that even with antibiotics the bite is still “really sore and painful” and “not very attractive”.
She added that she wanted to “warn everyone out there not to ignore an insect bite”.
Maura said: "This is my leg five days after getting, what the doctor thinks is an insect bite. I now think it may be a spider bite.
“I noticed a red mark last Tuesday morning but thought little of it. By the time I went to work on Wednesday, my leg had literally blown up. Thankfully Dr. Doireann O'Leary took a look at it, and put me on an antibiotic immediately."
"But even with the antibiotic, the wound is still really sore and painful, and as you can see it’s not very attractive!!
“I just want to warn everyone out there not to ignore an insect bite as it can become really serious very quickly, especially a spider bite."
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