James Best as Deputy Roscoe P. Coltrane in âThe Dukes of Hazzard,â hugging Flash. James Best, whose prolific career included 83 movies and 600 TV shows but is best remembered for portraying Rosco P. Coltrane, the bumbling sheriff of Hazzard County, died late Monday in Hickory at age 88.
1 Insect bites and stings can also cause thumb swelling. Local inflammation, itching, burning and swelling can result after an insect bite, it may persist for few hours before healing on its own.  Infection of the thumb can also cause its swelling. It can be a secondary infection due to trauma and cut on the thumb.
Numerous medical conditions might cause knuckle swelling, including arthritis, gout, heart or kidney disease and infection. Blunt force trauma, of any kind, to the hand may also produce pain and swelling. Fluid retention caused by various medications may appear as joint or knuckle swelling, and individuals having an adverse reaction to antibiotics may also develop aching joints or swollen knuckles.