Any ideas on what's biting us???

[PRINCESS VIJA]

DH, me, and DS have all been being bit by something, mostly at night. It looks like a mosquito bite, but it goes farther and almost looks like a welt. It isn't a mosquito. Very itchy. I have been bit just sitting here at the computer. We can't see anything. The only thing I can think of, is we were at a local lake a couple of days ago, could this be something? But DD doesn't have these--- yet. I hope she doesn't. This just is awful!

 

[wovenwonder]

Vija has bed bugs!

Seriously though --- could it be fleas?

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Ackkk, how does one get fleas??? We don't have any pets, except for a bird. I thought about the bedbugs, but I have been getting bit at all times of the day, not just at night time. outside, inside, just sitting here at the computer. It is so frustrating. I just don't know what it is. I have to consult my friend who lives on the lake. She said her boys got a rash because of something that lives in the reeds, it happens apparently every year in the beginning of the season, but this is a couple of days later, so I just don't know.

 

[nowellsl]

Definately sounds like red bugs (chiggers as we call them here in the south!) They itch like crazy!! Cover them with some clear nail polish - that should help, or they do make some medication (available at drug stores) that you paint on them. They like to hang out in tall grass, and spanish moss.

 

[helenabear]

I was bit by some sort of biting fly (not sure exactly which) while I was in Florida. It started off as a red dot like a tiny inside bruise (but very red) and then it got much bigger and itched a little (which for me with bites is probably a lot since mosquitos and many others don't itch for me) I still see the marks on mine a few weeks later. I was bit at the ankle and lower leg and it is the same thing (whatever it is) that bit me when I was there in Dec. Does that sound similar to yours?

My sister has been bit by fleas and I know hers didn't really welt up at all.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Chiggers were the first thing that I thought of when you said you were just at the lake.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Ok, I looked up chiggers, and it sounds like it could be it, but we weren't in tall grass. And if we do indeed have them, do they end up living in the house, how do we get rid of them??? the websites just talk about outdoor control.

 

[nowellsl]

I don't think you have to worry about them in your house - the nail polish supposedly kills the larvae they leave under your skin (yuk!). The itching does last a while, but try not to scratch them hard enough to cause a sore, if you do, then you have to worry about infection. Benedryl does help with the itching. Good luck

 

[antnee]

 

[crazymomof4]

Sorry, I can't answer your ? but if misery loves company....you've got some.
About 2-3 weeks ago my 6 yo DS and 2yo DD were waking up w/ exactly the same bites that you described. I mentioned it to my neighbor and her daughter was also having them. A week later my nephew had them. He was taken to the doctor by his over- reactive aunt (not me)who was watching him while parents were away. The doctor said they were "bug bites" but didn't elaborate on what kind of "bug".
They were NOT mosquito or flea bites as I am quite familiar w/ these. I stripped my kid's beds and they haven't been bit since.

 

[Jiminy102]

Ok we have it as well!!!! Wel ours is actually almost gone!! This is the only things we found to helps the itching!!

Bleach-DH used strait bleach and we recommend a 50/50 mix with water.

Rubbing Alocohl-does not work as well as the bleach but it does help

ANd

My Dogs flea and tick shampoo!!!!! WOrks great we can go all day without itching!! Let me tell you we have never itched so badly before!!! We have the Scratchex brand flea and tick shampoo for our pets it is $3-$4 a bottle!!! Well worth it!!

 

[AlreadyexcitedGrammy]

Coming back to the WISH board until they're all gone and you don't give 'em to us over there!!!!

Oh- Wovenwonder I just LOL'd when I read your response!!!! OhMom sitting at one computer and me at the other and laughing too hard to tell her - you told our Princess that she has bedbugs!!

We'll come visit you over here on the CB as often as we can and PM you too - but hoping for a volunteer quarantine until they vanish!!!!

Sending PD via airmail to get those darn things (whatever they may be) bamboozled!!!

 

[Serena]

It sounds like it might be a spider bite.

 

[browneyes]

I hate chigger bites. The nail polish does work. It seems like there's another thing you can use, but I can't remember what it is.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

antnee, that picture is disgusting! YUCK! I can't imagine that thing crawling on me. BLECHHHH!

AlreadyexcitedGrammy, hate to have to tell ya this, but I've been over there today! hope I didn't leave any extra "fella's" over ther for you!

And I am sorry that others are experiencing this yucky event, but I am very appreciative of the info and suggestions. We laundred everything, bleached down the beds, and we will hope for the best.

BUt the worst thing was, as we were working on laundering everything, our washing machine broke. So off to the store we went to buy a new one. It was so old. DH did try to fix it, but it was too far gone. It came out of my Disney fund .

 

[nowellsl]

Jiminy102 - I'd be careful of the bleach cure - a friend of mine tried it on poison ivy and ended up with a bad case of blood poisoning. It is really bad for your skin as well!

 

[Jiminy102]

It worked for us but then we also did it before anything was broken open. I personaaly recommend the flea and tick shampoo!!! I clean with strait bleach and never had a problem. The shapoo works great!! Now I know why it works so well on the dog!!

 

[perdidobay]

Chiggerid is made for chiggerbites, you brush it on like nail polish.
It works! You can find it with the first aid supplies.

 

[phamton]

One commonly known remedy for chigger bites is to apply nail polish to reduce itchiness. This does not kill the chigger or treat the bite in any way. It simply seals the area off from the air, which keeps the sore from itching so badly. If you want to apply something to relieve itching, it's much better to use a salve or cream that contains antihistamines (Caladryl or hydrocortisone salves are the most common).

Purdue University entomologist Tim Gibb says. "People sometimes resort to strange chigger remedies such as coating their bites with Vaseline or nail polish in an effort to suffocate the chigger. In fact, by the time the bite begins itching, the chigger has long since dropped off. You can't kill something that’s not there. The itch is simply our bodies' reaction to the bite."
And then jokingly added:
"If you absolutely must call in sick to work because of chigger bites, tell the boss that you have been diagnosed with arachnid papules," ... "That is going to sound much worse than saying you have a bunch of chigger bites."

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by Jiminy102
I personaaly recommend the flea and tick shampoo!!! I clean with strait bleach and never had a problem. The shapoo works great!! Now I know why it works so well on the dog!!

I used to use over-the-counter flea control, including dips, shampoos and collars for my cats. Last fall I did some research on these bc. someone gave me a heads up that they are not really as safe as most people think. Most over the counter flea products contain the insecticide, pyrethrin. I no longer use any products that contain this. Since this chemical is absorbed into the skin, I would recommend looking into the possible adverse effects before using it to relieve itching.
Here is just one of many sites:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts155.pdf


I use a Benadryl gel to relieve the itch of insect bites.