I'm Back BEWARE BUGS AT AKL

[Hugpug]

Well; I am back from a most wonderful time. The Illumination cruise was awlsome thanks to Witney and her husband for letting me join them. I would not want to miss a chance to do this again. The Extra magic hours at Epcot were a great . Able to get on all rides except for Energy which broke down earlier and never came back up.
Now the bad news, While visting AKL I was bitten on my legs and arms by some kind of bug. This was my last day and I wanted to go vist AKL to see if I would like to stay there sometime. Well ,by Wednesday after returning home my ankles were 3 times there size and the infection had spread to 1/3rd of my leg. I went to ER and was admitted to hospital. The infection had spread so fast that they were concerned. I was IV'ed with antibiotics for 24 hours and then released and placed on oral antibioics. What a way to end a wonderful vacation.
A word of warning if you are bitten seek medical attention at once. This very important to those of you who are diabetic such as myself.

 

[luckywife]

Sounds like you had a super vacation-except for those bug bites. What kind of bugs are they? Do you know of anyone else who has experienced that kind of problem with them? Sorry to hear you were hospitalized because of it and hope you're feeling better now!

 

[dreamflight99]

Since Florida is basically the location where Pandora's box was opened (home of the GIANT FLYING ROACHES called "Palmetto bugs", etc! ) I have to bring adrenaline (EpiPen, an epinephrine auto-injector) with me and other meds/antihistimines (zyrtec, etc.), to combat the anaphylactic and severe allergic reactions I tend to experience from peculiar bug bites (it's only happened in Florida). Some produce/exasperate odd "swelling," better known as idiopathic angioedema (in my case).

The culprit "bug" which caused me this problem last summer, is known as the "yellow or green-head" fly. Here are some very informative sites to check-out on this little known pest:

http://pherec.org/entguides/EntGuide1.html

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/livestock/deer_fly.htm

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/livestock/yellow_fly.htm

http://www.green-head.com/Greenhead.html

http://www.greenheadfly.com/DEET3.htm

http://www.bayweekly.com/year98/lead6_29.html

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG081

http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/biting flies.htm

http://pherec.org/entguides/EntGuide1.html

Although they are most prevalent during the summer months,(April-June) they are "active" in Florida (according to an entomologist) March-November. They are around water areas, animals, etc., tenaciously seeking a blood meal. They are also attracted to wild/domestic animals (which explains their presence at AKL).

I was BIT getting off the boat at MGM (walking past the shrubs), and again in the muppet store. They always bite on the lower legs, usually the back side behind the knee. My BITE area became RED, HOT and very SWOLLEN (and hard). The pores of the skin were easily visible, the fluid retention underneath was incredible. It was painful, especially when I walked. The zyrtec alleviated much of the swelling, and the adrenaline prevented further shock/reaction.

They bite with large pincing MANDIBLES, (using a "scissor-like" action) which can cause an extremely terrible "sting-like" pain!

I will be making a conscientious effort to KEEP WALKING while in the areas they frequent. I do not wish to experience this type of BITE again!

TTFN...Hope this info helps!

 

[coachYO & my 3 girls]

Any idea if I am stung by one of these I would have the same type of reaction as to the one I had with a bee sting? I itched, then turned beet red, then face and mouth, tongue started swelling, breathing difficulties, my heart racing and hives. The dose of benadryl and the epi shot are the things that saved me. Thanks for any info, YO

 

[Gabrielle]

I'm back from 3 days at the WL with 4 really bad bites. One on my wrist; one on my lower lip; and one on my foot.

These bites are awful. My lower lip is about 3 times its normal size; the one on my wrist continues to ooze and I've got bandages on the one on my foot, it hurts so bad.

I go to WDW about 2x a year and this is the worst I ever experienced. Take bug spray!

 

[missypie]

I almost always forget to bring bug repellant on vacation. But I always travel with liquid and rub on benedryl for allergic reactions. I keep trying to spread the word that Florida is a "tropical paradise" which means all kinds of blooming, buzzing living things....which isn't always a good thing! Hope you're better now!!!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Originally posted by Gabrielle
I'm back from 3 days at the WL with 4 really bad bites. One on my wrist; one on my lower lip; and one on my foot.

These bites are awful. My lower lip is about 3 times its normal size; the one on my wrist continues to ooze and I've got bandages on the one on my foot, it hurts so bad.

I go to WDW about 2x a year and this is the worst I ever experienced. Take bug spray!

I got back from WL on May 3rd and I still have one persistant bite that is just now starting to heal! I had 4 total ( one on my ankle, calf, and 2 on my thigh. They itch like crazy and the one on my ankle has left a nice scar! I live in Florida and usually can handle the bugs, but these mosquito's / no see-ums, they were vicious!!

 

[txdznydude]

Sounds like 'no-see-ums" to me. If you search this board you will find more info. Never known them to sending anyone to the hospital before. Glad you had a great trip. Sorry it had to end like it did.

 

[stitch79]

Yup, those are nasty.....I've only seen them at WDW though. They were at AKL and at the mini golf course when I noticed them, I live about 45 mins north of WDW and have never seen them here. We were sitting on a porch at AKL when one of them bit around my knee, I could feel it when it bit! I got the same kind of bite that dreamflight described so I knew it wasnt a normal mosquito bite. Please be on the lookout for these nasty creatures!

 

[takara]

We live a mile from the beach and alongside the wetlands, no-see-ums are very prevalent in this area. They can be nastier than a squeeter bite, I can tell you that! But in early June one year, I had been waiting for my husband and granddaughter to get off of Goofy's Barnstormer and had been pestered by a horse fly that just wouldn't leave me alone. When I got back to the resort I had three large bites on my legs that stayed for about a month. Now everytime I go into that one area, I'm constantly looking

 

[Gabrielle]

>>I got back from WL on May 3rd and I still have one persistant bite that is just now starting to heal!

Hi Betsy,

I got back from WL yesterday. Do you think it was those flying black bugs that were biting? I noticed them everywhere.

-Gabrielle

 

[coachYO & my 3 girls]

Any advice on the best repellant to use?
Thanks, YO

 

[JCW]

We stayed at AKL about a year ago, and I have never had so many bites as I did during that stay. Most of mine were from the green-head flies. They were all over my legs. I looked like I had some type of disease. Fortunately I didn't have any kind of allergic reaction like others have posted (other than some itching).

I thought it was just me. My DH didn't get bit a single time. My blood must be sweeter than DH's

However, even after this, AKL is still my favorite resort. But next time I will bring lots of bug repellent and Benadryl, just in case.

 

[colleen costello]

We went mid-March for Spring Break. Stayed at Old Key West but spent a long evening at AKL, eating at Boma than waiting for 9pm to do the "night vision goggles' thing (very cool!) Only the kids and I maintained the wait; the bugs were eating us alive. My sensible hubby and parents went to the lobby. I forgot the OFF! and the bugs could sure tell. One bite on the back of my calf got big and read and nasty, and as I look down today, I STILL have a spot from it. I don't know WHAT got me -- I assumed it was a giant Florida mosquito -- but next visit the OFF will be in my backpack EVERY evening!

 

[luckywife]

WOW DF99 sounds like you have had quite a time dealing with these pesky bugs! I must say that I am pretty concerned about them now, especially for my DS's. Is OFF the best thing to use? Anyone else know of another kind of bug repellant that could possibly work better?

 

[gizfish]

Florida has some strange bugs, but I think the fact that so many people spend time outside on the balconies or at the savanahs at AKL at around dusk, there are major bug bite problems at that resort. I thought the bites I got were mosquitoes, but no way. Ones that are on thin parts like ankles and toes actually hurt as well as itched. We left AKL twelve days ago and today is only the first day that I haven't had to scratch the bites. Maybe they import the bugs from Africa too, lol. Definitely use bug spray when you are outside at AKL!

 

[firefawnkimmy]

Look for repellants with Deet. I think thats it. My friends in the military use a higher concentration of Deet when out in the field, and they have started selling certain bug repellants with a certain percentage of Deet in it. Works wonders and supposedly has no odor. Just got that tip from them so haven't had a chance to try it out. If its not Deet its a 3 letter abbrevation or sounds like it. It was over the phone long distance that one of them told me. Static, love it.

 

[Tinkbell]

On my last trip we stayed at AKL and saw families talking about the bug bites at the pool. We used the Avon sunscreen that has a bug repellant in it. I think it is "Skin so Soft", but I'd have to check on the exact name. Anyway, that stuff kept me bite free and the bugs LOVE to bite me! I usually get very bit up in FLA, but this time I was more prepared. I even put the stuff on at night. It smells nicer than bug repellant.

 

[floridafam]

We now use a repellant with DEET in it when we are outside at dusk or dawn in Florida.

The things that get us are the "noseeums." They are in the mosquito family and I believe their actual name is the biting midge.

You really can't see them but their bites are AWFUL!!!!!!

Much worse than a mosquito bite. A typical mosquito bite will go away after a couple of days for me. These things are pure torture. I remember sitting up in our bed at Vero Beach last year with tears in my eyes because the itch is so bad. I tried everything-benadryl, you name it. Finally, I asked a lifeguard what they use and she gave me a whole box of these little medicated things you crack open. That helped. I still have scars around my ankles.

I had a bunch of bites from sitting around the pool at WL last year in the evening. Every part of my body was covered except my lower back. The next morning, I thought I had chicken pox. We finally figured out it was the noseeums.

My little girl kept saying she didn't want to see any more "museums" and we couldn't figure out what she was talking about for days until we realized she was talking about the noseeums.

 

[Yardbird]

Avon makes a great bug repellant "Bug Guard Plus" The plus is SPF 30. They also make a spray with SPF 15 or 0. I purchased mine from Ebay. This thread just made me buy another tube for my June trip!