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I just returned from a lovely long weekend on one of the islands above Holland. We had a great time. Spent the entire weekend biking thru the dunes, forests and strolling along the beach. The ferry ride to the island was 2 hours long and I did it without motion sickness medication (big pat on the back for me haha) The weather here has been unbelievably warm. Temps have been in the mid to upper 80's with lots of humidity. It was really warm biking around the island but luckily there were lots of ice cream stands LOL We biked an average of 40 km per day.
The last night we were there, we stopped in the dunes to take some video of the beach below at sunset. There were a zillion bugs swarming us. We quickly finished up videoing and got the heck out of there LOL The rest of the evening I felt itchy and creepy (like something was still on me). I thought it was just a psychological thing from those bugs swarming us. It continued while I was sleeping. I'd wake up once in a while itching or feeling like something was crawling on me. When I awoke the next morning, my right eye was swollen and I had these welt like things on different parts of my body. I thought maybe they were bites but normally if I get bit by a mosquito, I just get a small red bump, not a welt. These welts swelled up and got very warm. I had one on my right eyelid, under my left eye, on my cheek, on my finger and right above my elbow. I was quite puffy and miserable and the sun only seemed to make it worse.
Today I noticed the welt on my finger seems to be gone along with the swelling...but now there is a tiny bump there that wasn't there before. My eyes are still really puffy and the welts are still there. So are the ones near my elbow. I've also noticed a few new bumps (not the welt type). I'm wondering if this could be some type of mite. We slept in a mobile home that's rented out all summer. Is it possible that it could be scabies or bed bugs or chiggers or some other type of mite? Any ideas?? Especially on how to get rid of it!!
Thanks,
Barbara
In Reply to: Bites or mites?? posted by BarbaraN on August 20, 2002 at 09:33:42:
Hi, (itchy) BarbaraN.
The bugs in the "dunes" are the worst. How about the "no see ums"?
Oral dyphenhydramine (OTC), 50 milligrams 4 times a day might help.
I doubt that you have picked up a bug you are carrying with you although that IS possible. What you are describing is within expectations of some one that spent the day at the dunes without their DEET. Did you have your DEET?
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? posted by Walt Stoll on August 21, 2002 at 08:27:44:
It was my first time in the dunes...what are no see ums??? I didnt have DEET. What is it? Only thing I could find here in never never land (the netherlands) was some type of environmentally friendly spray with citroenella in it. I ended up going to the pharmacy and the pharmacist recommended either claritin or allerfree...she said that was the only allergy type medicine you can get here without prescriptions. The welts with the heat and swelling are gone now and all I have in their place are tiny bumps...almost like pimples. I'll have someone send me the DEET and oral dyphenhydramine in my next care package from the states :-) I really enjoyed my time on the island and want to go back frequently...only better prepared next time!
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? posted by BarbaraN on August 21, 2002 at 13:53:33:
DEET is an insecticide. It's found in products like OFF!.
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? posted by Donna E. on August 21, 2002 at 14:20:12:
Sorry, it's an insect repellent not an insecticide. I use Skin-So-Soft by Avon and it works fine, BUT you have to apply it every 1-1/2 hours to 2 hours for it to work - at least I do. I use the spray that is oily.
When I was in a heavy mosquito area in June, I did not have any Skin-So-Soft with me, so I put on olive oil. Believe it or not, it worked as long as my skin had an oily sheen from it. Also one time I used a very thick skin lotion and as long as my skin was still oily from it, the mosquitos did not bite.
Here's more info on DEET:
It has long been known that the most effective repellents are those which contain DEET. DEET is the abbreviation for the chemical N,N-diethyl-meta-toluarnide. DEET has been sold in the United States since 1956 and is used by 50-100 million people each year. It repels mosquitoes, no-see-ums, fleas, ticks, gnats, horse flies, deer flies, yellow flies and chiggers. Repellents containing DEET are available as pump sprays, aerosols, lotions, creams, soaps and sticks. In general, the inexpensive products contain less than 10% DEET, while the more expensive ones are at least 20% DEET. There are over 40 products containing from 5% to 95% DEET which can be purchased. Products with more than 35% DEET are available, most often, through camping and outdoor supply stores. If a little DEET is good, is a lot of DEET better? Not necessarily. In tests done by the army, repellents with 30-40% DEET worked twice as well as repellents with 75% DEET. Read the label and check to see what percentage of the product is DEET. This information is found under active ingredients. The label may say DEET, or it may spell out the chemical name. Some people need to use higher concentrations, while a lesser concentration may suffice for others. It is always best to use the lowest concentration that is effective. People should check to see if it is a controlled release formula (long lasting) and compare the amount of product and the type of application. Lotions provide the most even coverage. Sprays are more convenient but require greater care in applying. The entire label should be read before choosing what is best for a family.
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? posted by Donna E. on August 21, 2002 at 14:20:12:
Thanks for the info. So what's the difference between using DEET and something that has DEET in it, like OFF?
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? posted by BarbaraN on August 21, 2002 at 13:53:33:
Hi, BarbaraN.
Recently reported research indicates that DEET is the only thing that really works for mosquito repellant. I do not know how well it works for other bugs.
The stuff I use is 19% DEET and is a cream. It surely doesn't take much to protect.
No see ums are nasty biting bugs that are nearly too small to be seen by the naked eye. They are most common in places like the dunes. They make a much bigger welt than mosquitos.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? posted by BarbaraN on August 21, 2002 at 13:53:33:
Hi, BarbaraN.
Recently reported research indicates that DEET is the only thing that really works for mosquito repellant. I do not know how well it works for other bugs.
The stuff I use is 19% DEET and is a cream. It surely doesn't take much to protect.
No see ums are nasty biting bugs that are nearly too small to be seen by the naked eye. They are most common in places like the dunes. They make a much bigger welt than mosquitos.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? posted by BarbaraN on August 22, 2002 at 07:55:23:
I'm not sure. I don't think you can just buy DEET. I think it is always in a product like OFF!.
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? (Archive in bug bites.) posted by Walt Stoll on August 22, 2002 at 09:32:14:
nmi
In Reply to: Re: Bites or mites?? posted by Donna E. on August 22, 2002 at 11:31:47:
Thanks, Donna E.
The DEET will be listed as the active ingredient in whichever product.
Walt
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