Posted by
ldavy
18 yrs ago
I'm really hoping someone out there will have had a similar problem to mine and can advise me on how to solve it.
Insects of some kind are biting me during the night - not just once or twice, but up to 15 or 20 times in a night. They're not mosquitoes. The bites are either through the bedding, or they're coming from underneath me. The bites are small but itch badly, and carry on itching sporadically for two or three days. When there are lots of bites in one area, that whole area feels like it's burning.
At first I was terrified that I'd somehow got bed bugs but I researched on the Web and found that there are telltale signs which don't exist in my flat. Anyway bedbugs aren't invisible, they're just small. Whatever is biting me cannot be seen.
It seems like something is living in my mattress, but last night in desparation I moved onto the sofa and continued to get bitten, which makes me think they're in the bedding too, or at least I carried them from the mattress to the sofa via the bedding. The bedding was all washed two days ago.
I've tried the "bombs" you can get in the supermarket, but they haven't made any difference.
Can anyone help please?
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Could they be fleas, dust mites or sand flies?
Try to remove the bedding and wash them with bleach.
Then vacuum clean the bed on all sides as the bed base and the entire floor. You can also try vacuum cleaning the curtains and the corner between the wall and the floor.
Then wash the floor with bleach solution.
If still getting biten, consider you may have some kind of allergy (to detergnet?) or excema.
Hope it helps.
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ldavy
18 yrs ago
Thanks aixela. I don't think dust mites bite people - could be sand flies I suppose, although aren't they big enough to see? My bed is a high one, with a desk and wardrobe underneath it, so if there were fleas or something living in the floor they'd have to jump pretty high! But I'll try washing the floor with bleach anyway. I've thought of allergy but that doesn't seem right either, because surely I'd be coming out in spots all over, not just in certain areas? Anyway thanks for replying.
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kram
18 yrs ago
I sometimes get a very strong itchy feeling in my legs and nowhere else. After it happened in a few diff. places (including a hotel), I concluded it had to be some kind of allergy. And like yours, it was very localized - specifically the web of my feet and hands :)
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If the bites leave visible marks, have a doctor look at them.
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kram
18 yrs ago
Yes to add, they never left a mark or something. It was just itchy and I have learned to not aggravate it. Hope you find the cause of yours soon.
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are you sure the dustmites don't bite?
I had a similar experience (HK side), and I took everything out to wash, while that was going on I used one or two of those "bug bombs" or whatever you call them ..
it did the trick
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Bedding should be washed at 50C to get rid of the nasties.
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NZR
18 yrs ago
It does sound like bed bugs which infest the matress (and other areas)and in about 1 in 10 cases casues red spots and ichiness. The only way to ensure you remove them fully is by a number sessions of insecticide, as you need to break the cycle with the eggs being impervious to insecticide.
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ness
18 yrs ago
There is something known as a "no see um" and they bite when you are walking on leaves, the black stuff under kiddie play grounds or around pool or near any type of drain. The bites don't come up immediately like a mosquito, rather develop overnight and itch like nothing I have ever experienced before.... for weeks with me. If your bites are predominately on the lower half of your leg this would be my bet?? Could you be picking up the bited during the day. They also tend to develop over several days getting worse. Clarytne to stopt he itch, cortisone cream if you develop the blisters that I get and anti itch cream - I think Eurax is the best available from chemists that prescribe or over the counter at the hospital.
http://pelotes.jea.com/AnimalFact/Arthropod/NOSEEUM.htm
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/aquatic/biting_midges.htm
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crj
18 yrs ago
Try calling Biocycle to come and spray your entire house - eco friendly and very effective.
Do a search on this site to see a recent thread with their details.
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ldavy
18 yrs ago
Thanks everyone for your responses. Ness, they could be the "no see ums" - I know what you mean -but the bites are mainly on my upper arms, back and stomach. NZR, I'm pretty sure they're not bed bugs after my research on the Web. I slept on the sofa again last night, with completely clean bedding, and no bites ... so I'm getting more and more convinced that something is living in my mattress, or at least in my bedroom. Philiprobert, no, I live in Sai Ying Pun and don't open the windows due to traffic noise. I'm seeing the doctor about something else tomorrow anyway so will show her the bites. And Cri, I will try Biocycle, thanks.
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Idavy, did you find out the cause of your problem. I seem to have the same problem and would love to find out how you resolved it. Pls. let me know.
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How weird! The same thing happened at our house: one morning two weeks ago, my husband and I both woke up with about 20 little bites one each arm, but only on our arms. The bites itched for four or five days. I pulled the bed/bedding apart, thinking it must be something in the bed--tiny baby spiders? fleas? but found nothing and it didn't happen again. I'm one who sleeps with my arms wrapped around my pillow, so how the bugs got to both arms, I can't figure. We have screens on all our windows, haven't changed anything else in the room for years, haven't traveled, and no one else sleeps in our bed, so...we're kerfuffled. Have no idea what it was & hasn't happened again. If anyone does know, I'd like to hear it.
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biocycle has a product for mattresses and upholsteries and furnishings. maybe try that first...
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MrsC
18 yrs ago
Kram - sorry to bring this up, but itching in the webs of hands and feet, especially at night is very characteristic of scabies. Don't ask me how I know.....
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Think I have noseeum bites too, first lot appeared about 1.5 wks ago and were just going then got lots over last 2 days. Only ever on the lower half of my legs! So itchy and look awful :( was recommended 'Anthisan' to relieve itching and have tried a couple of other brands but this and nothing else relieves it for long not even antihistamines. What is the Australian made insect repellant you recommend Miss P, really need prevention too it seems!
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No really not scratching! Trying to avoid as I know it makes them worse. Will look out for the brands you recommend.
Thanks
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ldavy
18 yrs ago
Sue 2007, I don't know if I've got rid of the problem or not because I haven't slept in my bed since then, I've been sleeping on the sofa. Thanks everyone for your advice but it is not noseeums - it can't be, as they wouldn't only bite when I'm in bed. If they were in my flat they would be biting me at other times as well - and in other places. The bites themselves don't particularly bother me - they're annoying, that's all - it's the revolting fact that something might be living in my mattress.
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ldavy
18 yrs ago
Thankfully it's not bed bugs either according to everything I've read on the web about them. Yes, new mattress is probably needed, trouble is I'm worried that if I get a new mattress the problem will continue if whatever-it-is has actually got into the bed frame. That would be a nightmare because mine is a high bed with a cupboard and desk built in underneath. For the moment the easiest option is to continue sleeping on the sofa - fortunately it's quite comfortable!
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