MyBugBites.com

whats the difference between sand fleas & fleas on animals(my cat never goes outside)

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By rosemary tenti on Aug 18, 2006

My son has fight sand fleas for three weeks, but that not the worst my grandson 1 year old is lunch . They have brought the sand fleas to my home. We both have used bug foggers,lawn sprays and now tried home spray from Ace Hardware. We need help in Michigan.

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By Gail Opperman on Aug 18, 2006

Hi there. My mom and I are also suffering from these horrible bites. Our only relief seems to be washing our feet constantly and putting Aveno anti-itch with hydrocortizone cream on them. We seriously look like we have chicken pox. We to are from Michigan Gail. I had no idea that these bugs existed till today when we finally went to the hospital. All they could say was use calamine spray by band-aid. Although that works to the Aveno seems to work longer. Hope that helps and if you have any ideas to please feel free to share.

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By noelle flaherty on Aug 30, 2006

I got terrible experience with sand flea bites in one of the resorts here in the Philippines, the itchiness lasted for 3 weeks ’till my skin gots scars like chicken pox coz I just can’t help scratching even during night time. Can’t even look at myself in the mirror with the scars in my arms and back it looks so awful. I have to rush to the dermatologist for the treatment. The doctor prescribe lindell lotion and bethametasone lotion and now, I would prefer spending time in other places but not beaches.

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By Irene on Jan 8, 2007

Irene, the bites you refer to in the Philippines are not the same as the “Sand Flea” bites referred to here. Sand Fleas (or no-see-ums, punkies etc.) are part of the Biting Midges (Ceratopogonidae) family whereas the true Sand Fly (Psychodidae) is a different species. The sores you refer to is in fact a decease called cutaneous leischmaniasis (cutaneous as long as it only attacks the skin, but can also develop into visceral leischmaniasis which attacks the kidneys and can be deadly if left untreated). The bites of the Sand Flea (or no-see-um) is nowhere near as bothersome or dangerous although it can be very annoying. In rare cases a large number of Sand Flea bites can be more dangerous but normally only for sensitive persons. The Sand Flea isn’t a real flea but is often referred to by this nickname as it’s almost impossible to see.

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By Erlend on Jun 19, 2007

I moved into a filthy apt about two months ago and for about a month I have been getting these huge bites all over my arms that itch very badly. I do not have them anywhere else on my body, but I seem to wake up with 2 or 3 new ones everyday. I don’t notice any bugs, or feel them and my cat doesn’t even seem to be scratching. All I can do is put calamine lotion on to stop the itch and wait another week until I move out. But I look aweful! Does this sound like sand-flea bites?

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By Kelley on Jul 19, 2007

Kelley,
If you look up sand fleas online, it appears they can not infest your home or pet…If the bites are really that big, it should be your landlord’s responsibility to have the apt checked out. I would double check your cat with a fine tooth comb to see if you can see any fleas that way, especially if it is a dark cat, however the advice I was given on fleas was to put on a pair of white tube socks, pull them all the way up and walk around your apt and if you have fleas you most likely will see them on your socks.

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By Jolene on Aug 6, 2007

After a camping trip to Ft. Robinson in Nebraska almost all of us (a total of 30) ended up with bites all over. Usually started on the arms, backs of arms and backs of legs. We were finally told that they were sand fleas. Everyone has been using various methods of treatment – some successfully, some not. I was one of the first to break out and after a week, they are still very itchy and seem to be spreading. My husband did not break out until a week later, and is covered with them. We have tried mouthwash, vapo-rub, rubbing alcahol, caladryl, soap and water – all temporarily stop the itching, but it soon starts again. Do you agree that this is caused from sand fleas, and what do you recommend for fixing the problem? Do we have an infestation problem? Yikes!! Help!!

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By Jan Strickland on Aug 12, 2007

I was bitten by these nasty bugs at the Sebastian Inlet in Sebastian, FL. I asked for many remedies from pharmacist. They told me to get benadryl allergy medicine for kids and take 4 tablespoons. I also used Lanacane and hydrocortisone. THey only work temporarily. That’s my best advice. By the way this was my first encounter with the bugs and I’ll never wear shorts again.

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By tasha on Aug 25, 2007

It is nearly 4 a.m. and I’m awake with a bag of ice on my feet, trying to numb out this terrible itching. I was at the beach last weekend and yesterday broke out with these terrible bites, which my boyfriend diagnosed as coming from sand fleas. The dermatologist prescribed an ointment and antihistamine,but neither is really helping. My feet look like the photo, and I also have random ones here and there on my legs. Torture! Thanks to everyone for these posts.

By the by, my boyfriend is back at the beach this weekend. Not me.

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By Sarah on Sep 8, 2007

I went on a 4 day vacation with 8 of my girlfriends to Puerto Rico. The first day we were all sitting on the beach, and I started getting bit by some little invisible creature. I had to get up and leave. And guess what?? No one else was bitten. I have bites all over me. I seem to have a new bite pop up every day. I was thankful to find that it is sand fleas. At least I hope it is!! Puerto Rico doesn’t have some deadly bug that makes you sick does it???

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By Lori on Oct 9, 2007

I’m sorry you’ve all had to go through this but glad to know I’m not alone! I was in Florida last week and only noticed one bite. When I got home – oy. It doesn’t bother me much during the day but the second I lay down at night my ankles and feet go nuts. New ones still seem to be popping up every day. Scratching the bejeesus out of them and then touching them with a Qtip with tea tree oil has helped some.

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By Kerry Palm on Oct 16, 2007

Wow! hubbie and I were in Jamaica in September having a great time until I started feeliing like I was be bitten by something, quite naturally I thought it was something in the bed, but found out it was sand fleas by one of the staff members. We continue to enjoy our trip and then hubbie started feeling the bites. As many of you have stated, bites dcontinued to pop up days after we left. Hhubbie went to the doctor and received a subacription for an antihsitamine and an ointment and antihistamine for both of us. We returned home on 9/7007 and I sill have marks and am still itching and new bumps. My legs feet and arms look horrible… almost hate that we went to jamaica

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By Gwen on Oct 21, 2007

Man-o-man, I have never before – knock on wood or again, been bitten like this. I was in vero beach, a little south of sebastian inlet and on the last day I was bit and bit that day 10/19 and days latter still itchin big time. this ain’t good – what are these bugs and what danger do they pose. How can they be prevented next time i’m there. Does this ever go away, gee’s I go in these itching jags that wont quit. At least in Michigan you can see the little buggers.
Help.

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By Dave on Oct 22, 2007

gee ive never been bitten like this i have huge red spots on my legs and arms the itchin is another thing. also my kids are coverd in them my 5 year old looks like she has chicken pox is their a prevention for these pest we live in australia near the water ive tryed everythink but no luck still please anybody with a suggestion i would love to hear any kind of suggestion or remeady thanks

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By leeanne on Oct 30, 2007

Sand flea bites can transmit Leischmaniasis. This disease can cause a high and erratic fever, enlarged spleen and skin ulcers. The symptoms may seem like leukemia, lymphoma or impetigo. The skin ulcers can be very disfiguring and difficult to contain. Transmittal of Leischmaniasis by sand fleas is particularly prevalent in Africa and the Mediterranean area and, to a lesser extent, in Mexico and the Southern U.S. States. I had the high fever and enlarged spleen symptoms which were diagnosed initially as lymphoma but all tests were negative for lymphoma or leukemia. I am now convinced that it was Leischmaniasis as a result of sand flea bites when I was working in a hot, sandy, grassy area in west cental Italy in 2001. Since then I have had two short recurrences of the fever, which can be symptomatic of Leischmaniasis.

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By Jim on Oct 30, 2007

i just got back from puerto rico and noticed MORE bug bites!! i even caught 3 of the little buggers. they looked like a black minuscule freckle or something burrowing into my skin. now i’m having tactile hallucinations!!

how could they have endured 2 flights back and still be alive?! how long do they live, if away from sand and water? i have plants in my room, should i get rid of them?

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By sarah on Mar 31, 2008

Im so glad I found this site, I just got back from my honeymoon in Jamaica, started itching 2 days later! I went to the doctor, he was stumped as to what I had. I had already researched my self and came up with sand fleas. My husband and 2 friends were with me all the time and no one but me came back with this ailment. I also swelled up from all the bites…..Its only day 5 of being back and they are still popping up. We had a great time though, loved the weather, water and pool. Did not expect to have this upon my return!!

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By Karin on Apr 3, 2008

i have sand flea bites all over my legs and feet. I was just wondering how long these bites last and do they leave bad scars, if so how can you prevent that from happening

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By evie on Apr 16, 2008

I live in Hawaii and surfed most of my life. Only once have I experience what you guys have gone thru. Amazingly I picked up the bites from surfing close to an outlet and not from the sandy beaches. The bites were mostly around my waist line, seems they congregated where my shorts held up. Anyway, I only noticed the itching when I took a hot shower after getting home. The hot shower opened some pores for them buggers to dig deeper! I wiped down the area with alcohol and smoothered with Calamine Lotion which helped me thru the nights. Lasted about a week…

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By Stan on May 11, 2008

we have just moved house in west auz and my younger brother just got bombed with bite we are not sure if these are sand flea bites or not but they have cause him pain and itching consistantly which does fit the sand flea discription. but we can not find anything that soothes the itching for him.

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By NA on May 13, 2008

I live on central west coast of FL, and believe we have either a sand flea or a cat flea problem. My husband has the bites of the East Villager– foot looks exactly the same, but I do not. We both swim at the beach everyday. He has some on tummy and back as well.

FL is notorious for fleas, but I didn’t know there’s a diff. betw. sand fleas and ‘normal’ fleas. At any rate, we might have both. Fleas are on the cats for sure, but in my past, I’d been bitten, and now, I’m very lucky; haven’t gotten one bite.

I attribute this to eating a lot of onions, garlic, and taking 1 Tablespoon Bragg’s Raw apple cider vinegar every morning with a glass of water. We’ve also started taking a B-complex vitamin, as fleas don’t like it.

As for the cats, we’re using Critter Oil which is made by holistic folks here in FL (highly diluted on them, and full strength w/ borax and salt and baking soda on carpets). Brewer’s yeast in their wet food and sprinkled and rubbed in on their fur. The cats have been ~noticeably~ happier with less scratching. We also flea comb them once a day, and I’m seeing decreasing numbers of fleas on them.

I plan to make a rosemary leaf + peppermint tea leave infusion by boiling some water, adding the herbs, turning off burner, and letting that stand overnight. Then putting the solution on the cat’s ‘hotspots’ where they have itchiness and scabs. I could also rinse them with it. Rosemary is good for the hair and skin– soothing properties. Peppermint leaves are a repellant. I HATE CHEMICALS, so I will not subject my babies to Frontline, Advantage, etc. It takes time, persistence, and patience, but I have seen great results so far, so I plan to keep it up. We bathe them once a week first with a bit of dishwashing liquid (kills fleas through dehydrating its exo-skeleton) and then with a repelling, soothing Neem Shampoo.

Good luck to all. It’s worth it to go the extra mile, knowing we’re not using CHEMO-therapy on our cats or in our home. It’s better for us and the environment.

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By NA on May 16, 2008

Does anyone know if Cancun has a lot of problems with sand fleas?

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By Crystal on May 16, 2008

I heard that bounce sheets that you put in your dryer to make your clothes smell good work well to keep bugs from biting you. Keep it on your body. I heard it works and after my bug bites from mexico i’d try anything.

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By Laura on May 16, 2008

I had my first sand flea experience in Hawi two weeks ago. I had no idea i had gotten bitten until the next day when i saw my legs. About 30 bites that i could count. They never itched until 11 days later when they became swollen and blotchy. Hydrocortisone seems to work but i have to reapply it every 2hrs it seems. I feel like i havek the chicken pox all over again. Hope they don’t leave scars.

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By araceli on May 18, 2008

Crystal…Yes, Cancun has sand fleas, and bad. I was there (Grand Sunset Pricess Resort) over mother’s day and came back covered with bites. I bought some Caladryl at the Cancun airport pharmacy just tolerate the flight.

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By Kristi on May 29, 2008

These bites are awful. I’m used to ant bites in Georgia, but these are even worse. Deodorant seems to work great for keeping them from itching, and it’s easier to apply on the run than calamine and cortisone.

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By Shirley on Jun 3, 2008

I got bitten on the beach in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia), 3 years in a row. You see, I love staying at the Nexus Karambunai resort there. The first time I got bitten, I wasn’t using any bug spray. I fell asleep on the beach for only 30 minutes. By the time I took a warm shower, my back, feet and forearms were dotted all over with pink spots. By night time I was itching all over. When I visited my dermatologist he told me my skin’s sensitive to these bugs hence the slow recovery. He gave me 2% hydrocortisone ointment. It took me 3 months to recover – the spots reduced to a pale beige spot but the skin’s noticeably scarred.

The following year, I used bug spray (Mosi-Guard) before I went on the beach. But I realize as soon as there’s perspiration or your skin gets wet, those areas will get bitten. But I had my hydrocortisone cream with me at the time so I had less than 10 bites and was cured again, in about 1-2 months.

This year, I was on the beach for 3 days in a row with the same ammo and I came back with just 3 bites. But of course, it’s slowly healing since my skin’s crappy But you know what? My dermatologist said some folks with really bad skin, actually take up to a year to recover. SAD!

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By laurelin on Jun 14, 2008

Just got back from Myrtle Beach at a resort I have stayed at many times. I put on a t-shirt that was in one of the drawers I used and itched all night long. Got up the next morning and there were tiny little white eggs on my red sheets where my back and head were. My husband and I also found adult sand fleas in the bed and on me. I have been deligently washing and sprinkling everything with 7 dust, even myself. I believe I have killed the adults, but the eggs are hatching…IN MY HEAD! I have many bites on my head, shoulders, back and bikini area. The picture of the foot looks exactly like the bites on my body. I thought that I had it all under control, but was just bitten 3 times in a row on my hip, but did not find the culprit.

The resort that I stayed at says they have never heard of sand fleas before and her research showed they were an inch long. I asked if they clean out the drawers before the next guest uses the room and she replied NO. I think it is a good idea to wipe everything down before you put your clothes in the drawers provided or you might end up like me. I don’t know what to expect or much about these sand fleas, but I think I am about to become and expert.

I have been using benadryl gel on my bites to keep the itching down. I covered my head and bedding with seven dust and let it sit. Hopefully, I will be getting some relief soon! My children and my sister’s family have not had any problems.

I read that they like pale, thin skined people…I fit that bill

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By Robin on Jun 17, 2008

Well the buggers are in North Carolina too on Kure beach just outside of Wilmington. Whenever I was outside in the evening and early morning especially I could feel them biting me and it was annoying of course, but nothing more. I returned home to Phoenix and all was well and exactly one week after the long night I spent outside, My legs, arms, upper back, ankles and feet are covered in the little red welts like in the picture at the top of this page. And man do I itch! Horrendously!!! My dad and his wife are covered in them too.They broke out almost immediately though. At first we thought they were chiggers, and tried smothering the bites in clear nail polish. After doing more research we found that the symptoms are more like sand fleas and for some people, it can take a whole week for them to manifest and turn into the ugly red bumps. I pray they go away quickly and that I do not scratch myself a bunch of scars that will last a lifetime. Pretty memorable event for my first trip to the Atlantic Ocean. Never had this problem on the Pacific coast…strange!

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By Christy on Jun 25, 2008

I’m glad I found this site….unbelieveable…Anyways, I live in San Francisco and went into my background to pull some weeds. At the same time, I noticed a big mound of sand that a gopher had dug up close to the side of the house. As you might guess, instead of leaving it alone until the winter rains, I used my right foot and shovled the sand back in the hole. Big mistake!!!! i probably wasn’t there more than 5 minutes but I eventually paid the price. The next day I found about 6 sand flea bites on my right leg ( the one I used to kick the sand)…the next day later I found another 7 bites…..The crazy thing is that 5 days later I’m still breaking out with more flea bites. Why does it take so long for these bites to break out (manifest) on one’s body…it’s like a delayed reaction…Anyways, I now have a total of 31 bites…from neck, hand, stomach, butt, and legs…this is driving me crazy…don’t scratch and these things will go away without leaving any marks. I’ve always been sensitve to any kind of bug bites since I was a little kid…..by the way, if you’re ever outside dab of little “Flex All” muscle cream around your neck and ears…you’ll never get another mosquito bite again..I inadvertently used this and discovered this while playing night time softball games…

good luck,
Doug

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By Doug on Jun 29, 2008

I hear you all and am scratching anyway, since I get scars one way or the other. Dermotologist – no use, except to rack up bills. Punched four holes in my irritated skin and told me I had insect bites. I never had a bite reaction like this until returning to Florida a year ago. Finally came to the conclusion I was being bitten by sand fleas, and have found real relief from being attacked by using Avon’s Skin So Soft oil. I found this on a blog about the Caribbean, and when I asked the ladies at work, they all knew about its effectiveness to prevent the bites. It must be the oil, not the lotion. I ordered two big bottles and rub it on my feet and up to then knees after a shower and before going to walk the dog. He knows it means we are going out when I do this! I do not get bitten when this is on my legs, which is better than putting insecticide all over yourself. I don’t know anything that stops the burn and itch once bitten, though. I think 1500 mgs of Vit C helped me one night, but I have not repeated this as I ran out….The perscription strength Cortisone does not help – a solution of baking soda and water stops the itch for a while. I wonder what it is that makes for such a big reaction in some and not others?? I do not get these bites at the beach, by the way – I get them in out in the yard – my son’s yard, my yard, and in the last apartment I had, the laundry room – I know what a real flea is – these biting sand fleas I do not see at all. They seem to be worse in the evening. I avoid all these places, unless I am covered in the Skin So Soft oil. Another aside – I am also being bitten by something else, that affects my hands and arms mostly. I believe it is a mite of some sort – not scabies – that gets on my dog, and bites me where I contact him. He is not affected by it, but I get the same awful blisters as the sand flea bites. The second dermotolgist blew this off, too, and wanted to “remove” the bite! What ever, I guess it is not as bad as a plague of locusts.

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By Mary on Jul 4, 2008

I have moved to an area in Australia that has sand fleas, the itch drives me mad, have found out apparently Vitamin B1 works very well. The bottle pharmacist sold us says Betamin. Each tablet contains 100mg Thiamine hydrochloride (vit B1.) People swear by this & have no more trouble after taking it. (You need to take 1 a day & keep taking it while in the sand flea area.)

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By Jenny on Jul 5, 2008

So this is very funny because a few days ago, I took a bit of a nap in Washington Square Park in the Village, and the next day I realized I was COVERED in what I thought to be mosquito bites. I still am not sure if they are fleas or mosquitos but I seem to be discovering 3 or 4 new ones every day. Since clearly there are other people saying the same thing, I have to ask: Are these bites just taking longer to show up, or did I inadvertently take some of these little monsters home? Also a very good remedy that not many people know of for bug bites is meat tenderizer. You sprinkle some in a dish and make a little paste with water and apply it to the bites. Make sure the tenderizer is made with papaya extract though, this is the key ingredient.

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By N on Jul 14, 2008

Hey, they are in alabama, too!!! I,too, have always been highly sensitive to any insect bites. A few days ago I started killing some dog fleas and started getting bites–figured it was just the fleas. Bathed the house dog, used name brand spray on carpet and porch, kept having more bites, but didn’t see the fleas biting me. My daughter started with bites, also. Took dog to vet after flea shampoo bath-she got a new kind of pill and got pills for the 3 outside dogs, more spray for the house,porch, driveway, even my car==so embarrassed over all the bites and itching. Using benadryl tabs, caladryl lotion, lanacaine spray–little relief noted. Pest control man came today to spray house and yard-told him daughter had gotten some little tick looking things off her and actually got one off my ear earlier today–he said they were actually known as no see ums–i read something a little while ago about them being called sand fleas, too. The doctor gave me and my daughter a decadron shot this afternoon and told us to take allegra in the daytime and benadryl at night. I probably have at least 150 bites scattered across my body, and haven’t tried to count my daughter’s. I stopped counting at 79 on my left leg, thigh, and lower left stomach. We have iris and flowers growing out over the driveway and she thinks we’re picking them up there going to and from our cars. I know the itching is HORRIBLE and the places look horrible-I cannot hide the ones around my neck and at the hairline. I’m afraid people will think we’re dirty. By the way, my husband doesn’t have the first bite!! Did anyone have headaches with this, too? We’ve both had a headache all day. I’m praying the medicine will help and we’ll be better in a couple of days-cause i truly can’t even see em!! Thanks for sharing and listening! God Bless each of you that finds this website.

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By Joby on Jul 16, 2008

We just returned from Cancun and were bite-free! It was very windy on the beaches, which I helps with the sandfleas! We were in Southern Illinois several weeks ago and were bitten all over by chiggers!!! Those are awful!

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By Crystal on Jul 16, 2008

I went to a volleyball tournament by my house in southern Ontario and the sand had just been freshly raked and woke up the next morning with a big surprise! my entire legs are absolutely covered and I have big clusters on my back as well. I’m just not sure if my bed is infested or if these are the original bites.. and their just going to be very itchy for a while. I feel like their still jumping around and biting me!! Is it normal to be itchy like this even two days after being bitten?? HELP!

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By ls on Jul 19, 2008

Has anyone been to Boot Camp for the Marines in Parris Island? My son has been there for three weeks, and he, along with the other recruits are being welcomed by the Sand Fleas!! Is there anything that the recruits are allowed to receive as treatment while there? As I don’t think parents are allowed to send anything to treat ailments. If I send some of the great remedies, I doubt he would even get them. Any suggestions or insight? Your help is greatly appreciated!

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By C on Jul 22, 2008

How long do sandflea bites stay? Is there any sandflea in texas? How big can sandfleas get? Please emil back with awnsers! Sincerely, Sarah

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By sarah on Jul 22, 2008

I had headaches with this too. I never thought to tie it together but since you mentioned it… I thought it was strange that I had headaches all day for 4 or 5 days when I never get them, interesting.

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By Dana on Aug 2, 2008

Yes…and had a very bad experience with fire ants. They are very known there and if you get enough bites and are left untreated can be dangerous (again, as I experienced). The fire ants are usually in the areas that they are training. In my experience, I was laying on a bed of them and didn’t know it and because you are told ”not to move for anything”, I didn’t. The drill instructors did fire back at me for not advising them that I was getting bit and told me what the reprucussions could be if I was bit enough. The bites can also be similar to sand fleas. Fire ants start out as little red marks and are VERY itchy, however, if you can, make it known to your son there is a difference. On me…the little red bites turned to welts and I ended up in the medic.

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By Allison on Aug 6, 2008

I got them in Gulf Shores Ala. I think it was from some sea weed that washed up on me when a wave sent water up high on the shore where I was sitting. Anyway, the bites look like the picture and they are on my ankles, back of my legs and where I sit!!

I used fingernail polish remover last night because I did not have any vinegar and it stopped the itch for a night. I used vinegar tonight, benadryl cream and cortaid. The itching is much better! I do not know which worked but it is much better.

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By A on Aug 7, 2008

Still covered in bites here in South Florida. Benedryl makes me too sleepy for work. Just wanted to say that a little baking soda and water gives quick, although not very long-lasting relief. I will try the B1 vitamin treatment. I believe that the first few bug bites actually set up a skin reaction that leads to other eruptions more like hives – not actually a bite, but an allergic reaction. If you combine this with hot sun, sun lotion, sweat – you get more of a reaction. I also got an infection of impetigo in one of the bites that I cured with alcohol and triple antibiotic ointment. It was calmed down in three days. My empathy to all of you who read and itch – it is like a match on your skin. My bites last for weeks, and die down and seem to flare up if I get another bite -lending creedence to skin-reaction theory. Think I ‘ll go get some Vit C and Vit B! My Aguillian friend says I need to stop ingesting sugar and eat raw foods instead. M

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By Mary on Aug 7, 2008

Just returned from Jensen Beach Florida and was bitten AGAIN. Every single time I go there I am covered from the waist down with sand flea bites. I didn’t even go ON the beach this time, just to the pool area near it and got numerous bites.

I have been to the beach in NC and SC and even in Texas and never been bitten, but I get covered with bites every time we go to Jensen Beach.

The itching doesn’t stop, but Lanacane does make the bites stop itching for a few hours at a time.

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By Rhonda on Aug 11, 2008

When traveling in rural Ethiopia I got fleas bites(I think that’s the problem). Before leaving I put on a money belt that had been with me on the trip, and within 2 hours new bites appeared. Now my problem is I want to unpack and make sure that the suitcases and things that cannot go in the washing machine get a good clean. Any ideas how to get read of them on things other than the body?

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By Carl on Aug 29, 2008

I have 3 dogs and a cat, no fleas in sight, and have never had a reaction to fleas. Now I have what look like bug bites on my feet, legs, hands, arms and now tummy. Incredibly itchy. Could it be fleas? My kids do not have any bites/bumps. Doctor not sure if due to fleas or plants. Antihistamine meds do nothing but put me to sleep!

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By Lisa on Aug 31, 2008

I have been bitten by sand fleas almost every time I wear shorts to a camp fire in Wisconsin. This last time I got them in my own back yard!! I looked on this sight to see if anyone had a new great idea for treatment. I was told to use lice shampoo on the bites. I was told the fleas are a parasite and burrow under the skin laying eggs and that is why new “bites” continue to show up. It is weird because my kids never get bit, and my husband rarely does, but I almost always do. Any ideas on how to prevent bites?

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By Jenny on Sep 10, 2008

I feel for all that have had to experience these pesky creatures. I had the wonderful pleasure of “getting to know” these little guys while in Marine Corps Boot Camp @ Parris Island, S.C. They are very persistent and the itching was sooooooo bad.

The remedy that they told us to bring was Avon Skin So Soft original bath oil mixed with alcohol. I think the mixture is half and half. It worked like a charm for me, especially when having to stand at attention and not move while you can feel the itch.

I hope this helps for some. Good Luck!

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By ronin on Oct 11, 2008

I am glad to see I am not alone in this missory. I was at a tiki bar ladt weekend in florida. I woke up sat. morning and my ankles were covered and went up to my knees. There was about ten more on my for arm. its been a week and I still itch a little sometimes. I drive truck over the road and I think I brought them into my bunk. How do you kill these????I have sprayed rid bedding spray on my bed, spray a can of Off on me and used Rid shampoo. I still think they are crawling on me. It could be my imagination. I can deal with the itch. but how do you kill them. will they live through cold weather if I travel north and freeze them out? Its a little tight courters to be letting off a bug bomb. are there any sprays that kill them?

James

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By james on Oct 31, 2008

sand flea bites take Forever to disappear. It has been 2 weeks, and mine are still itching. of course, the bites didint appear until my boyfriend and I came back from florida. i actually feel like i am still getting new spots, about one-2 a day, is that ok?? The doctor said it was impossible to take them back with us. We flew back up north after the FL vacation.

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By Jessica Ruggieri on Nov 20, 2008

We have a large herd(flock?) of sand fleas in our sandy back yard, near Cape Town in South Africa.The bites keep itching for a week and the welts last for a month. They often seem to appear in a sort of delayed reaction, new ones appearing every day. Calamine lotion has been the easiest way to control the itching. They do seem to be more active at sun rise and during sunset.

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By Hester la Grange on Dec 18, 2008

Don’t go the Blackbeard’s Cay in Nassau, Bahamas if you are cruising. They are there are and are hungry for your blood. Suckers bit up my legs, arms, back and neck, must have had 75 bites.

I was in agony for 2 1/2 days until returned home and saw my doctor who told me it was bug bites and prescribed a steroid cream and Benadryl. A web search of “Blackbeard’s Cay” found out that there was a history of sand flea bites.

Carnival Cruises must have known about these bugs but never told any one and allowed their passengers who PAID for the excursion to be bitten. Me personally I’ve written the CEO and demanded my money for the excursion back. How dare you allow my health to be put in danger for money. What would have happened if I had had a severe reaction and couldn’t breathe. I was in a different country, alone with a 7 year old child, who was going to care for him if I ended up in the hospital? Carnival? I doubt it.

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By Cassandra on Dec 25, 2008

I moved into a house with a friend for about a month and moved out due to her dog having fleas. Thinking that I had gotten rid of the problem when I moved, I have found bites on my ankles and have seen a few fleas. I didn’t think fleas could live on a human. I am very clean and not sure what to do to get rid of them. Do I bomb my apartment as if I had a pet? Please help.

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By Dawn on Dec 28, 2008

let me be more specific. Captiva/Sanibel Island is the most miserable place in the world.

I know beaches. I’ve been on more beaches than I can remember all along the California Coast and some on the eastern seaboard but let me tell you. I have never EVER in my life been on a piece of land that had so many bugs. I was running my mouth about the BIG southern bugs before I got here but nothing and I mean NOTHING prepared me for Captiva Island and an ever worse predator. The “no see um”.

I have been massacred by sand flies. I may never be the same. I went out there on an innocent excursion with my husband and son and aside from the beach being very shelly beach (and dangerous to the tootsies – BRING FLIP FLOPS) there are “sand flies” or “no see-ums” AKA Ceratopogonidae, or biting midges (including what are called no-see-ums, midgies, sand flies, punkies, and others).

They are terrible and I personally think the government should drop a very large insect bomb on that island. I stayed one second into dusk and they literally tried to eat me alive. Now two days later I am suffering as if struck by a plague in the Biblical book of Revelations (I acknowledge that the plague in revelations will be much worse) and I am not sure that I want to continue to live in this skin.

I have no less than 50 bites on each leg and my arms and buttocks and neck and back have been ravaged….and I’m sure I look worse than even when I had the chicken pox.

I could not be more miserable and the worst or best (depending on how you look at it) part is my husband did not get bitten one time.
Not ONCE!

If you EVER go to Florida to Sanibel or Captiva – well…just don’t. Not unless the sun is at NOON in the sky and be sure to leave before 3. In fact even if you go at HIGH noon I’d wear a closely knit bug mesh much like the tents they have for these types of situations. I’d even get a personally taylored suit made out of it. Oh sure you may think it’s extreme but just spend one evening there and I’m telling you…you will change your mind!

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

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By ANTI FLORIDA BEACHES on Dec 28, 2008

I have had the same thing for 3 years and spend money with Doctors and meds and nothing works what has finally work is OFF, (yes Deep woods off) wash and dry then spray Deep Woods OFF at bed time and in the morring I had them in my arm and they started to spred all over, it will burn because they are alive just keep spraying for about a week or so but do it offten, then just get and over the counter antibiotic and treat the infection. If you have some one to help you, you can get some wash clothe and soak them in rubig alcahol and seran wrap the area that works fast.

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By Ale on Dec 30, 2008

We just got covered in sand flea bites in our 5 days in Sanibel Island. All I have to say is THANK GOODNESS for Caldesene powder. If we didn’t have that I’d have scratched right through my skin. If you have sensitive skin, it’s the only chance you have!

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By Teresa Brown on Jan 5, 2009

We have a place on the island of Roatan in Honduras and just returned from 3 weeks of bug bite torture. I used Rubbing Alcohol every couple hours on the bites to relief the itch, but I was told that applying baby oil to the skin will drown the sand flies before biting, and many people on the island use Cactus Juice which I did not get a chance to use. Also know someone that uses Tiger Balm directly on the bite to avoid getting infected. I am wondering if using a Bug Zapper in the house would help to kill these little critters.

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By Paul Roy on Jan 7, 2009

just returned from holguin, cuba and had my first encounter with sand fleas – locals said hurricane stirred them up. entire family of 4 infected.. am hoping cold weather in canada will freeze the little buggers! can they be transmitted to other family members once home?

by k.becker jan.14,2009

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By k.becker on Jan 14, 2009

am going to St. Vincent and would like to AVOID this sand flea thing if at all possible. Is there anything to use to avoid getting bitten before I go outside? It is our first trip and I don’t want it to be ruined by what sounds like a very nasty little bugger! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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By MaDonna on Jan 16, 2009

Add me to the list of people who have been bitten while the rest of the group I was with hasn’t had a single bite on them. So why are we the unlucky ones – what is it about our blood those little bugs seem to love? These pests keep on biting and now I am feeling like they are crawling all over me – I think they are in my hair even if they aren’t! I do see new bites springing up and the constant itch pretty much from head to toe. In fact in the time I have taken to write this I now have two brand new bumps appearing on my left wrist – ya hoo! For all you who think we are wimps and whiners why don’t you go play in poison oak for awhile and see how fun it is to itch and then put a bunch of ants in your hair and see how much fun we are having.

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By Lee on Jan 21, 2009

Please help me!! We have a place in Burr Oaks MI that we go to 6 months out of the year, April through Oct. Last year almost everyone was having problems with bites around their feet. Even the dogs where getting bites all over their stomachs. I put this stuff called Seven all over the ground and it seem to help a little. The wired thing is these bugs didn’t bit everyone, my husband and I never got any bits but my daughter was getting eating alive and she was sitting next to me. I would say about 95% of the dogs where getting bites too. It’s like these bug are picky about who they bite! You can’t see then or feel them when they are on you, but you see and feel the bites after they are gone. Some how we brought the bug’s home with us! Now my cat is itching too!! She has licked almost all her fur out of her stomach and back legs. I have spent over $300.00 at the vets and he keeps telling me they are fleas!! I wish they where fleas, I know how to treat them!! I worked for this vet of over 8 years and he couldn’t find a flea on either animal. But he keeps saying they are allergic to the bit and that is why they are getting the skin reaction. I use frontline” on both the cat and dog, it seems to work for only 2 weeks before they start starching again; its supposed to work for 4 weeks. I bought “Mycodex” to spray on the rug and furniture and I bought a flea and tick mist (a repellant) to spray on the animals every couple of days but still my dogs stomach looks beat red and my cat still isn’t getting better either. It’s driving me nuts!! I was just watching the animal plant when they said something about sand flies!! Could this be what I have?? Do these sand flies live on animal’s likes fleas do?? Someone please help!! I want to prove to my vet that I am not crazy!! Or am I ????

I have pictures of my dog’s stomach that I took yesterday!! I can send them if you can help!!

Nancy

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By Nancy on Jan 22, 2009

The only relief I found after my first really bad bout (I stopped counting when I got to 67 bites on only one leg–couldn’t see my way clear to counting all of them on both legs and my torso!) was a steroid prescribed by my doctor once I returned home from a Caribbean vacation. You can imagine that was killer sitting on a plane for 7 hours in jeans with those bites screaming from the warmth and pressure of being sat upon. Since steroids are not to be taken lightly, the doctor only gave me enough for a few days but I think I stopped after 2 days, the relief was so intense. I now take 2 antihistamines a day when on holidays just in case. If I see the bites appear, I increase that to 6 a day. While I appear to be one of the people that the bugs love, I don’t appear to be one of the people who can’t take antihistamines in large doses during the day! I am trying the B1 therapy for my next trip, which is in 4 days. I will take 100 mg a day from now until I return from my 2 week vacation.

Trish

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By Patricia Ulan on Feb 3, 2009

I do property preservation work, yesterday I cleaned out a house and a lot of debris from the property. I have at least 100 bites on my legs, driving me nuts. This house was in Rockwall Texas. I sprayed myself down with off when I was outside. They got me when I was cleaning out the house, the interior. I took a Benadryl last night to help with the itching, and usweds Gold Bond cream. Today they really came out as bumps all over my legs, I’m using benadryl gel, working OK but not great. A person suggested a bleach and water solution, I’ll try that tonight,,,this really sucks.
Mike

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By Mike Losurdo on Feb 14, 2009

How is it that I have travelled so often (more than 12 times!) to beach destinations in the Caribbean and never been bitten before this year?? We were in Punta Cana in the D.R. for a week as we have been multiple times. They had had several days of heavy rain just prior to and for the first couple of days of our stay, if it matters. These were not mosquitoes, but the dreaded no-see-ums/sand fleas. I took oral Benadryl to be able to sleep at night without scratching myself raw, and even got to the point of pouring the all-inclusive (terrible!!) brandy straight on the open bites for the sting which made me forget about the indescribable itching. Bites are predominant on lower legs and feet, two on face, one on wrist bone, and a couple on my arms. Others in our group got a couple but they seemed to LOVE me!! I heard that there is a chemical in bananas the makes one attractive to these little pests; comes out through one’s breath and pores. Can anyone corroborate?
Aaaaarghhhhhhhh . . . make it stop!!!

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By Cate Brownsmith on Feb 15, 2009

Benadryl works!! I have tried everything posted here and elsewhere but the only thing that helped was taking Benadryl (or the generic equivalent).

Around here everybody says if you can just not scratch the bites, they will go away in a couple of days. If I’d known about the Benadryl I might have been able to do that, but I woke up scratching after the first night so I can’t tell you if that’s true.

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By Holly on Feb 17, 2009

I too had been to the Caribean many times,but this year after a holiday in Cuba 3 days ater I got home all theas bites started to show up on my legs(living to northern Canada we are use to bug bites but nothing like this).I went skidooing the day after I got home then had a hot tub,the next day was hell. It has been a week and still very itcy and swallen.Benadry and Lanicane somewhat helps

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By dave on Feb 25, 2009

Hey just got back a week ago from Punta Cana, I thought i got away from the flys and sandfleas until i got back to Canada.. First it was 1 little itch and now its Many.. I have strached my feet to a raw stage.. they are all up my legs , arms neck hands etc pretty much everywhere.. Ive been reading threw the Diff post to see what works best.. Keep in mind take Bug spray.. YES I did take it.. but never even took the top off.. My Bad..

Yours truly,
tired of straching in Vancouver Bc

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By Howard on Mar 8, 2009

I am in Apalachicola, FL on our boat. The no-see-ums get worse at dusk but according to the locals are here all day and night from March to October or thereabouts. My friend who lives here recommends using ammonia. This is the active incredient in the After-Bite Itch Eraser, which he also recommended. I have applied the ammonia using a towel (and a latex glove on my hand to prevent over-exposure to my hand) and it seems to work for about 4-6 hours. He also recommends 100% DEET.

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By Warren on Mar 10, 2009

As I was sitting here in my chair willing myself not to scratch myself I decided to check info on those nasty no-see-ums sand fleas. My husband and I have a cottage we visit here in Beaufort, South Carolina & after we are here for a 2 week visit I am miserable for weeks afterwards. I have found that a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part Avon Skin So Soft helps to keep them away. But they always get me before I realize they’re after me & then once munched I’m sunk. This mixture does help alleviate the agonizing itch if you spray it on after you are bitten. Our dogs also were getting bitten especially on their stomachs and would itch and bite and flop around all night in misery. We also spray this mixture on our dogs to repel these evil devil bugs. It also helps get rid of the itch if you spray it on them afterwards. I’m going to try some of the other remedies offered here. Think I’ll start carrying a spray bottle strapped to me at all times!

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By Kathleen on Mar 16, 2009

Well, this was what i tried, and still trying now. try some salt water. a teaspoon(leveled) to about 50 ml of water. dab it onto the bites. it may sting at first, but after some time, the itch will cease and it will recover faster. i hope after reading my comment you guys would save a ton of money on creams etc. well, i cant confirm that this will work, but i am trying it out now. i do feel a little better after 3 days. only apply when you feel the itch. the water will dry and the salt will be left on your skin to stop the itch. it is also to kill any bacteria so that it can heal faster. (PS. the salt water will make you feel sticky at first. but after it dries off, you are good as new!)

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By Shaquille on Mar 22, 2009

Here goes mine. I decided to take the night train from Toulon to Mulhouse, planning to be home in Zurich early next morning. To my surprise the train was disgusting and infested with fleas. Whoever has travelled around France would agree that their trains are top notch. Well, this is not the case for the night ones, I’m affraid. Dusty coaches and curtains is not exactly the comfy experience I’d ever expected, and much less for the bugs… As up to know I did know nothing about fleas I decided to just sleep and ignore the world around me. Well, they made their own gastronomical festival with me. I have 120 bites in my right hand only. They can even pierce the skin of your palm with amazing ease… I have been also bitten around the neck, back, all around the waist perimeter and legs. Fortunately nowhere else…
One week later and it’s still itching. As a matter of fact I’ve been having new ones popping up every day. The doctor told me to use a swiss antihistaminic cream, which I have, without any great results.
I will try the bleach-water remedy somebody posted and think a way to make a formal complain on the SNCF for the miserable conditions they keep their night trains. For whatever it’s worth anyway…
Good luck to everyone.

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By Sergio on Apr 14, 2009

I went to the drugstore yesterday night to get bleach-water. The guy in the store persuaded me to use instead a desinfectant which is bactericide, fungicide, virucide, sporicide and protoocide. All in one. It’s called betadine, from mundipharma. It has a high concentration of iodium. It is not expensive.
I have to say that yesterday night I had reached such a point of dispair to nearly offer my body to the science for merely
experimentation… I believe I’ve taken a more than reasonable risk with this one. The result
has really paid off, not only the itching has been almost completely reduced to non, but also the marks don’t look swallen any more. I used a humid cloth and applied the solution directly on the bites, rubbing gently with the
cloth. Up untill this morning I had been using the prescribed cream without any feeling of itching being reduced, so I can say this has really worked for me.

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By Sergio on Apr 14, 2009

We were at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge near Cape Canaveral in Florida early Thursday morning. I was standing looking out over one of the ponds filled with Florida when I looked down and saw that my legs were covered with tiny black specks. I brushed them off and there were so many that I can not even imagine not realizing it. The itch didn’t begin immediately. By the next day, it started and we stopped at a Walgreen’s and got some Benedryl and anti itch sticks from CVS. It got worse everyday. We flew home on Friday and by then it was getting unbearable. I think I used everything in my medicine cabinet. Then I think we bought out Walgreen’s. So far this is what has worked for the short run. Ice Cold Analgesic Gel, Good Sense Anit-Itch External Analgesic, a prescription that I had in my medicine cabinet called Olux-E which is a seroid cream. The best results was someone mentioned Off Deep Woods Bug Spray and rubbing my legs with Povidone Iodine with a soft wet towel.
I am beginning to feel better, but have a way to go.

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By Penny on May 3, 2009

I too was being bitten by no-see-ums, but had not been to a beach. One day I felt a bite on my ankle, and instead of scratching it, I lifted up the edge of my sock, and a tiny dot was moving across my skin! I speared it on the end of a Chapstick, and looked at it under an 8X power lens that I use for making jewelry. It looked exactly like a crab. It may have been a “body louse.” Crotch lice never leave the groin area, likewise head lice never leave the head. But these are strictly on the body. My husband and daughter get occasional bites, but I am the one in total misery from this. I’ve tried every recommended treatment, from washing clothes & linens in hot water and drying them in a hot dryer, to using an over-the-counter headlice shampoo (it says on it that you can use it for body lice also — must be repeated in 7-14 days). The shampoo is Pyrethrum. I’ve also used a prescription cream, Permethrin. Neither worked (but they do say on them that lice can become resistant to them). As a last resort, I may consider a Lindane cream (it’s prescription). This is not something I would consider lightly, but I would try almost anything at this point because I have never experienced such torture in my life.
I’m not sure what I have — my husband thinks they are rat mites. I have caught a couple of them and am going to take them to my county’s Vector Control, and at least get a positive identification. I think it would be next to impossible to eradicate them without knowing definitively what they are.
I would encourage everyone who has a similar problem to try to catch a couple of the bugs. Get some cotton pads and rubbing alcohol from your drugstore, and put them in a plastic box with a lid so the alcohol won’t evaporate. When you feel a bite, swipe the cotton pad across your skin, and after a few attempts you should get a specimen. You may need a magnifying lens to see it. If you have a microscope or know someone who has, then you’ll really be able to see the little buggers. But either way, take it to Vector Control and find out what it is. You can Google pictures of body lice and rat mites — they look so similar, I’m still not sure. But I’ll let you know what I find out from the County.

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By Cinder on Jun 6, 2009

In Puerto Rico, they are called “plagas” or “majes” ,they are very small and black, when they bite you it hurts and then you itch for like a week after.The trick is to avoid the beach in the evening unless it is windy. Use OFF, which kind of helps. If and when you do get bitten, go to Walgreens or a drug store and buy “Alcohlado” When I first moved to PR it saved it life after having my feet covered in those bites. It works way better than Benadryl or Hydrocortizone cream. It has kind of a different yet strong smell to it, the liquid might be green and it is locally made. Just last night I got bit when in Piñones and I plan on buying some Alcohlado after work. I hope this helps!

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By laura on Jun 29, 2009

i work in a long day care centre in Sydney Australia we have a sand pit that has recently been left with its cover on over the last few weeks due to constant rain which has mad the sand pit very wet without any fresh air getting to it the other day i was sitting on it with the children and later that evening found few bites on my legs now my right leg upper thigh and even bottom are absolutely covered in these bites and they keep popping up even though i am steering clear of the sandpit are these sand mites/fleas are they still present on me or do the bites just pop up by themself as a reaction how can i get rid of them

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By Amy on Jul 3, 2009

I just got back from Rehoboth Beach. There was a bad storm one night. The next morning it was beautiful so I went to rent my chair and umbrella for the day. The sand was still damp from the overnight rain. I walked through the sand and stirred up what was apparently the sand fleas. The bites are all over my legs. I showered all the time, sprayed my bed back at the guest house with lysol, not knowing what it was at the time and to give me something to do instead of itch myself. Now I am on this site and apparently it was sand fleas. Uh!!! i am going to the doctor tomorrow. They don;t itch unless I start to itch. I used Cortaid ointment that that prevents the itching.

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By Elliott on Jul 6, 2009

I took my son to the beach for the fourth of July. When we came home he had one little itchy bump, Then the next day millions of them. I never heard of a sand flea. And to make matters worse my little guy is only five years old. If anyone could tell me of something that works please please respond. Thanks a mother crying for her child

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By Cyn ball on Jul 8, 2009

This is my first expierence with these things. I was unaware they were even a problem in MI. I got them over the weekend while spending the days outside barbequing and playing games. I was completely unaware they were even biting me. My feet and legs are covered in bites and the itching is so intense. It actually feels good to scratch them until they begin bleeding. Can anyone confirm the bleach water remedy listed above? I’ll try anything…

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By Stephen on Jul 13, 2009

ive been going to the beach my entire life and have been one if those peoples that never ever get bitten by things, i have recently moved to cape town,south africa being warned about sand fleas but thinking that they dont exist i laughed it off until, about three weeks later after being at the beach and playing in the sand, and now each morning i wake up with new butes, its awful and out of the 150 people that live on teh base, im teh only one!what the heck!!!AGH! thanks for all the advice, def going to use it!
God bless and all the best y’all!

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By Sarah on Jul 21, 2009

My husband and I just returned from a week at San Jose del Cabo in Mexico. I noticed several bites the day before we left, and assumed they were mosquito bites. We have been home for a week, and I now have about 50 bites, mostly on my lower legs, but also on my arms. They showed up AFTER we returned home!!The itchng is incredible intense, and the bites are HUGE!! I have never, ever had anything like this. I have always teased my husband because he gets the bites and I never get any. No longer the case!! I am covered with gross, huge, red bites and he has none. I’ve been using Cortizone topical cream for itch relief and it has helped a teeny bit. I just hate that my legs look like I have some God-awful pock disease. We leave for Hawaii in 2 weeks. I sure hope they are not there!

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By surfwid on Jul 24, 2009

I too suffer every year from the sand fleas while at the beaches of NC. I am the only one of my family who gets bit as bad as I do. I was told by an outdoorsy type friend that it is because of my blood type, O positive, that draws the bugs to me.

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By Stephen on Aug 10, 2009

I also am being bitten by fleas. Cat or dog fleas? My husband is not being bitten. Family keeps telling me that it is an allergy – yup, to flea bites. I too can feel them crawling in my hair and biting me. Although, I can’t see them, I know that they are there. It is a nightmare. Sometimes I shower 3-4 times a day just to make my skin feel better. I don’t have any solution, but I am very miserable. I don’t want any visitors as two of my visitors brought them in my house. I told them I would not visit them until they got rid of them in their house and on their dog, and not to come to my house. They don’t believe they have fleas because they are not being bitten. Also, when I visited them at their home I got bit. If anyone knows of a remedy to keep them off, please let me and the rest of us who are getting bit know. Thank you.

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By Ginny on Aug 12, 2009

I just returned home to IL from FL a week ago. After being at a beach in Clearwater, I noticed some pimple-looking spots on my foot. They seemed to have a puss center and my foot seemed swollen. They only itched at night and didn’t notice them until I was back from the beach about 1 day later. I came home to IL and saw my doctor about it. He lanced one of them with a needle and took a culture of the puss. He put me on antibiotics for 10 days. I am thinking I had gotten bit by sand fleas. Does anyone else have the puss in the middle of the bite? I will go back to the doctor for the results this week.

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By stephanie on Aug 16, 2009

Damn it, after reading all of the post, I’m even more pissed at my soon to be ex-roommate.

After two days of moving in the house, I started getting these bites. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t see what the hell was biting me. My legs, my thighs… even a place I don’t want to metnion, have all been bit– let me just say, it’s hard trying to explain to a woman that “invisible bugs” are biting you. I just tried the bleach/water thing… I was scared to apply it to a certain part.

Here’s to hoping it works.

P.S.– my roommate has leather skin, seriously, she tans alot– do sand fleas hate the taste of bitter, leather women?

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By T on Aug 18, 2009

I have a brother that has biting midges on him in his cars and his home. they have been identified by the dept of agriculture and entomology. Trying to find out to get off him and his cars. Had his home exterminated 2x and to no avail. he lives in a small town in pa/ any help or suggestion would be appreciate. this is going on 2 months he drives for a living and they bite .

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By Sue on Aug 21, 2009

I have lived in CT almost for my life, and have gone to the same beach for most of my life, and have never, ever been eaten alive like I have been this past week! I had no idea what was happening to me, and I don’t recall being bitten, but all the sudden, these huge, red, ugly welts were appearing on my legs, arms and chest. Then, out of nowhere, more would appear. At first I thought they were mosquito bites, but couldn’t figure out how I was being bitten without seeing the mosquito. For the heck of it, I goggled sand fleas, and there you go, I’m textbook just like everybody else who has posted here. Of course my husband is free of any bites, lucky man! Meanwhile, I’m a mess. I went to the pharmacy tonight and per the pharmacist’s advice, I am to try hydrocortisone cream and Benadryl. God I hope it works! I was told that if there isn’t any improvement by Monday, I must go see my doctor because this can become serious. Now I am totally afraid to go to the beach, which I absolutely love to do! It’s part of me : (

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By Evan on Aug 22, 2009

I understand how everyone feels…last year i counted up to 150 flea bites its horrible ..this year im up to 50..the reason is we hav a cat and a dog and i think get them from the backyard..do i was wonderin if anyone knows how to get rid of them?

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By Linnae on Aug 26, 2009

I love St. Thomas the USVI but everytime I go there, I get bitten by what I think is sandbugs. I never see them but they bite me constantly. I always come home with bite marks all over my body. The strange thing is that I am always the only one with the bites. I guess I’m just sweet like that. Next time I go I will definitely take insect repellent.

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By Yolanda on Sep 8, 2009

I live in Florida and visited Sanibel Island over the holiday weekend and my legs, arms, and lower back, have been attacked. At first I thought they were mosquitos, but at the same time thought it was weird to have mosquitos at the beach(have lived in FLa for 28 years and never had mosquitos at the beach). The bites looked more like flea bites tho, since they were tiny and red. When I got back to work one of my co workers said they were sand fleas. I had never heard of sand fleas before, but being a vet tech for 5 years I am familiar with regular fleas. Which these are not. The itching is really bad. And more and more bites keep showing up.

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By Jessica on Sep 8, 2009

My husband and I just returned from a 7 day vacation in the Florida Keys. We stayed on Marathon Key right on the Gulf of Mexico. A dream vacation right! Wrong! The evening we arrived, I noticed several tiny small black bugs on my ankles and brushed them off. Three days later the itching started; then the little red bumps. By the seventh day I had hundreds of huge, red welts covering both of my legs and arms. And the itching was horrible! Nothing helped and we had a two day drive back to Illinois. It was torture. I went through three tubes of cortisone cream but it really didn’t help. It just gave me something to rub on all those bites. Some of them may be mosquito bites because I did see two of them. I never want to go back to Florida ever again.

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By Linna on Sep 15, 2009

I got attacked by sand fleas about a month ago. The bites looked the same as the picture above…but I had about 3 times more! They were horribly HORRIBLY itchy for the first week. So bad I couldn’t sleep until I passed out from exhaustion (and loads of benedryl). I had my feet in an oatmeal bath all day long. Hardly helped. Anyway, after the week they just stopped itching! But about a week an a half ago they started again! Not quite at bad, but it’s still VERY annoying. Has anyone had this happen?! I couldn’t have gotten any new bites. I haven’t been to the beach since (maybe never again!)

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By Lauren on Sep 16, 2009

do sand fleas travel with you? or they just bite and the bumps continue to come up a week later? i am in thinking that i have them. i was in florida and was bit on a saturday. it is now the following friday and more bites keep appearing. are these from when i was bit a week ago or did the fleas travel with me. HELP this is a nightmare

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By me on Oct 16, 2009

I’m so happy to find this site. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I went to the beach 7 days ago (west coast of FL) and never felt a bite until Sunday morning when everyone said we had to get up early to see the sun rise. It was cool out and beautiful until we all started to get bite. Someone posted they like the cold so it makes sense we didn’t feel them prior to that morning. They itched a little that day but since then, every day I get more and more itchy bumps. I’m covered with them now. I’ve used a flee comb on my cat 20 times convinced my indoor cat got flees somehow but didn’t find a one. I was relieved to hear we can still come out with new itchy bumps days after leaving the beach so I feel better my home is not infested…I just have to wait this out…I pray. I’ve been using cortizone but that didn’t help much..I tried baking powder mixed with water to a paste and that actually helped more…I’m going to get Betadine in the morning. I’ll be sure to use skin so soft or something else in the future at the beach. I’ve lived in FL all my life and this has never happened. I seldom go to the beach early or at night when it’s cooler though..and I won’t again! Wish you all the best and thanks for the info.

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By Deb on Nov 6, 2009

My family just returned from a weeks stay at Ft Myers Beach, Fl. A couple days into our stay some of us noticed small mosquito like bites that itched. Now we’ve been home for 4 days and I have more bites on my feet, legs, arms & neck than can be counted. They only itch if I start itching them, but break, scab and still remain. Seems new bumps are still showing up as well as the stinging feeling of being bit. My biggest concern is…did they come back with us? Can someone tell me, do they travel with you, or do the bites just show up later?

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By sue v on Nov 11, 2009

Well, at least I’m not going crazy. Well, I’m going crazy from the itching. I went on a business trip to Nassau and Turks & Caicos last week, and I felt something biting my ankles but couldn’t see anything, and the next thing I know, my ankles are swollen twice their size, I come home the next day on the plane with red bumps all over my ankles and lower shins, and I’m STILL getting even worse reactions and welts in those places, and now some blisters! I’m allergic to regular flea bites, so I guess it stands to reason I’m allergic to these, too. I have never been so miserable. And like others have mentioned, it had rained in Nassau while we were there, and we had a cook-out on a beach on Tuesday night, and then it rained in Turks the next day, and it was damp there, too. Being from Tennessee and land-locked, I have always loved the beach and always loved the Caribbean, and I never thought I would say anything like this, but if I had known I would be this miserable, I would have passed up the chance to go!! Benadryl helped me get some sleep last night, but I have to do something to make this stop!!!

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By Tina on Nov 26, 2009

Fingernail polish directly on the bite, when it first appears, stops the itching within 2 minutes. It may take 2-3 applications of polish depending on how vigorously you bathe. The bite disappears in a couple of days.
I went to Puerto Rico last day went to a beach hour max.. now i too look like i got chicken pot
i felt the bite as they were happening… im trying this and so far think it is working.. i like cause i dont have to keep applying unless it falls off, does stop itching and some are now brown and dried up… it been a week took three days to really see the bite now bright red… but w/polish not swollen…

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By Pam on Dec 15, 2009

I got bitten all over my arms and legs about 100 bites or so, walking in a bushy and sandy environment about 3 weeks ago or more? I went to the doctor and the doctor didn’t do anything even when I asked her to! Almost despaired and then went to another doctor who gave me antibiotics and predistone tablets. Nothing else worked for me and nothing took the itch away besides those tablets. I’ve still got the scars esp on my legs which look bad in good lighting but less noticeable in bad lighting. I wonder if they’ll remain with me forever? Bad luck eh?!

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By Amanda on Dec 16, 2009

I just returned from Mexico annd have sprawling cicular and straight lines , as if the bugs were multiplying as they wandered about my arms leaving red welts. Do I need a doctor to treat this with drugs? Is this dangerous or possibly leischmaniasisis or should I just hang tight ttill the bugs die off ?

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By john on Dec 18, 2009

I just got back from 5 days in Puerta Rico . I got bit the first day and it is now day 6 and I have more than doubled the amount of bites I started out with. It is starting to turn into a really bad rash around the bites which are mostly on my legs(calves) and arms. I am really scared, reading this site, about scarring. I just spent 3,000.00 on my legs this summer doing sclerotherapy and I cant look at myself in the mirror. I am going to try the bleach water9suggested on this site). I feel like I brought them home with me…I cant tell…I just know there are more every day and the itching has not stopped!

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By Lisa on Dec 26, 2009

We returned from Cabo San Lucas Mexico a few weeks ago. When we left Mexico I couldn’t get shoes on as my feet were so swollen. I figured it was from eating all the good stuff. After getting home, it did not get better and now I am experiencing these pinhole dots on my feet and ankles. They are sand flea bites and it feels like they are walking under my skin. Swelling has gone down but it feels like my skin is stretched so thin it will just rip apart. I can hardly walk because I can’t bend my ankles they are so tight. Do not have bad itching as I have read others do. Maybe I have something else. Anyone have the tight skin as well?

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By Bev on Dec 29, 2009

I’ve been bitten alive by sandfleas while on vacation in the Dominican Republic….I’m so sensitive – develop blisters – truly torture….

The only thing that really helped to relieve the itch is SOLARCAINE (cream or spray) that is normally used for sunburns. It numbs the itch for several hours. It is also an antiseptic.

Last vacation, I used Vicks Vapo-Rub on my legs and ankles – it seemed to help keep them away (not 100% – but maybe 80%)

I also read somewhere that you should dab new bites with clear nailpolish – as this keeps them from welting into blisters…am definitely going to try this!!!!

Hope these comments help!

Katherine

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By Katherine P on Jan 14, 2010

I have these sand fly bites all over both of my legs and 3 bites on my arm from a trip to Kota Kinabalu. This was 5 months ago!!! My co-workers, laying next to me, got nothing. The bites on the legs are starting to heal but the ones on my arm are getting worse. A doctor in Singapore told me that even when they do go away, it may come back again when you scratch it. I am in the states now, and have seen 5 doctors about this (2 Derm, 1 infectious disease doctor, 2 internal medicine). All are useless and cannot help me. Two holes in my arm to learn that it’s a bug bite….uhmmm hello, didn’t I tell you they were sand flies when I saw you???

Good news is I am getting married in 4 months. FML.

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By Nguyen on Jan 21, 2010

cover your bites in clear packing tape or duct tape it works great to stop the itch …i know it sounds funny but it work for me and i was going insane with the itch. found out about it when i had a mosquito bite and some one told me to put tape on it to stop the itch and to remove the stinger that sometimes gets left in the bite. i have tape on mine now and have had for 2 days now and dont want to take it off til they are gone. will keep you posted on the out come ….feels great right now lol

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By wendy on Feb 11, 2010

before heading to florida beaches soak yourself with skin so soft it works wonders. growing up along the shores of the big bend area this wasnt a secret to the locals

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By Justin on Feb 11, 2010

Will revolution for dogs and cats work on sand fleas?

Are sand fleas found in Prince Edward County Ontario?(West Lake)

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By mnw on Apr 4, 2010

OMG…. Can’t stand those lil basturds. Got bit so many times and scratching my ass off

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By dave on Apr 4, 2010

We went to Ocracoke Island NC for spring break.It is a wonderful place but unfortunately we took (sucker trip) to a remote Island call Portsmouth. It had amazing shells but I found more than I shells! On the way back to our darling cottage I noticed I had some bug bites. Those bites turned into hundreds of bites all over my body. That was four days ago and my body is reacting in some kind of hyper state, I am so miserable! I can’t sleep, this is my worst night yet. My skin is beyond itching but burning!I’ve done oatmeal baths, caladryl, solarcaine with aloe, ibuprofen but nothing helps. Now that we’re home I will go to the doctor tomorrow. I’ve even thought about going to the ER tonight. In my family of five I am the only one who got bitten. Praise God my kids didn’t get bitten, they would never be able to handle it!

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By Suzie on Apr 12, 2010

Got 110 sand flea (no-see-um) bites at a resort in Mexico all over my feet, legs, arms and back. Could not even sleep at night for the itching. In desperation went on the internet and found an article by a dive operator in Honduras. They said to cut open a papaya and take some of the slimy substance from around the seed and smear it on the bites. I was so desperate at that point that I was willing to try anything. It worked! I was able to get between 5-6 hours of relief from the itching per application so I could at least get some sleep at night. Kept doing this until the bites cleared up–about 3 weeks. Hope this helps someone!

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By Frank on Apr 18, 2010

Just came back from Saint Lucia in the Caribbean and while there I woke up with crazy itchy red spots all over my forearms. While there I thought that it was mosquitoes because mosquitoes were absolutely EVERYWHERE!!! But after we came back to New York I noticed the spots continued to multiplied Currently they are all over my entire arm including parts of my hands. They have also appeared all over my legs. The ones on my legs are larger. Are they actually sand fleas? Does everyone experience the sand fleas going under there skin and LARGE swells appear? Because the red spots keep appearing does that mean that the fleas are still on me or does one bite affect the entire body. My sister started to get two large bite along her hands and place AFTER_BITE on it and the swelling and itch went down next day. Hydrocortizone cream has helped me with the itch. I also have a dog and was wondering how do i know if i am contagious? Are there sand fleas all over my house? I have tried looking for the answers on other site but they do not seem to have the answers I am looking for…Any answers would be MUCH appreciated.

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By Amanda on May 10, 2010

Been there done that, talk about beening eaten a live, does lots of fishing on the Carolinas costal area, Hilton Head, Mount Pleasant, the only thing I found that works well and fast for me is a hot shower and alcohol rub down.

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By Jake on May 12, 2010

I got back from Florida last week and while there, noticed several bites from sand fleas on my lower legs. I seemed to be getting bitten much more than the people I was with.
On the way home (driving north 5 states), 14 more appeared on my right arm, then some on my chest, and some on my back. It hasn’t even been a week and now my legs are both covered in bites below my knee, but they are working their way up my leg. OMG, I have scratched them raw several times!!
Benadryl clear topical GEL does work well for the itching and I like it better than calamine because I have to cover my entire lower leg! I tried Lanicaine also but that did not work at all.
I spoke with a pharmacist today and she suggested Benedryl tablets to get the antihistamine inside my body, along with outside, so the bites will clear up faster. A friend suggested taking baking soda baths to calm the itch as well.
The bites are disgusting and my legs look horrendous!!!! My son backed away when he first saw it – it looks like I have horrible chicken pox. I hope it isn’t too contagious! I will need to wear pants to work and it’s supposed to be in the 90′s…. we’ll see how it goes~

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By Wanda on May 24, 2010

got bit in feb.in clearwater beach.it had been cold and rainy day before.next day i sat on bench on beach that had sand.i was covered from my knees to waist.none on my feet and lower legs.i had fever and chills 3 days in a row.we left end of march and was still scratching.nothing really helped.i sprayed the place,put tea tree oil on the bites and had to take benadryl round the clock.even when i got home this strange bite came out on my abdomen,then 2 more.i doused them with alcohol and now all gone but i can still feel ghost of itchiness where they were.i still went back on beach in march but was very careful where i sat.

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By nan on May 31, 2010

I went camping at Sebastian Inlet State Park this past weekend and oh my word. I am covered in these nasty, nasty sand flea bites. I look like I have chicken pox!! They don’t itch too badly (thank God) but I hope they go away soon. I too, seem to have more appearing (I only got back two days ago) — do the fleas ‘come home’ with you or is it just a reaction?

What is helping me a lot is the super hot water suggested. If I take a really hot shower the itching is relieved for several hours. I am also applying Benadryl antihistamine cream, alternating with Benadryl tablets (I do the cream in the daytime and the pill at night as to not double dose). At night I put on calamine lotion after a hot shower.

Right now the itching is under control, it just looks terrible I can’t shave my legs because I am scared it will open the bites and cause scarring. I am also starting to feel like I have bugs on me when I know there aren’t any. It’s so upsetting

I pray it goes away soon.

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By Tara on Jun 2, 2010

Just wondering what your suggestions would be about a sand box that the kids play in? We bought double washed play sand from a local dealer by the truck load – yesterday my girls got covered in bites…I am confident it is sand fleas? Is there anything to treat the sand but will continue to be safe for the girls to play in or are we out our money and just need to get rid of the sand? Thanks!

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By Maggie on Jun 4, 2010

I was bit over 100 times on my legs, and about 4 on my arm (from went I bent down to slap the “little bits of black pollen” that were making my legs bleed) in the jungle in Puerto Vallarta, while I was waiting for my turn on a zip line. I was bit on May 20th, and it is now June 9th, and my legs are still covered with ugly, red, raised welts. They didn’t really itch until about a week later, when new ones appeared on my thighs, and all of a sudden, my legs itched constantly (ESPECIALLY at night.) The itching ended after a week, but the ugly bites remain.

Two of the bites turned into big, nasty blisters a few days after I got them. I lanced them with a sterile needle to drain them. I don’t know if this was the right thing to do, because the sores are taking forever to heal. I am worried about cutaneous Leishmaniasis, which is a nasty parasitic disease that sand fleas (or no-see-ums) spread.

Has anyone on here developed Leishmaniasis from their bites? I contacted the CDC to ask if there have been any recent documented cases of it in Puerto Vallarta, and they’re supposed to email me back. I’m concerned because my husband and I were planning on starting a family, but if this disease pops up, you can’t get it treated if you’re pregnant.

Also, does anyone recall their bites having tiny black dots in the center of them? About half a dozen of mine had a little black dot in the middle, but the two with the largest black dots were the bites that turned into blisters. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

And dammit, are these stupid welts ever going to fade?

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By Cathy on Jun 9, 2010

I got bit by sand fleas just walking in Hermosa Beach, CA. Didn’t realize until the next day when the itch began. I only got three bites, but the biggest one was on the right foot ankle bone. I started scratching a little, which spread the venon and caused my foot to swell up immediately. I put ice on it for 3hrs, took Benadryl and bought (per the pharmacist) Cortizone 10. Swelling went down shortly after taking Benadryl and the itching and redness stopped as I applied Cortizone 10 three times a day. These remedies worked for me.

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By Jeanette on Jun 9, 2010

I have sand fleas or flies, that I got from the beach last year. I do not have pets, so they are most definitely not cat fleas. I had a wet & sandy towel, that I didn’t get to wash for about a week. Soon after I began to get eaten every night. They also would fly to lights like my computer screen in the evening. I just recently moved my big household fern to the deck, and put some seven dust on the soil.This must be where they have been breeding, in the moist soil. Despite the warnings, I just used a little seven dust 5, on my mattress. I then wiped it free of all dust, and vacuumed. I know that this is unhealthy, but so is scratching your skin till it bleeds, and gets infected. I am very allergic, to the anti coagulant the fleas use. I have been using flea bombs, deep woods off, and other deterrents, ever since last summer. I am at my last wits end.

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By James B. on Jun 18, 2010

WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON`T KNOW IS THAT THE CURE 4 ANY BITE,OR STING,IS IN YOUR OWN FRONT YARD,OR BACK YARD.NUMBER ONE PLANTINE,GROWS WILD,AND THERE ARE TWO TYPES,BUT YOU RESEARCH IT ON THE WEB,AND ALSO BIRCH TREE.FOR POISON IVY,THE FIRST FIFTEEN INCHES,OF THE LEAVES OFF THE TREE WILL CURE MOST ANY BITE,OR STINGS ALSO.GATHER THE LEAVES AND PUT THEM IN A BOWL AND WITH A PESTLE,GRIND THEM UP,ADD JUST A LITTLE WATER AND VOILA,HEALING,SAME WITH ALOE VERA.IT`S BEST TO HAVE AN ALOE VERA PLANT IN YOUR HOUSE 4 THE SUMMER SIMPLY BECAUSE OF BITES.THIS INFO CAME FROM A MASTER HERBOLOGIST,WHO KNOWS HOW TO HELP OTHERS OUT OF THEIR AILMENTS!!!!!!!

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By JOHN A.NEISWANDER on Jul 8, 2010

I was playing a lawn game on the grass…and didn’t know i was getting bit. I have over 125 bites…yes, one hundred twenty-five…on my feet/ankles/up my legs a bit. I have NEVER been so uncomfortable in my life. The Dr. told me i had to be careful of infection and gave me an anti-histamine and steroid cream and they help but i look horrible. The Dr. told me it will take weeks to get rid of. DOn’t know what they were but they suspect they were dirt fleas. I never will go barefoot on the lawn again.

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By Janet on Jul 9, 2010

I just got back from 8 days in the Maldives – amazing holiday. About 2 days in, I noticed little red spots all over me – didn’t itch and were not raised. They cleared up about 2 days later. I came home on Tuesday night (27th July) Then, on Wednesday morning, I woke up covered in dozens of bites – horrible. It looks like measles or chicken pox – they are all over my legs, my shoulders and a few on my arms. Itch like crazy. I went to the doctors today. The first thing she asked was if I had a dog as they look like flea bites. I then clicked and thought it must have been some sort of delayed reaction to these sand flea bites.

I am now petrified because they carry disease. How long do these bites take to heal up? I’d be very grateful for anyone’s experiences of how long they took to recover!

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By Moth on Jul 29, 2010

OMG!!! Sand fleas are just the worst!!! I went camping two weeks ago and got ate big time (over 100 bites). When I woke up Sunday morning my ankle was burning and didn’t know why until I looked down and saw all these small bites. While driving home I had to stop and get something for it. First, Whole Foods hoping they had something that would take away the itch…didn’t help. Second, went to Urgent Care.. Doctor told me bug bites…duh. But he gave me Benadryl..which help for awhile but I was getting worst. Went back to Urgent Care and made them re-examine me. Second doctor…states bug bites…again duh. My legs and feet had swollen up and STILL ITCHY!!! Doctor asked do you have a fever and I said no. But I asked how do you know? He said rash and red…hello look at my legs!! So gave me antibiotics…also using alcohol and this stuff parent use on their children when they have chicken pox. OMG!!! Things are clearing up so much!! I still have a ways to go, but so much better than before.

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By Wanda on Jul 30, 2010

Daughter is miserable after a trip to Jamaica with mosquito bites and after we have been home for 3 days, tiny blister type bites all over her hands and arms now? HELP!

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By Mollie on Aug 5, 2010

got bitten in the bahamas on august 2. bites got worse for a week. i treated with iodine from the local drug store and the recovery has been really good. bites are still there but have shrunken in size and faded in color.

of course the iodine makes the bites temporarily flair up in size and color but this seems to be a great remedy!

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By cigar fiend on Aug 12, 2010

Try painting each bite with clear fingernail polish. This was told to me from a very old southern lady. It works. No itch. That is if you got them from the sand.

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By hennie on Aug 16, 2010

As our Oceans get sick and sealife decay…Be Careful on beaches like Captiva/SANIBEL with gravel like moist wet sand, It has decayed shellfish which grows fungus and wild cats run wild there with fecal matter and parasites that can infect yer toes if you wriggle yer toes in that wild tropical mess LIKE I DID! I have what is called “Subcutaneous Larvae Migrans”
Cutaneous
Larva Migrans (Creeping Eruption) is a
cutaneous eruption resulting from exposure of the
skin to infective filariform larvae of non non-human
hookworms and Strongyloides Strongyloides.
► Occurs in most warm humid tropical and
subtropical areas ( eg South USA along the coasts,
coasts of West, South and East Africa, South South-East
Asia, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thialand

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By Anthony Lucca on Aug 23, 2010

The best relief I’ve found for the itching and swelling of sand flea and other bites is a combination of BurnJel Plus and Cortizone. The BurnJel is 2.5% lidocaine and it grants almost immediate relief from the itching which usually lasts for several hours.

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By Chris on Aug 30, 2010

Well, I got bit very badly in ROATAN, HONDURAS on a dive trip, came back with over 112 bites all over my legs, back of arms and some on my back. I was sick in bed for a week with a fever, and HOT, swollen itchy skin. They left permanent scars.
Which I paid hundreds to have injected with Vitamin C to lighten them- this was 2 years ago.

Sept. 2010 I went diving for two weeks in Turks and Caicos…new bites, new scars-completely disfigured me this time. Very sad about it.

I had red welts, red bites that spread, and blistery bites that peaked, and then ruptured…it was flat out and embarrassing mess!

I bought hydrocortisone cream with aloe, barely worked.Itching continued for days, and it was hard NOT to rub them sometimes, but then the BURNING would ensue! I gave up on poisoning my body with 100% deet because it does NOT work!

I found something called CACTUS JUICE (they have a website) and it seemed to ward them off a little bit….But I ran out of it…

I will continue to travel, but this whole SAND FLEA/ SAND FLY thing is bumming me out and have successfully ruined this model’s legs….

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By Valentina on Oct 14, 2010

I just returned from a week in the Riviera Maya Mexico. After an evening of star gazing on the beach I woke up with tons of very painful bites. I did a little internet searching found out the were probably sand fleas.

Going out into the heat or sun for very long made the bites much worse. I tried After Bite, aloe vera gel, ice, anything… but nothing relieved the pain. I spent sleepless nights with burning pain that felt like I had burned my legs in fire.

At the local store they suggested something called “Andantol” Isotipendilo. It worked like a charm! (Turns out it is a antihistamine gel.) It stopped the burning and itch and I was able to go outside and enjoy the rest of the holiday. I bought an extra tube to take home and will always look for it for future trips, and I’ll probably avoid the beach at night!

We also noticed many people walking around with bug repellant “collars” on their ankles. Don’t know if they would have worked but I’ll be trying them on any future trips.

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By jnkwasni on Nov 5, 2010

Got back from Puerto Rico and it seems I am a victim to these notorious monsters. Itching and marks came up about 3 – 4 days after I left the beach. Riddled on my feet and legs.

I have understood the variety of different ways of reducing the itching, which is very creative to say the least.

Here’s one other topic, how can you keep the scaring or discoloration to a minimum?

Also, are these infections prone to come back (possible repeat outbreaks) or only appear during feeding freenzies?

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By John on Nov 17, 2010

Can anyone help me here, my father went to a beach in portugal, when on the beach he felt a slight itch, to his arms legs and buttocks. Ever since that day he has been having small attacks of very itchy small spots to his skin and a rash that appears to look like as if he has dermatitis. He thinks it is something he picked up off the beach, and at this time has loads of small spot to his arms legs and buttocks. he has tried all sorts of treatments with no results.
I would appreciate any advice..

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By Helena on Nov 25, 2010

I feel for everyone affected by these annoying insects. I have traveled in Mexico and Africa and have been attacked terribly by these tiny giants. I was told that these sand fleas will enter your pore and that is why the itch is so bad and last for weeks. That if they get in they actually are feeding on us. With this inf. someone told me to use vinegar. What I found with the vinegar was that when I rubbed it in the bite it would open up the pour and I could actually feel what felt like sand come out. To tiny for me to tell what it looked like. once that was out the itching stopped and healing was taking place. I also brought them home and they liked my bedroom on myside of the bed. My husband would not get bit just me. I began to spray my room when I was gone with just Raid flea spray really low to the carpet and would close the room. Come back later and air it out and that would bring relief for a long time. Now the biting is minimal. I have learned to spray my luggage before I come home and leave my luggage outside until Im ready to sort it and throw everything in the wash before it goes back in my house. For scars what worked for me was ROYAL JELLY from Jafra. My sister sold it at the time and she gave me some. I should still be all scared up but Im not, they have all disappeared. I have a few current bites that have scard but I know will disappeard once I apply the royal jelly. I know the store now offers scar creams I haven’t tried those but I think I will because I know they are less expensive than Royal Jelly from Jafra. The vinegar is just the inexpensive white distilled vinegar. You will notice you will begin to bleed but I think that is because what was still biting has let go. I think its a good sign. Hope this helps….
Maria

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By Maria on Apr 10, 2011

I went to Nicaragua last fall to do some missionary work. We slept on blow up mattress with mosquite netting over us. I got sand flea bites where they crawled up the mattress and under the netting. What can you put on the mattress to stop them from getting in? I had at least 50 bites on my hands and arms. The Nicaraguan dr who was with us told me it was sand fleas. I have tried the dryer sheets did not help and I hate hate hate OFF. Allergic to skin so soft. I am very sensitive to any insect bite. Mosquites just love me. Had over 200 bites on a previous trip. Had to have Malaria testing. (it was neg thank God) I wonder if there is something like a powder that you could put on the mattress under the sheet? Will be going back in Sept. Not looking forward to the itching. By the way if you take a bath in gasoline (yes you read that right) and then wash off in your regular soap it will kill “chiggers, deer tick, etc.” or at least slow them down. Need to do it just as soon as you come in from the yard. Do not let them get a chance to start biting. Kill them first. No I promise I am not crazy. Just be careful about open flames such as cigarettes. You might want to check a small area of your skin first to make sure you are not allergic to it. We use to live on a farm in rural Ky. They would eat us up. Gasoline works really well. Get someone to help you get it on the areas you cannot reach. Just avoid your face and eyes and around your vaginal area where it could be absorbed. Guys you should be okay putting it on your privates. Thats a favorite spot for the little boogers. Hope this helps.

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By Laura on Jun 1, 2011

I live on the emerald isle beach in NC and I have had no problems maybe being a local keeps them away.

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By Kevin on Jun 13, 2011

You people apparently need to research what a sand flea really is because they live in saturated sand and they are also way to big to enter pores they range from 1/4″ to almost 2″ so unless you were sleeping on a beach front they weren’t on your air matress and besides they can’t climb they only travel backwards through sand. I’m sorry you were misdiagnosed by your doctor though.

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By Steven on Jun 13, 2011

i live in arkansas and we don’t normally have a sand flea problem where i live but this year i got bit from head to toe and my dogs did too, i had no idea what it was because they didn’t have ticks or normal fleas, i couldn’t see anything on them or me. i went to the doctor and he gave me the permethrin cream, it took 3 weeks and daily showers as hot as i could stand them and i still haven’y completely healed, i washed everything i could wash with hot water and soap bleach mix, i also mixed bleach and water in a bottle and sprayed my furniture and carpet, i bathed my dogs daily in antifungal antibacterial soap by vetscripts and put some frontline on them, used vetscript hydrocortisone spray and bitter cherry spray to keep them from chewing themselves up, we were doing so good until now a month later and here we go again, our local co-op says they have something to help so going down tomorrow for a permethrin powder to put in my dirt areas then i’ll retreat dogs and house and hope this cures the problem.

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By janet on Jun 15, 2011

This will give everyone a chuckle I went to Hanlan’s Point in Toronto ON Canada and was eaten alive by these nuisances what’s so funny about this? Hanlans Point is a nude beach

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By Jeff on Jun 20, 2011

I got attacked by what I think is sand fleas while watching fireworks yesterday. New bites keep popping up, and I’ve been using apple cider vinegar. A natural remedy that works so well I only had to apply twice today, and afterwards for hours had no itching. Try it.

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By Allie on Jul 5, 2011

I wish I had seen this website before I went to Key West, FL. There were noseeums at the vacation condos we were staying, but, as with most of the people on this website, I didn’t see the worst of the insect bites till a week AFTER I left Florida. Left on a Sunday and it’s now the following Saturday. The bites have multiplied on my legs and havE developed rashes on mybupper arms. So far I have tried: Zyrtec, generic loratadine pills ( both antihistamines), hydrocortisone, aloe Vera gel with lidocaine. Those relieved he itch a little but not much. Now I am downing generic Benadryl every 3-4 hours, a aveeno oatmeal bath nightly, aveeno anti itch lotion, and last night, I added a baking soda paste to the regimen.n while messy the baking soda does help with the itch but I can’t walk out the door with all the dried white stuff on me so I will try the aveeno anti itch or the deodorant. I will also stock up on Avon skin so soft for any and all trips cuz this just SUCKS and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. If it does get worse I will have to go to the doctor and beg for mercy.

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By Cecilia on Aug 13, 2011

I recently was at up north on a hot, humid day, standing by the river at night near a campfire and came home with hundreds of bites on my legs and feet and a few on my arms. I knew they could not be mosquito bites as I have never had mosquito bites like this. The itching is driving me around the bend and like others have said I seem to ge getting new bites every day. My right leg actually started going red and swelling and I now have an infection from all the scratching. I am on antibiotics and using Benadryl – infection better but itching still happening two weeks later. I am so relieved to know I am not the only one this is happening to – I thought I was losing my mind!

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By Trish on Aug 15, 2011

I went to the Virgin Islands and I was attacked by Sand fleas.. Worst experience in my life. It’s like I woke up in a Nightmare. It itches like crazy I literally have 100 bite marks on each leg. I am seriously sad. I hope it doesn’t leave scars . I been itching like crazy. I can’t talk 2 people because I am highly irritated. My life is on pause at the moment.. Any of you have scars from this? Im very traumatized. Im scared of the beach and I will never get a pet. I bought Cortizone, Aloe Burn Relief spray, Tea Tree oil, Vitamin E externally and internally, Garlic pills so they can stop sucking my blood, and coco butter… I bomb my place twice stayed in a hotel for a week. Now im calling the exterminator and getting my carpet and furniture steam cleaned.. Then im going to the doctor. I know it sounds like im exaggerating but this is very serious. A nightmare =( Im just happy summers over because im pants bound for a life time.. I need 2 see a therapist. I wish I could find all of them and put then in a bag and watch them lil invisible bastards burn to death.. God please help me..

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By praying for a mirical on Sep 19, 2011

Good grief, people.

Have you never been bitten by bed bugs!? Flea bites suck and itch, but come on, a mosquito bite is more itchy than a bed bug bite? Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

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By Michael on Sep 20, 2011

Just got back from Sanibel Florida.
Got lots of bites which are multiplying.
I can’t stand the itching.
Was on the beach, and sat in some shells, also
out on the beach at night.
Will never do that again.
I am trying hydrogen peroxide and calomine.
May also try the apple cider vinegar for the itching. I also have been taking benadryl which helps a little, I can tell when it wears off. I have been scratiching because I can’t stand the itching, some spots have gotten a black spot in the middle, and seem to be filled with fluid. Ick…..

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By Gay on Oct 16, 2011