The Year Of The Chigger

from JoeUser Forums
Geez, I've managed to go more than 45 years without ever having a chigger bite and now it's happened twice in the span of a couple of weeks. I was sitting here surfing the net and noticed that the areas around my ankles were itching like mad. I pulled down my sock tops and sure enough there were several chigger bites on both legs underneath the socks. And I haven't even been out hiking.

The new boots must be working though because they were confined to the area under the tops of the socks and none at all on my feet, so that's something I guess. I figure I must have gotten into them this morning when I was unloading. The area had grass, which was mowed, but could still have been infested with the little monsters. Must have been as it's the only place I've walked on any grass today.

I've gone through all the steps to treat the bites; scrubbed with hot soapy water, washed with alcohol, and slathered on some Benedryl cream. The itching has subsided a bit. I'll have to keep after them with the alcohol and creams until they dry up. maybe jumping right on them this time will shorten the length of time for the maddening itch.

I figure my body chemistry must be changing in my old age, that's the only explanation for the little monsters' sudden appetite for my flesh. They've never had a taste for me before now. I guess the next thing will be mosquitoes taking a liking to me now. Damn pests.

Well, at least chiggers, as annoying as their bites may be, aren't known to carry any infectious diseases. I guess I'll be remembering this as The Year Of The Chigger.
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3,602 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

Mason, they may not be chigger bites.  Sometimes scabies looks like chigger bites - my niece's baby had scabies when she was a couple of weeks old, but wasn't diagnosed until she was almost 5 months because everyone thought that she had chigger bites (it was summer, and my niece wasn't the best mother in the world at the time).  They're both mites, and the rashes they produce can be easily confused.

Here's some good information:

http://www.entomon.net/mites-scabies-chiggersfacts.htm

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK1035.html

I hope that your itchiness comes to an end soon!

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Look in between the tongue and the laces of boots, great hiding places for the little monsters.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

Mason, they may not be chigger bites.  Sometimes scabies looks like chigger bites - my niece's baby had scabies when she was a couple of weeks old, but wasn't diagnosed until she was almost 5 months because everyone thought that she had chigger bites (it was summer, and my niece wasn't the best mother in the world at the time).  They're both mites, and the rashes they produce can be easily confused.

Here's some good information:

http://www.entomon.net/mites-scabies-chiggersfacts.htm

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK1035.html

I hope that your itchiness comes to an end soon!



Thanks. While it's possible, I feel reasonably sure they're chiggers bites. But ya never know I suppose.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Look in between the tongue and the laces of boots, great hiding places for the little monsters.


Yep, they're good at hiding. I disposed of that pair of socks and cleaned my boots really well. I'm hoping I got rid of the little monsters as I'd hate to have them infesting my truck.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Depriving them of their food?  Better watch out or PETA is going to get you!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Depriving them of their food?  Better watch out or PETA is going to get you!


Now why would I worry about People Eating Tasty Animals?

I saw a tee shirt n a truckstop yesterday that had me chuckling pretty good. It read "There is a place for all of God's creatures...right next to the potatoes and gravy".