have u heard of chiggers and what do u do once u've been bitten by them?

Question

we were outside and when i took my son's shirt off he had a whole bunch of what looked like tiny mosquito bites in a big bunch on his chest. my aunts said it was chiggers and they said they are little tiny red bugs that get under ur skin and u have to put fingernail polish (clear) on them to stop the itch and draw the bugs out...or something like that. is there any truth to this? i know i've heard of chiggers b4, i've even had them and that's what my mom did for me, but it is just weird to me. wonderin what other people think.

Answer 1

take your finger nail and mark an x on each bite. believe it or not it does help. me personally i scratch the "blank" out of them then put rubbing alcohol on them. i don't recommend that, but it works for me. and yes the clear finger nail polish works also. the nail polish will smother them, what the heck try the nail polish and the x method double the chances of getting rid of the dang things.

Answer 2

Clean the site carefully and apply a hydrocortisone cream to treat the itching. Calamine lotion may also work.
Use a commercial product such as Chigarid or Chigg-away to treat the bites.
Keep the site clean and dry, and watch it carefully for signs of secondary infection.

Tips & Warnings:
The discomfort from chigger bites can last up to two weeks, even though the chiggers may have dropped off or been removed. Chiggers are not known to spread any diseases in the United States. Other popular ways of treating chigger bites include applying anti-lice shampoo to the affected area and leaving it on overnight; brushing clear nail polish over the bites; or smearing petroleum jelly over the bites. These have been used with varying degrees of success, but you should contact your health care professional before proceeding. If you scratch your chigger bites and don't keep the site clean and dry, you may develop a secondary bacterial infection. If this occurs, apply an antibacterial ointment. See your doctor if the infection does not improve.

Answer 3

It is a myth that chiggers burrow into your skin. Clear nail polish to stop chiggers is also a myth. Chiggers, also called red mites or harvest mites, are tiny insects that bite. When chiggers bite they inject an enzyme into your skin that dissolves skin cells, which they then drink. The enzymes irritate your skin and itch (like crazy). A red bump appears that looks much like chicken pox. Chiggers can survive a few days so it is a good idea to take a shower after returning indoors for areas of tall grass or brush. Use your favorite itch remedy (Calamine, hydrocortisone, oatmeal baths, etc.) to control the itch and take a antihistamine like Benedryl. See a doctor if the itching becomes too much for you or if your sores become infected from scratching.

Answer 4

My husband and I got chiggers back east in Ark. We were visiting during a family reunion and they told us about chiggers. Here in California we never heard of them. Just to let you know clear fingernail polish does work. We did get them and you need to put it on for about 10 to 14 days. They really itch a lot. You need to ware long pants. There is a spray you can buy to use on your body. That will help with the bites. Stay out of the grass and bushes as much as possible. I hope I could help you some. Oh, you also could go to the doctors for some medication as well. But it does the same as 99cent polish. (Polish keeps the chiggers from breathing). Any color will work, but clear looks nicer on your body.

Answer 5

Well i know for sure that chiggers get mostly under the arm pits and in or around the private parts of your body !! I wouldn't think they would be on just the chest !! you need to check and see were else he has the bumps at?? If he has Chiggers then they will be under his armpits and private area for sure !!! To treat Chiggers you need to buy some calamine lotion the kind you use for poison ivy, it dries up the bumps and they can't breath and living under the skin anymore !! Also give him benadrly by the mouth for the itching !! Fingernail polish to me was the old way of doing it because you had nothing else to put on them !! Now days you can buy the medicine for them and it works better i would think then the polish !!! But you need to make sure what he does have by taking him to get checked !! what would it hurt ?? and besides what if its chicken pox or something else?? It can spread to others if its something contagious !! so have him checked first !! you or others can guess alot of things but only his doctor can reallly tell what he has !!! right !!

Answer 6

Nothing to worry about. In the south we call them red bugs. As a child I had them all the time. Just one of those things we got use to from playing outside in the country. Here's a little information that may help you understand it more.

Chiggers!!!! I itch all over just thinking about them. Below are some tips to make chiggers a little bit less of a nuisance.



BIOLOGY: Chiggers are the immature stage of a harvest mite. They are 8 legged, red, about the size of a pencil point, and belong in the Arachnid group of animals which also includes spiders, ticks and scorpions. For them to become mature mites they must have a blood meal. They will attach themselves to you, usually around body creases, where they inject saliva into the wound. They may feed for several days before they drop off and continue their development. The breaking down of the body tissue surrounding this bite causes severe itching.

CONTROL: Keep the areas that you spend your time in trimmed and mowed as well as you can. Apply insect repellent around ankles and arm pits when you go into the woods. Spray with permethrin in areas where you must go to keep chiggers, ticks and ants to a minimum.


BODY CARE: Immediately upon entering the house remove all your clothes and wash them . Take a shower. Use alcohol around the arm pits and ankles and other tight body places. If you have bites the next day, as a kid the best thing I found to stop a chigger itch was to apply fingernail polish on the bite.

See no problem. Just a little bothersome. But it will be OK.

fishineasy

Answer 7

Sounds like a staph infection from the bug bites. Go tot he er and then follow up with your family dr. You will need iv and oral anti biotics to clear it up and hope the staph has not gotten into your bloodstream. This is serious- get medical attention- stat!

Answer 8

well vasoline grease or thick solution of oil will kill them i've heard they do get under your skin although they have to breathe and if their is grease applied to the skin they can't breathe and they will sufficate and die also if they get on you and go across the vasoline they will get stuck in it and they will die cause they cannot move. that is all i have heard and i don't know if your finger nail polish remover or whatever works. but good luck with it either way.

Answer 9

The nail polish trick is an old one. It supposedly suffocates the chigger. Chigarid does the same thing--I think Chigarid has similar ingredients to nail polish, really.

Answer 10

Wiping down with fingernail polish will help. However by time the welp comes up the chigger has already exited/died. A bath with Warm water/clorox will help with the itching.