Being bitten to pieces - harvest mites?
Discussion
Hopefully this is the right forum for this, as it probably concerns the house cat...
Around six weeks ago I started to notice red spots appearing on my ankles and the top of my feet. These spots are itchy as hell and last for 1-2 weeks. Initially I thought they might be fleabites, but we keep on top of the monthly frontline treatment and worming as we are surrounded by fields which the cat loves to hunt in.
These spots didn't seem to have any particular clustering pattern to them, 3-4 would appear in different places every day.
Having had a closer look at them when they first come up, they at first look like mozzy bites with a raised surface 1/2 a cm wide. The key difference being no obvious bite marks, but the centre is hard like a pimple. I'm getting them on my ankles, calves, forearms, wrists, top of the feet, and a couple on the torso. None on the underside of the feet or the armpits.
They've been driving me mad now for weeks, but I remember that I had a similar problem last year around the same time (autumn/winter) that went away as it got colder. I'm the only one afflicted by them in the household, although the cat does love to rub against the ankles when he wants his food.
Horrible pictures below, does anyone know whether these could these be harvest mites please? I've just been to the GP who is stumped and prescribed antibiotics and a blood test...
Around six weeks ago I started to notice red spots appearing on my ankles and the top of my feet. These spots are itchy as hell and last for 1-2 weeks. Initially I thought they might be fleabites, but we keep on top of the monthly frontline treatment and worming as we are surrounded by fields which the cat loves to hunt in.
These spots didn't seem to have any particular clustering pattern to them, 3-4 would appear in different places every day.
Having had a closer look at them when they first come up, they at first look like mozzy bites with a raised surface 1/2 a cm wide. The key difference being no obvious bite marks, but the centre is hard like a pimple. I'm getting them on my ankles, calves, forearms, wrists, top of the feet, and a couple on the torso. None on the underside of the feet or the armpits.
They've been driving me mad now for weeks, but I remember that I had a similar problem last year around the same time (autumn/winter) that went away as it got colder. I'm the only one afflicted by them in the household, although the cat does love to rub against the ankles when he wants his food.
Horrible pictures below, does anyone know whether these could these be harvest mites please? I've just been to the GP who is stumped and prescribed antibiotics and a blood test...
viscountdallara said:
Have you or anyone else in the household been away recently ?
They look a lot like bed bug bites !
We've not been away anywhere since July so I've discounted bed bugs. I also found it strange that it only started happening around november time when it became unseasonably warm...They look a lot like bed bug bites !
the thing is people react differently to bites so on one person can appear differently on another. I would say fleas as am going thru the same. you really need to investigate your house. Check your bed for tell tell signs (search google)
Fleas need at least 2 months worth of work to rid, and I think the warm weather is at fault as they are all over the place.
I would not say bedbugs as they generally bite in tracks not sporadic and those look like flea bite.
To get to a point of minimal flea bites took 3 x house flea bombs, vacuuming whole house, throwing away bedding, clothes etc. Getting the cat done at the vets.
Fleas live on a three week cycle so are a bugger to rid. You need to hover twice daily, and move all furniture. Spray disinfectant on bins and outside. Using flea spray inside after bomsbs as well as get some nematodes for the lawns outside.
Also Fleas hate the cold so airing the house will calm them down.
Fleas need at least 2 months worth of work to rid, and I think the warm weather is at fault as they are all over the place.
I would not say bedbugs as they generally bite in tracks not sporadic and those look like flea bite.
To get to a point of minimal flea bites took 3 x house flea bombs, vacuuming whole house, throwing away bedding, clothes etc. Getting the cat done at the vets.
Fleas live on a three week cycle so are a bugger to rid. You need to hover twice daily, and move all furniture. Spray disinfectant on bins and outside. Using flea spray inside after bomsbs as well as get some nematodes for the lawns outside.
Also Fleas hate the cold so airing the house will calm them down.
Perhaps you could buy a couple of these to see what you are up against.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-X-INSECT-STICKY-PADS-R...
( I have nothing to do with the trader.... Just the first one I came across)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-X-INSECT-STICKY-PADS-R...
( I have nothing to do with the trader.... Just the first one I came across)
Thanks for all the feedback so far.
The odd things about these which are steering me away from flea bites are that the centre is a hard dry pimple and they come up without any obvious signs of biting beforehand. I have sat and watched one appear on my wrist whilst sat at my desk at work so it's almost as if there's some sort of delayed reaction?
Most of the dark areas on my legs are scarred tissue as I've scratched them too much this year and last year.
The odd things about these which are steering me away from flea bites are that the centre is a hard dry pimple and they come up without any obvious signs of biting beforehand. I have sat and watched one appear on my wrist whilst sat at my desk at work so it's almost as if there's some sort of delayed reaction?
Most of the dark areas on my legs are scarred tissue as I've scratched them too much this year and last year.
Ideally a skin scrape should be done and examined under a microscope (that's what we would do if an animal presented such symptoms with no obvious reason)
The symptoms described for humans re harvest mites do seem to match what you are struggling with. Your cat would be pruritus if it has the mites and you can usually see them in the feet.
Of course more commonly is fleas, spray your house top to bottom with vetkem acclaim or indirect, vacuum thoroughly before spraying then 24hrs after spraying thorough vacuum every day. Concentrate on dark warm areas as fleas don't like sunlight. Include laminate etc in your treatment (carefully) change flea products on your cat eg to stronghold/Advantage or Advocate.
People often don't see the flea bite and don't realise until the itchiness start.
The symptoms described for humans re harvest mites do seem to match what you are struggling with. Your cat would be pruritus if it has the mites and you can usually see them in the feet.
Of course more commonly is fleas, spray your house top to bottom with vetkem acclaim or indirect, vacuum thoroughly before spraying then 24hrs after spraying thorough vacuum every day. Concentrate on dark warm areas as fleas don't like sunlight. Include laminate etc in your treatment (carefully) change flea products on your cat eg to stronghold/Advantage or Advocate.
People often don't see the flea bite and don't realise until the itchiness start.
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 7th January 21:38
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 7th January 21:39
I was bitten regularly by fleas when younger - 4 cats - and nothing looked like this.
But last autumn/winter went through something very similar to you. I was paranoid about bedbugs, tore rooms to bit, treated every nook and cranny etc. and got bedbug traps. Not them - it was bird mites, presumably from starlings nesting in the loft.
I used a bug spray called a Bomb - though had to abandon the room for days for the stink which seems to get rid of them in one fell swoop.
But last autumn/winter went through something very similar to you. I was paranoid about bedbugs, tore rooms to bit, treated every nook and cranny etc. and got bedbug traps. Not them - it was bird mites, presumably from starlings nesting in the loft.
I used a bug spray called a Bomb - though had to abandon the room for days for the stink which seems to get rid of them in one fell swoop.
Hi Op
I get similar has blisters, all inflamed and itchy as hell for last six months, I also have 2 x dogs and 2 x cats
All up my lower legs, wrists and can flare anywhere
Might not be bites, could be dermatitis/eczema , I get itchy skin, I scratch then blisters appear which then flare the skin
For me antihistamine every day and steroid cream works
No one else in my house suffers (3 kids and one partner)
I'd see a GP , otherwise you will just be guessing. Whilst I love the nHS it hasn't been too helpful for me on this so far
I get similar has blisters, all inflamed and itchy as hell for last six months, I also have 2 x dogs and 2 x cats
All up my lower legs, wrists and can flare anywhere
Might not be bites, could be dermatitis/eczema , I get itchy skin, I scratch then blisters appear which then flare the skin
For me antihistamine every day and steroid cream works
No one else in my house suffers (3 kids and one partner)
I'd see a GP , otherwise you will just be guessing. Whilst I love the nHS it hasn't been too helpful for me on this so far
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Friday 8th January 10:49
Seeing a doctor is always sensible, but mine got it wrong. Jumped straight to the conclusion that it was dermatitis linked to Celiac disease (which is a barstard!), but it was definitely mites. As soon as the bomb was deployed and the rooms fumigated the bites, itching, swellings etc. stopped. If I do get contaminated by gluten I get various symptoms and some rashes and marks appear, usually on my face and forehead, but nothing like what i got last year from the little swine.
It might be worth a try testing for fleas just in case?
There's a method of putting a tea light on either a plate or a baking tray and fill the plate or tray with water. Put that on the floor and leave it for a few hours and you'll either have nothing or some little critters floating around on the water. (Best to do this when its dark.. obviously)
If you try this and burn your house down I am not liable for the costs!!
There's a method of putting a tea light on either a plate or a baking tray and fill the plate or tray with water. Put that on the floor and leave it for a few hours and you'll either have nothing or some little critters floating around on the water. (Best to do this when its dark.. obviously)
If you try this and burn your house down I am not liable for the costs!!
Thanks all.
The good news is that with the recent plunge in temperatures, the problem has more or less gone away. The GP really had no idea and the prescribed course of antibiotics has had little effect. I've not had any new spots / bites for about a week whereas I was previously seeing 5-6 a day.
The bad news is that our feline master has had an outbreak of fleas *sigh*. That'll be the Frontline no longer effective then, and we're now onto the Advocate. I've been hoovering religiously around the house and spraying Indorex everywhere. It seems to be pretty potent stuff as we've been discovering dead flies /spiders in the downstairs shower room all week, even though it's been the only room not be sprayed. Presumably the spray is travelling up the extractor fan and killing them off that way.
Can't help but shake the feeling that it's just all been a long-winded rouse by SWMBO to get me to do more housework....
The good news is that with the recent plunge in temperatures, the problem has more or less gone away. The GP really had no idea and the prescribed course of antibiotics has had little effect. I've not had any new spots / bites for about a week whereas I was previously seeing 5-6 a day.
The bad news is that our feline master has had an outbreak of fleas *sigh*. That'll be the Frontline no longer effective then, and we're now onto the Advocate. I've been hoovering religiously around the house and spraying Indorex everywhere. It seems to be pretty potent stuff as we've been discovering dead flies /spiders in the downstairs shower room all week, even though it's been the only room not be sprayed. Presumably the spray is travelling up the extractor fan and killing them off that way.
Can't help but shake the feeling that it's just all been a long-winded rouse by SWMBO to get me to do more housework....
I still think they were fleas. People react differently. I did the whole house and still had them biting me, only takes 1 left to cause another infestation.
In the end rang the council got someone out for 70 quid and not been bitten since. He said the over the counter stuff is a waste of time. But in your case I would speak to one as the guy that came out was very clued up on beasties and would be better suited to helping you over a gp.
In the end rang the council got someone out for 70 quid and not been bitten since. He said the over the counter stuff is a waste of time. But in your case I would speak to one as the guy that came out was very clued up on beasties and would be better suited to helping you over a gp.
The Spruce goose said:
I still think they were fleas. People react differently. I did the whole house and still had them biting me, only takes 1 left to cause another infestation.
In the end rang the council got someone out for 70 quid and not been bitten since. He said the over the counter stuff is a waste of time. But in your case I would speak to one as the guy that came out was very clued up on beasties and would be better suited to helping you over a gp.
Pet shop otc's are, pharmacy strength aren't.In the end rang the council got someone out for 70 quid and not been bitten since. He said the over the counter stuff is a waste of time. But in your case I would speak to one as the guy that came out was very clued up on beasties and would be better suited to helping you over a gp.
I think fleas over harvest mites, my friend used to break out in very similar spots when bitten by fleas, they reckoned she was allergic to the flea saliva hence the reaction (fleas saliva contains an anti coagulant so they use it to keep the blood flowing, hence the irritation continuing post bite!)
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