Chiggers

[firemanjj82]

I have some chiggar bites and a fever, but my wife and daughter have fevers too with no bites. Something is going around, other than chiggars.

[Neck]

Never a fever, just a lot of choice words and scratching. You had someone look you over good for ticks?

I used to coat mine in clear nail polish too but a doc buddy of mine told me that was an old wife's tale. He said they aren't actually burrowed under your skin. It's just their bite. Time and calomine lotion are all you can do. That said i still coat them cuz im so miserable. If nothing else it helps me not scratch so much. Not sure if that's true or not so interested to see the replies. My uncle used to put sulphur powder on his pants legs when he went into a known infested area. Not sure if that helps either or is a false sense of security.

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[dustoffer]

Chiggers inject their saliva/spit into the bite wound and it dissolves the tissue (you) and they suck it back up. The little bit of saliva that remains in the wound is a foreign protein and your body reacts to it by redness, itching, and a bit of swelling. I'd guess you are just reacting a bit more to them than the average person and the reaction includes the fever. However, could just be a coincidence and you may have a virus or something at the same time that is causing the fever.

I'm not a doc and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night--

[CTD2011]

Never had a fever but man they sure are out right now so beware everybody.

[okietaxi]

I have been covered before with probably a thousand chiggers, but no fever. I am glad to see another one besides you that has had fever. Maybe one of or dr. Brothers will see this, and give you some advice.

On the lighter side of things, I have been laughing at my wife. We went to a new hunting ranch where I was fishing. She sat down on rocks or dirt. I thought to myself she will be covered with chiggers. She has been going crazy with bendadrly(or however you spell it) and bottles of polish. And, "I got to check her for ticks".

[critter69]

It weird this came up. I got chiggers for the first time four weeks ago. And got sick as ^&%. Went to doctor and they put on antibotics. Dam things still itch!!!!

[elkbowhunter]

Got itch?? The bug from hell. Dissolves the tissue and then sucks it up.

[muttleymike]

Put one cup of bleach in bath water every time you come home from woods kills them little suckers

[Mudslinger]

Easiest is to get the permethrine spray, spray on your clothes the night before and no ticks or chiggers. If that is not the easiest, just get some powdered sulphur, put it in a sock and leave it in the truck in a bag and when you get out of the truck, take the sock and powder your ankles, waist area around your belt, wrists and neck and this will keep the critters off. you will stink like all get out, but it works.

[Dusty Britches]

Yes - flu like symptoms. I had them almost as bad as you and I was feverish for 3 days. If you have a fever, you really need to get to the doc for some help. Probably steroids will help the most.

My friend's mother was a nurse many years ago. There was a big parade and a group of elderly participants rested afterwards in a field. A couple of them had to go to the hospital and one died because the chiggars were so bad on her that it stopped her heart.

The best thing is to prevent them, but that is discussed above.

[texast224]

Yes - flu like symptoms. I had them almost as bad as you and I was feverish for 3 days. If you have a fever, you really need to get to the doc for some help. Probably steroids will help the most.

My friend's mother was a nurse many years ago. There was a big parade and a group of elderly participants rested afterwards in a field. A couple of them had to go to the hospital and one died because the chiggars were so bad on her that it stopped her heart.

The best thing is to prevent them, but that is discussed above.

Any reason to think chigger bites could give you IBS like symptoms?

These things tore me up bad - more than just one way.....

[tx07]

Anybody ever get a fever from getting tore up by chiggers? Got covered in bites from my ankles to my neck and have had a fever for two days. Maybe just a coincidence.

Possibly contributed to it since your working in the heat. I have had great success spraying my pants legs and socks till they are damp with a deet containing repellant.

[TX Doc]

The bump from the chigger bite is due to your body's immune response. Depending on how badly you react to them and how many bites you have you could end up with a fever as this is just your body trying to defend itself. If you scratch at them enough then you could also get them secondarily infected with skin bacteria. Try some Benadryl for itching and some over the counter Hydrocortisone cream on the bites to help the redness and itching. If they seem to be getting worse then go see your doctor.

[dgh]

hate those no see em

[elkbowhunter]

Its interesting that Chiggers basically live in the south. I guess they can't survive the cold or altitude. They are not a good thing