Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
#16
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
The first year I was here I was plagued with mozzie bites but the last couple of years haven't been nearly as bad - either the mozzies have gone off my most delicious English blood, or I've stopped reacting as badly. However, whilst I always thought I was quite good about using repellent sprays since we arrived, I know that last year we were definitely better about using them, because of the dengue fever outbreak here.
When we occasionally do get an itchy bite, we use Stingose and that stops the itching quite effectively.
When we occasionally do get an itchy bite, we use Stingose and that stops the itching quite effectively.
#17
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
The first year I was here I was plagued with mozzie bites but the last couple of years haven't been nearly as bad - either the mozzies have gone off my most delicious English blood, or I've stopped reacting as badly. However, whilst I always thought I was quite good about using repellent sprays since we arrived, I know that last year we were definitely better about using them, because of the dengue fever outbreak here.
When we occasionally do get an itchy bite, we use Stingose and that stops the itching quite effectively.
When we occasionally do get an itchy bite, we use Stingose and that stops the itching quite effectively.
#19
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
"Told you so" - the creek is close enough to your house!
Summer in the bay is worse than winter. For relief also try a bath as hot as you can take it. For some bizarre reason that helps me. Anti histimines help when your going crazy. Bushmans seems better with sandflies than RID or OFF or Aeroguard based on non scientific test with 4 families on camping trip. Eau de mossie spray eh?? And old faithful of covering up near dusk.
You will improve - I was the same and each summer here either they bite me less or I react less (not sure which). That is til i go somewhere else and those mossie/flies don't recognise me and bite!
Summer in the bay is worse than winter. For relief also try a bath as hot as you can take it. For some bizarre reason that helps me. Anti histimines help when your going crazy. Bushmans seems better with sandflies than RID or OFF or Aeroguard based on non scientific test with 4 families on camping trip. Eau de mossie spray eh?? And old faithful of covering up near dusk.
You will improve - I was the same and each summer here either they bite me less or I react less (not sure which). That is til i go somewhere else and those mossie/flies don't recognise me and bite!
#20
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
Thanks guys - loads of weird & wonderful solutions on here that I haven't heard of - just what I was hoping for so thanks a million. I have written them down and am going to click on the links and google this exciting sounding Bens safari / jungle formula. Like the sound of that!
I also suffered terribly when I first arrived - even had to go to A&E with a terribly infected mozzie bite....
I always use Avon - skin so soft body oil spray, they now do a skin so sof body oil bug spray...either way the mozzies hate it. It weas a doctor who told me about this. It smells nice and has worked for me. To the point where they now bite others rather than bite me.....
#21
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,322
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
We went over to Stradbroke island the other weekend and my legs are a real mess from sand flys
I've been told to get a vitamin b injection??
Mozzies don't bother me too much but now but sand flys are horrid
I've been told to get a vitamin b injection??
Mozzies don't bother me too much but now but sand flys are horrid
#22
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
Hi
Sorry to hear you are suffering!
Vit B complex is good - helps with stress as well!
Try Paw Paw ointment after the bite - comes in a red tube from the chemist.
Get a suntan! We always found you get loads of bites at the beginning of a holiday and they got less as you tanned.
As time goes by as the OP said you seem to get less bites - no fresh new blood!
I once got some bites in Caymen that nearly hospitalised me both my legs were covered, red blotches, swollen the works which is unusual as they don't tend to go for me! Turned out I had a reaction and allergy to whatever bit me - so heaven knows who the mozzie had had a go at before me! Anyway they pumped me full of anti-histamine, steriods and antibotics and let me fly the next day although I did sleep well on the plane!
Just keep an eye on them if you have loads that they don't get so infected you end up with celluosis (not sure of spelling but it's an infection under the skin!).
Take care!
KK
Sorry to hear you are suffering!
Vit B complex is good - helps with stress as well!
Try Paw Paw ointment after the bite - comes in a red tube from the chemist.
Get a suntan! We always found you get loads of bites at the beginning of a holiday and they got less as you tanned.
As time goes by as the OP said you seem to get less bites - no fresh new blood!
I once got some bites in Caymen that nearly hospitalised me both my legs were covered, red blotches, swollen the works which is unusual as they don't tend to go for me! Turned out I had a reaction and allergy to whatever bit me - so heaven knows who the mozzie had had a go at before me! Anyway they pumped me full of anti-histamine, steriods and antibotics and let me fly the next day although I did sleep well on the plane!
Just keep an eye on them if you have loads that they don't get so infected you end up with celluosis (not sure of spelling but it's an infection under the skin!).
Take care!
KK
#23
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
Vitamin B 1 and its got to be at least 100 grams to be effective.
LibbyX
LibbyX
#24
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Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
Thanks guys - can't believe how much I've been bitten given that our deck has a complete fly screen all the way around it!
I have taken Vitamin B complex for years (for PMT) and I take a seriously high dose, it has 150 grams of every B vitamin going and this is having absolutely no affect on the mozzies whatsoever. Tough little buggers!
Going to try all the remedies mentioned - also apparently you should never wear perfume and mozzies/sandflies prefer dark clothes!
I have taken Vitamin B complex for years (for PMT) and I take a seriously high dose, it has 150 grams of every B vitamin going and this is having absolutely no affect on the mozzies whatsoever. Tough little buggers!
Going to try all the remedies mentioned - also apparently you should never wear perfume and mozzies/sandflies prefer dark clothes!
#25
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Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
#26
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Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
Drink more booze, worked for me
#27
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Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Upmarket
Posts: 17,503
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
Fly screens will not stop them and their bites are far worse and last for much longer than mosquitoes.
G
#28
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
K what size are your flyscreen holes? As Grayling says its the midges/sandflies probably that are getting you and are prolific around mangroves etc like O Reagans Creek. Flyscreen is often just that - for flies and maybe mossies, not the little buggers that hurt. Yanks call them 'no see ums' for a good reason.
Really hope one of the remedies suggested helps as its bloomin' awful being covered in the plague! we'll play dot to dot next time i see you if you don't get on top of it
Really hope one of the remedies suggested helps as its bloomin' awful being covered in the plague! we'll play dot to dot next time i see you if you don't get on top of it
#29
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Upmarket
Posts: 17,503
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
K what size are your flyscreen holes? As Grayling says its the midges/sandflies probably that are getting you and are prolific around mangroves etc like O Reagans Creek. Flyscreen is often just that - for flies and maybe mossies, not the little buggers that hurt. Yanks call them 'no see ums' for a good reason.
Really hope one of the remedies suggested helps as its bloomin' awful being covered in the plague! we'll play dot to dot next time i see you if you don't get on top of it
Really hope one of the remedies suggested helps as its bloomin' awful being covered in the plague! we'll play dot to dot next time i see you if you don't get on top of it
They itch like ***k and take months to go away completely
#30
Re: Prevention and cure for serious mozzie and sandfly bites
I got eaten alive one night at dusk last year - learned my lesson and make sure I'm covered up if I'm outdoors in the evenings now.
Lavender oil is soothing for the bites, plus antihistamines.
Lavender oil is soothing for the bites, plus antihistamines.