Help - I'm being eaten alive by some little creature - need solutions and advice

[Flyfodder]

I am being absolutely eaten alive by something. I never see it. My ankles, behind my knees, hip, back are all covered in bites.
I've changed bed clothes etc. I wear long sleeves and legs on my PJs. I haven't really been out for a walk in nature but would cover up if I was.
One DC is similarly bitten. DH and other DC unaffected.

What are they?
What can I do to stop them biting?
What can I do to stop to bites itching?

Photos attached. Apologies, they're not nice. One is my ankle, one is my hip

Do you have cats? I had this and it turned out to be fleas. Went undetected for a long time, as the cats were treated. It hadn't occurred to me that the treatment wasn't working!!

Other than that, I'd check your bed for signs of bed bugs (sorry)

Sounds like fleas being ankles

Do you have any nesting birds in your loft/eaves?

Fleas. We have a house rabbit that never leaves the house but somehow we got completely infested with them. They can come home on your shoes. They can live for up to a year without a pet in the home but they can't lay eggs on human blood.

We have a dog.
And birds nesting in the eaves.

If it's fleas - is it common for people sharing a bed to be differently affected?
As in, one bitten, one unscathed?

Fleas.

Has your house been occupied or visited by a cat that is no longer present? Cat flea eggs can survive for a year in crevices and then if no cat is present to feed from they bite humans instead. You don’t notice them when the cat is present because they prefer cat.

But I would also check for bed bugs.

Look in mattress seams etc, tiny spots of blood on sheets, pull your duvet back suddenly with a torch if you wake in the night.

when I was bitten by bed bugs it looked like that.

Have you been away recently - bed bugs bites can take a few days to show up.

Treat your dog for fleas. If it is the birds causing the issue then it's more difficult. We used this www.amazon.co.uk/Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-300g/dp/B0083HO2MY/ref=asc_df_B0083HO2MY/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309964069570&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17176621729950130508&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007346&hvtargid=pla-561516670006&psc=1 to help get rid of the bird mites till we could seal the loft up after nexting season.

I expect so. My husband is human fly paper whereas I’m never bitten by anything.
hope you find the source, looks nasty for you

Ankles = fleas

You need some Indorex spray. If you have a flea infestation it's the only thing that works! Harsh chemicals, yes, but don't waste time messing about with anything else.

Yes I get bitten but other people in the house don't

I get bitten but don’t react so it looks as if I’ve not been bitten. I’ve always wondered if it’s because I’ve a negative blood group.

I'd say fleas too. When we got our kitten years ago, we were told they'd been treated before they came to us but our house was absolutely riddled with them. So stressful!

Anyway, my DH was bitten loads and I was hardly bitten at all. I don't remember the DC being bitten either, so yeah it could be fleas.

Buy some Indorex and vacuum everywhere!

Yes to fleas, and yes I'm the only one they bit in a house of 4!

Ugh fleas 😩
I'd better get the hoover out and change all the bedding - again.
Hoping it's not bed bugs , they seem worse

Photo of DC's bites

Can you get your dog to sit down and go through their fur with a nit comb?
That's what I did with our kitten (although probably a lot easier to do!) I had a dish with soapy water in and combed her and put the fleas in the water. It was strangely satisfying!!!

You still need to spray with Indorex and vacuum though, to break the cycle.
Is your dog up to date with its flea treatment?

If they bites are in a line ,could be bed bugs? Foe some reason they seem to prefer biting women rather then men. Check your mattres amd under mattress.

We spent a week in a holiday flat in Keswick. No dogs allowed whatsoever. Spent an evening sitting on a hearth rug. Next day 32 bites in one knee. Cat, dog, human fleas, they all love me. DH wasn't bitten. You may just be one of those people they love.

It's fleas. Get indorex. Don't waste your time with anything else

I've read they prefer women as our body temp is a bit higher?
So when given the choice they'll feast on us. Now ex lives alone he gets bitten all the time!
Surprisingly my kids get spared at both places even though you'd think they'd be easier to bite.

The bites on your dc look different to the ones you have.
Are they more similar in reality @Flyfodder ?

Yep the only thing that gets rid of the little gits! I was covered in bites, ds had a few DH none. He doesn't get bitten by midgies or mosquitoes either 😡