Insect bites - advice needed.

[Mazzledazzle]

I am at my wit's end! DD is 5 and is covered in what appear to be bites - a big red bump surrounded by blotchy skin, which she itches until it bleeds. I've tried all manner of repellents and creams for the bites. Have stripped her bed, hoovered, sprayed and smoke bombed her room, but every morning without fail she has more bites. No one else in the house is getting bitten. Now that winter is upon us, she's wearing much more clothes, but that isn't helping either. She scratches herself so badly I'm worried she'll be left with permanent scars. Anyone experienced anything similar?

Oh dear, that sounds awful. I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I wonder whether it would be worth putting her in another room for - say - a week, and see if it carries on? This might at least show whether or not it is a bed/bedroom specific problem. Only step one, but still...

How long has it been going on? You are sure they are bites and not a rash?

Yes. 3 of my dc had these blotchy looking bite things on them.
They were itchy. But not to the extent you mention. I done what you did, and it still happened.

I immediately thought it was my cats - having fleas. But they had been frontlined, they didnt appear to have any. I frontlined them again and it still continued. In the end, the only thing i could think of was my soap powder. I had changed that.

But, maybe, it could have had something to do with the weather?
I dont know.
They went after a few weeks (coming and going), and thankfully havent returned.

Still baffles me.

It's been going on for months. When the warm weather started, we were all getting bitten, but the rest of the family only mildly.

I could put her in the toy room for a while, baggyoldcow. It's with a try. Someone in RL suggested that its not the bites, but her reaction to them that's the problem. Did take her to the doctor's, but they weren't really interested.

I have cats too wontletmesignin - but they've been treated.

I wonder if it is the weather then?
Yes, there is no harm in trying the other room. If she will settle ok anyway.

Does she have sensitive skin? I have found that all my boys do, and it is my boys that were affected.
My dd doesnt have sensitive skin. But she is also in a different room.

Strange

If you move her do update us! I'm really curious. Poor girl.

Do they appear in a line or a circle? Carpet beetles lay eggs on clothes and only some people are sensitive. In our house it was me. They looked and itched like mozzie bites.

So obviously the 'bites' are under clothes. The source in our case was the room I was drying clothes.

So last night she slept in my bed with me - 2 new bites! My husband slept in her bed and he didn't get bitten.

She does have sensitive skin - allergy to regular plasters and certain foods bring her out in a mild rash.

I wouldn't say the bites are in a line or circle, they seem to be randomly all over her body. I'll look closer though to double check. The thought that our house may be infected with something is gross! Brettgirl2, how did you discover the carpet beetles?

My kids were the same. Just one red rounded blotchy thing planted randomly around the body.

I dont dry clothes in any of their rooms. Only downstairs. It definitely seemed to only occur during the night.

I really want to know what they were.

It does seem to point toward it at least having something to do with sensitive skin.
The question now, is what!?

Googled carpet beetles and I must say, the bites look exactly like the ones on my daughter! On the other hand, presumably many insect bites look similar.

Contemplating getting in pest control to take a look and see if they can find anything.

I was about the whole thing so dh got rentokil in. It's not the cheapest option though. In our case they got in via a window by a birds nest.

The only thing is that if only one in 4 people is sensitive I guess other households could have them for years and not even know.

Hmm that is possibly what mine were then! But what would explain them stopping?

Unless mine was simply down to change in washing powder.

going to hoover frantically upstairs

Maybe bedbugs and I agree get Rentokil in

I remember reading or seeing on TV somewhere that only 40% of people react to bedbug bites

going to wash bedding on a hot wash

Its funny as i was looking up on washing bedding today, wondering the best setting.

I always wash on 40, but read that that doesnt kill bed bugs! At least a 60 is needed so i will be doing that today.
Even still...what would explain thm stopping now

Yes it would seem that some people have severe reactions to bites, whereas the rest of us are prob. getting bitten and not reacting at all. I have checked all mattresses and can't see any bugs, but can see a few tiny black specks - they could be anything though! However my DD's bed does have a speckled, stained patch near the bottom corner that def. wasn't there before and matches with google pictures of bed bug stains. Thank goodness for the internet, could not face the shame of asking anyone about this RL.

What did she bring with her from her room when she slept in yours? I presume pjs/nightie, cuddly toy, pillow?

I wonder if whatever it is is living in the seams of her pjs or pillow etc & surviving the w/machine? Perhaps try soaking her night clothes to see?

I would get a washing up bowl (or even a large pan or bucket), fill with really hot water & a squirt each of baby oil (anything mineral oil based) & washing up liquid, then l'd just leave them to soak for at least 6 to 8 hours (or even overnight - the longer the better). Then wring out the pjs (over the w/up bowl) & chuck into w/machine. Arm yourself with a magnifying glass & spoon to go "fishing" in the w/up bowl!

I'd be looking for anything with legs or perhaps anything that could be an egg. You could have a plate/ice cream lid nearby to chuck anything you might find on to have a proper look at/take to be identified.

I would do this with her nightwear/underwear for the next week or so, just to be certain.

Also the heat from the tumble dryer will kill insects - so you could just chuck her duvet/pillows/cushions in the dryer for a while - no need to wash first even- but obviously keep a close eye that things don't get so hot that they burn. Might be an idea to check the fluff screen thing after to see if there's anything with legs there too!

Anything that isn't suitable for the tumble dryer(cuddly toys) could be bagged & put into the freezer for a week or two.

The black specks that you've found in her bed could be nothing, or could be poop from whatever is biting her. I would collect it & look at it through a magnifying glass to try to determine what it is.

I would spray the entire house with Indorex

www.petmeds.co.uk/p-3454-indorex-household-flea-spray.aspx

The active ingredient in Indorex is Permethrin, which a quick google says is also effective against bedbugs(but suspect that you might need professional help as well if you have b/bugs). Don't forget to leave open wardrobe doors/drawers/airing cupboards before spraying.

Also, after years & years of using Frontline on my dogs, this year I've changed to Advantage. Their blurb promises to kill 99% of fleas within 24/48 hours. A quick look on pet meds shows that they do a cat version as well - so might be worth trying.

www.petmeds.co.uk/nsearch2.aspx?keywords=advantage+flea+cat

Hands up - I confess to being OTT!