Why oh WHY am I the only person in the Inferiority Complex covered in insect bites?

[motherinfestivemood]

Rather embarrassingly (but hey, I've admitted so many embarrassing things on Mumsnet), I am covered in bites. And they're spreading - I found some behind my knee this morning. I blame the cat - I've got to blame someone, dammit - but the fact is that the inferiorettes (to my relief) and their dad (rather gallingly) all remain unblemished. I feel like a medieval leper. Is there anything I can do to root them out and track them down, apart from de-fleaing the cat? Is it in fact scabies, or a plague of boils, or something? Will it pass, or will I become one revolting morass recognisable at the Mumsnet party by my hooded cloak and tinkling bell? Should I - horror - go to the doctor?

You didn't look very chewed up at the party on Saturday MI, but obviously I was not inspecting your bosoms. Flea bites come and go FAST IME so I think you do need to get this checked out. If it transpires you have developed an allergy to your usual shower gel/body lotion, for example, this will give your dp sufficient notice to join the enormous queue outside the City branch of Jo Malone

So you think I should shuffle to the doc's as well as the pharmacist?

Try the pharmacist first, maybe?

Maybe try pharmacist first, if you know a good one. But I'd phone the docs, personally.

And then pitch a story to the Guardian's health page

I shall shuffle out to the pharmacist, and take it from there. Sorry to whinge. At least it's not summer. And at least I don't work at the Spectator so am under no work-related pressure to remove my thermal vest in company any time soon

So what did the pharmacist say? If it's virulent fleas, could you pop a few in an envelope so I can secrete them in the spare beds?

The pharmacist - a total sweetie, who gasped gratifyingly at the marks - said it looked like bites, either fleas or (horror) bed-bugs, and suggested an anti-histamine just to control my reaction to the bites (obviously they don't bother D sodding P at all). DP has zapped every surface in our house, plus the wretched mog, and I am also smothered in witch hazel and suchlike. The hairdresser (on a rare and prized outing today) asked me today if I get excema .

It'll all be over by Christmas. Won't it?

Am I the only one scatching involuntarily as I read this thread ???

Oh, the sympathy I feel, as I sit here scratching my legs to blood.

IIWY I'd be grateful it is just you at the mo'. It was jsut me for ages (and I ignored it - many more things ot worry about with new babe). However, Dd got two on her face one night. Mentioned it to GP who I happened to be taking her to on anothe matter.

GP: Have you had any bites?
Me: Oh yes. Hundereds. all up my legs.
GP: horror get rid of the cats
Me: but they're family... last time they had fleas I sparyed insectiside on the soft furnishings..
GP: Nooooo!!!! Delicate lungs!!

Not that I was going to spray the furniture, but no idea what else to do. Have been ignoring the problem...

BED-BUGS???

DS2 keeps getting bitten in bed and we haven't got any cats - the notion of bedbugs has flitted across my consciousness a couple of times and I have swatted it away...could it be? But where do bedbugs come from?

(He has pet snake in room and tank has some funny little flies in it...don't feel I can spray them in case it chokes snake...should get rid of snake maybe?)

MI, i got savaged by bed bugs earlier this year, they're bloody rife in earls court

had to take anti histamines

i must say, i wondered if it was bed bugs rather than fleas because i thought that fleas tend to bite around the feet and ankles primarily whereas bed bugs attack all over

bastard things

oops sorry janh, only just saw your post - tell tale signs of bedbugs are spots or smears of blood on the bedding

they lurk in nooks and crannies e.g. skirting boards

i think they are becoming more widespread because of this ere global warming

as i say, they're rife in parts of london, but not sure about other parts ...

get a zanta or zanza click (can't remember quite how spelt sorry) from Boots.

It's a green plastic thing about 2 inches long with a black button. You put it over the bite and press the button 10 times. It works by removing the itch/scratch/itch cycle and so decreases healing time. It's drug free and so can be used with everything you are currently using and also through clothing.

I always get bitten and have a tendency to wind up in hospital with cellulitis if I scratch so it's been a godsend to me.

Douse the house, esp. carpets, with salt. Leave a few days & hoover up. Relatively environmentally 'safe' way to get rid of flea larvae. Vaccuuming a lot in general also helps to control.
Fleas are widespread where I grew up, and I'm allergic (come up in welts).
Wash everything in 60 degrees to cut down on bedbug eggs/babies (blech).

Have checked in my drawer, it's a zanza click.

Buy frontline from the vet. Drops on back of cats neck every 3 months(I think) means that any fleas already around that land on the cat die, and can't lay eggs, so no more fleas breeding in your house. I do find, however, that if we're a bit late putting the stuff on, and cats already have fleas, I get bitten a few times before the blighters die off.
But a small price to pay for generally not having scratching cats all over the place and finding those horrible eggs and droppings wherever they kip. Yuk yuk yuk yuk. Am itching now....

Poor MI, how miserable. Bloody fleas/bugs.
Get your cat to the vet for six-monthly flea jabs.
from a safe distance

Oh dear. If there was a 'grovelling to the cat' emoticon I would insert it here. After nuking the house, the cat, our lungs and incidentally our wallets had no effect, combined with a cat-owning friend's views that 'those are NOT fleabites' and yet another itchyscratchy awakening at 4am (any time I'm rude about my partner, remind me that he did in fact go and get the witch hazel and dab it on every single red patch in the small hours)...I went to the doctor today. Who took one look and said Aha, classic case of Polysyllabic Rash Whose Name I Do Not At This Moment Fully Recall, that the bad news is there's nothing they can do bar topical steroid cream and/or antihistamines (I went for both) but that it will go away in a few weeks' time.

So I think I owe the pusscat a Christmas mouse.

Oh blimey. Well at least you know what it is I spose.

at least your house is definitely flea-free MI . hope the itchiness goes soon.

Hey and that would explain why it was just you then, it's a Pox!

wishing you a soothing, calm Christmas then!