Red marks and itching like crazy!

[Blyish]

I've been in Thailand for three days and I'm covered in little red marks (actually, they're not that little; they're about the same diameter as a pencil rubber) and itching like crazy. At first I thought they were mosquitos bites but today I found a few in places that are covered by clothes. For example, I found a couple on my gluts (no joke), which means the mosquitoes would've had to get through my shorts and my underwear to bite me. Also, they weren't there when I woke up and I've been sitting working in the computer all morning, so I have no idea how they could've bit me there.

Am I missing something? I've had chicken pox and every other childhood illness, so that can't be it. The marks are mostly on my legs (and now my gluts) and a couple on one arm. The itching is driving me absolutely crazy and bug spray is making no difference --I have lots more red marks today than I did yesterday. Anybody experienced this? Could I be allergic to something here?

[PeteC]

I don't know where to begin; bed bugs, jiggers, reaction to the local water you're showering in or swimming in, local soap you're using, reaction to some kind of food you're eating...on and on. I think best to find a doctor in the AM tomorrow who knows something about dermatology. Hopefully someone local knows of a doctor and will advise on here in due course. Pete

[chopsticks]

Ants ?

Bed-bugs ?

Try allergy test or just wait to see if you become more hardened after some days or weeks.

[Blyish]

Thanks. If anybody knows of a good dermatologist, please pass the info along.

[Blyish]

Yeah, I'm afraid it might be bed bugs, in which case there isn't much to do but move.

[PeteC]

Don't rule out ants as Chops mentions. They have a very tiny type here that you can hardly see and if they're on a dark surface, you can't see them at all. If you have crumbs around at night near the bed it could be them biting. Depends on your system. When I get some, it just itches for a few minutes and no mark. When my daughter gets into some, bumps and bad itching. Pete

[Blyish]

I went to the pharmacy yesterday and they gave me a cream to treat skin inflammation. I've been applying it like crazy on the marks and they look less red today. Some of them itch less, some of them exactly the same. And I have new ones.

[PeteC]

Here's some bed bug bite photos to see if they match what you have. Pete

http://hotels.about.com/od/hotelsecrets ... bug-Bites/

http://bedbugger.com/bed-bug-bites-photos/

[Blyish]

I'm not allergic to anything (that I know of) and rarely have reactions to something. I've lived in a few countries and never had any problems adapting to the change. Unless there's some kind of bug here. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

[caller]

Ouch!

Those photos remind me of the aftermath of a 3 night stay at the Phimai Hotel in, er, Phimai - avoid.

I also had similar back in December to one localised area of my lower leg after a 7-hour bus journey from Korat, I put that down to ants as I don't want to put it down to the subsequent one-night stay at the Baan Jed Pee Nong hotel.

I sympathise!

[Blyish]

Bites look very similar to the ones on website #2. I'll check the mattress to see if I can see any track of them. I have another bedroom in the house. I can try sleeping there tonight to see if it makes a difference. Although I suspect that if they're bed bugs, they will be all over the house.

[PeteC]

There's a trick I've seen used if the bed frame type allows it. Get four jar lids or similar, like that from a mayo jar, and put one under each bed leg, then fill with water. The bed leg can't be touching the side of the container though, just in the center with water around it. I've been told it works given that the mattress is not totally infested, as like you say they seem to travel around the house and not stay in one place. Pete

[Blyish]

Only one of the beds actually has legs. THe other one is a solid frame. I'll give it a try, although aren't I providing a perfec breeding ground for mosquitoes that way?

[chopsticks]

Just go to a local shop and buy a few aerosols to spray everywhere - if it's still available, get something containing DDT as it's very effective.
If you want to do a thorough job try foggers and smoke pellets, then go out for a few hours or, if you're staying in a hotel or guest house, just move on.
Internet cafe's or shops are good places to get bitten on ankles and legs as they never seem to clean at the back and underneath the desks or tables where all the cables are on the floor and lots of wildlife can hide.

[Blyish]

I have a cat, so DDT is not an option. Maybe I can find a less toxic spray to use on the mattress. I can always close that bedroom and sleep on another bed for a couple of days, until the smell dissipates. As luck would have it, that one is the best mattress in the house.

Rent is paid through July 5th, so I don't want to lose the place and have to pay twice. I doubt the owners will go along with giving the money back.

I'm not discounting the ant option. I've been working out of my couch and I found crumbs there, so I cleaned them up and will see if that makes any difference.