Name: Mary Ann
Troy, PA
Number of kids: 1
Ages of kids: 3.5
Problem: Doctors say that my son is allergic to mosquito bites. He gets the bites all over his body like he has the chicken pox. (he had those already) Every bites turns into a water blister and eventually breaks causing a large sore. I keep him on Benedryl for the itching and caladryl lotion helps to dry the blisters up. However, "Off" and "Skintastic" do absolutely nothing to prevent this. We live in the country and stay inside when we know the bugs are out. He never swats at them and we never see them. He just breaks out a few hours later and then it's too late to take him inside. Does anyone have any ideas for me? This morning I counted over 30 bites and more were breaking out by the hour.
Solution submitted by Mimi from DeBary, FL: Our solution to the blisters that look like chickenpox and marks remain for approximately one month is to spray the lawn and yard area with Dursban. Also to remove clothes and DEET prior to going outside helps. Information obtained from searching the web on chigger bites was very informative. Chiggers are in the soil, not necessarily in grassy areas. Using these methods have considerably reduced the incidence of bites and reactions to them.
Editor's Note: Be very careful when using any pesticides, especially one as strong as Dursban. I believe no one should be allowed to play on the lawn if you spray it with any chemicals, please check the instructions carefully.
Another solution submitted by Jan from Springfield, MO: My husband also gets blisters in the summertime when mowing the yard. He has found using Skin-So-Soft (an Avon product) helps if he uses before going out. I believe he is allergic to chiggers. My son and I also get chigger bites in the summertime, but ours don't turn into blisters. I usually spray my son's shoes before he goes out, but he still gets them from sitting in the grass and brushing up against tall weeds. Chiggers bite where clothing rubs (groin, sock area). You might try rubbing the Skin-So-Soft on his ankles before he goes out to play. Good Luck!
Another solution submitted by "Hera" from Richland, TX: I'm not sure if you have done this yet, but maybe you could take your child to a dermatologist. My son is allergic to mosquito bites, but he has not had so many at a time. There might be something else to it.