thread: Not really "medical" as such but mozzie bites!!

  1. #1
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    Not really "medical" as such but mozzie bites!!

    Poor Isla is really getting eaten alive up here in cairns. I can't work out how or why she is so badly bitten by mozzies. Her legs look like she is getting over a bad dose of chickenpox!

    But the thing is, Im not seeing her get bitten. I assume it mozzies, we have a really bad mozzie issue around the house. If she goes outside I spray her with repellent. I don't let her outside around the house pretty much ever & especially not in the evenings. The house is pretty mozzie proof but im sure 1 or 2 get in but I don't understand why she is getting them so bad.

    So my question is how the hell do I sooth the itch for her. She isn;t at them all the time but she will sit & kinda pick at 1 with out realising. I have put some of that itch stop cream & it doesn't help. I have put vit e oil on the older ones to help them heal & it did nothing noticeable.

    The spots come up like any normal mozzie bite. With the red blemish to the skin. BUT then they look like a little hard raised white spot & then it stays like that & then goes red & scabs. But they don't seem to move past that. She has had these marks for WEEKS.

    I need a magical solution!

  2. #2

    Jun 2010
    District Twelve
    8,425

    Fiona

    My DD is allergic to mozzie bites and has been on antibiotics four times in the past year due to them (they turn into boil-like things)

    The best thing is to give your little one an antihistamine. Something like Zyrtec for Children, or Telfast or Aerius. They are all available in a suspension liquid from chemist and they are the only thing that really works.

    Good luck!!

    n2l

  3. #3
    2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Mar 2008
    Vic
    4,806

    I get eaten alive by them too. I've only just invested in stingoes, but haven't tried it yet. Not sure how you'd go with a child, but I've always put a splash of aftershave in the spot if it gets itchy. Stops the itch after about 20 seconds. DH now keeps el-cheapo bottles of aftershave for me

  4. #4
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    I'll take a photo of her legs. They aren't bad as in "sore & infected looking" but just lots of red / white spots. She has them on her arms & her back. She doesn't complain about them they just look terrible.
    I wonder if the antihistamine would help with the older spots?

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Apr 2007
    Gold Coast
    795

    My brother was a magnet to mozzies - i think my mum use to put calamine lotion on them.

    I was just googling cures and found a few other natural remedies:-

    * Take a knob off the garlic and cut in half. Rub the garlic onto the mosquito bites
    * Use any of the following to help the itch of a mosquito bite. Aloe vera, neem fruit juice, lime juice or lemon juice. Use the flesh of the aloe vera, squeeze the juice from the lime, lemon or neem fruit and simply apply to the bites
    * Mix enough baking soda with plane water to make a paste consistency. Rub the paste over the mosquito bites
    * When you eat your banana's keep the skins in the freezer. Whenever you or someone you know gets mozzie bites just rub the bits with the inside of the banana peel

    I've also heard they are less likely to bite those with more vitamin B in there system - I know we use to take vitamin B tablets if we went somewhere on holidays with mozzies - like camping etc

    Hope this helps and you find some relief for her soon.

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    Login | Facebook

    See if that works to see what i am talking about

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    The Hawkesbury
    4,505

    Calamine lotion! Both DS and i are mozzie magnets! And for me, while pregnant with DD2, i got a bad reaction every time i was bitten (bites would be VERY itchy and painful for days causing swelling and would end but turning dark purple!).. but anyway, the only thing that would sooth the itch was calamine lotion. Just dab it on with some cotton wool. You can also give her a kids antihistamine which will also help too.

  8. #8
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    They don't seem that itchy though. thats the thing. she seems to pick at 1 while not realising but I think its more "its something to pick at" not its itchy KWIM?

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Feb 2007
    In the jungle.
    4,809

    FJ unless they are red, and inflamed i'd be hesitant to give antihistamines. They are an excellent medication when required, but not something i'd just give unless it was needed.

    She does have a lot of spots. Poor little thing. I use stingoes, or stopitch, calamine is great too. Have you looked into a natural insect repellant that she can safely wear every day?

    Does anyone else have bites? Could it possibly be something in her bed if she's the only one with them?

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    its just her like that. I did start to wonder if it was in her bed. But All the sheets are washed & changed regularly & she slept in my bed last night & still looked to have more.
    Im goign to head to the chemist soon & see what they can suggest.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Feb 2007
    In the jungle.
    4,809

    they look a bit like midge (sp?) bites. Those tiny bugs you can't see that wee on the skin and cause a small red lump. Does she crawl in the grass or sand more than the others?

  12. #12
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    You know midge bites could explain it... She isn't outside much at all but we probably get those more iside then mozzies & it would explain why I don't SEE the mozzies she is apparently getting bitten by.

    Most of the spots came out after cyclone Yassi when they were out in the yard cleaning up. Everyone one got a good dose of mozzie bites. Hers just never seem to heal & that was a month & half ago.
    hmmmmmmmmm

  13. #13
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    Im thinking its midge bits now. Just googling & other peoples experiences & descriptions sounds spot on!

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Victoria
    507

    I use an essential oil mix of organic lavender and tea tree on our family bites especially DS as he seems to be really sensitive to them. I was hesitate but it really works, I use it on mine as well now and it really doesa take the itch and sting away. I am sure it would be fine for midge bites as well..

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Add Rach75 on Facebook

    Oct 2005
    Moura, QLD, Australia
    3,754

    i was going to say dab tea tree oil on them

    • Closely mown lawns, sparse vegetation around your house and minimal surface water in the garden will decrease humidity, increase air movement so as to minimise the resting places for midges.
    • Avoid gardening or watering in the afternoon and early morning.
    • Increase air movement in the house by using electric fans can effectively create an area unsuitable for Biting Midges as their activity reduces in wind speeds over six (6) to eight (8) kilometres per hour.
    • Spraying residual (surface) insecticide on your flyscreens will help deter midges from entering your home.
    • Burning mosquito coils inside can also reduce numbers.
    • Most insect repellents are effective against midges and should be used whenever you are outside the house, alternatively an equal part mixture of baby oil, Dettol and Eucalyptus oil is useful. this works and helps my hubby who sufferes badly
    • Long sleeve shorts and long trousers made of closely woven materials give good protection; when gardening, a hat and gloves are also a big help.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    Springvale South, Melbourne
    2,826

    That looks like Olivias legs at the moment and we are down here in Melbourne. She is a magnet for them. Her and her sister were sitting next to each other on the lounge when a mozzie bit her 17 times and did not touch her sister. What happens with Liv is that she scratches them hard and picks at them, sometimes not even realising it. With her bites she initially has the large red lump then it goes quickly and leaves a smaller lump..... which gets scratched.
    I use stingose on her, although she doesnt like it. I want to find a plant to put outside the doors for a natural repellant.

  17. #17
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    i was going to say dab tea tree oil on them

    • Closely mown lawns, sparse vegetation around your house and minimal surface water in the garden will decrease humidity, increase air movement so as to minimise the resting places for midges.
    • Avoid gardening or watering in the afternoon and early morning.
    • Increase air movement in the house by using electric fans can effectively create an area unsuitable for Biting Midges as their activity reduces in wind speeds over six (6) to eight (8) kilometres per hour.
    • Spraying residual (surface) insecticide on your flyscreens will help deter midges from entering your home.
    • Burning mosquito coils inside can also reduce numbers.
    • Most insect repellents are effective against midges and should be used whenever you are outside the house, alternatively an equal part mixture of baby oil, Dettol and Eucalyptus oil is useful. this works and helps my hubby who sufferes badly
    • Long sleeve shorts and long trousers made of closely woven materials give good protection; when gardening, a hat and gloves are also a big help.
    Thanks for that. Some great tips. I will spray the fly screens later today. We have the fans on all the time.
    Unfortantly we have a very "tropical" back yard with a ridiculous amount of palm trees which wouldn't be helping to keep the place "airy".
    I have mozzie coils but try to avoid using them too much as they make me sneeze & I suspect add to my DS who sufferes from random nose bleeds. I think they irritate him & set them off. They share a room & I can't swap the kids around as the 2 older boys can NOT be in the same room at night.

    But yeah will get some baby oil & make up the mix & see how we go.