Chigger question
 

Quickly, I know it's been posted before but I've forgotten how to rid yourself of them.

RE: Chigger question
 

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2100.html

Bites
Chigger larvae do not burrow into the skin, nor suck blood. They pierce the skin and inject into the host a salivary secretion containing powerful, digestive enzymes that break down skin cells that are ingested (tissues become liquefied and sucked up). Also, this digestive fluid causes surrounding tissues to harden, forming a straw-like feeding tube of hardened flesh (stylostome) from which further, partially-digested skin cells may be sucked out. After a larva is fully fed in four days, it drops from the host, leaving a red welt with a white, hard central area on the skin that itches severely and may later develop into dermatitis. Any welts, swelling, itching, or fever will usually develop three to six hours after exposure and may continue a week or longer. If nothing is done to relieve itching, symptoms may continue a week or more. Scratching a bite may break the skin, resulting in secondary infections. However, chiggers are not known to transmit any disease in this country.
Control Measures
Skin Care
After returning from a chigger-infested area, launder the field clothes in soapy, hot water (125°F.) for about half an hour. Infested clothes should not be worn again until they are properly laundered and/or exposed to hot sunshine. Unlaundered clothes or those laundered in cool water will contain the biting chiggers to again reinfest your skin. As soon as possible, take a good hot bath or shower and soap repeatedly. The chiggers may be dislodged, but you will still have the stylostomes, causing the severe itch. Scratching deep to remove stylostomes can cause secondary infections. For temporary relief of itching, apply ointments of benzocaine, hydrocortisone, calamine lotion, New Skin, After Bite, or others recommended by your pharmacist or medical doctor. Some use Vaseline, cold cream, baby oil, or fingernail polish. (The sooner the treatment, the better the results.)

RE: Chigger question
 

i know this is a dumb question but i dont know for sure and would like to know. are chiggers little red spider looking things?? i had something like that on my front porch for a short while and if you stepped on one your foot would have that same color little red dot in it.

RE: Chigger question
 

I'm covered with those little suckers right now, pure hell is what it is. In the past I've tried every remedy but none help get rid of them, they just mask the excrutiating agony for a little while [:@]. You sure won't find this in any manual, but I scrape them with a knife then put bleach on it. Sure it burns like fire, but it feels oh so good :D

RE: Chigger question
 

Rick--I just went through the worst chigger bites in my life 3 weeks ago. They were terrible. Here is what helps. Take a hot shower and scrub with soap all over the places you have been bit. You don't "rid" yourself of chiggers, they have already bitten you and fallen off. A couple of things that will take care of the itch that I used this time.

1) Any antifungal cream for foot fungus or jock itch.

2) Sounds gross but any "womans" product (yeast infection) that takes away the itch downstairs.

Those two things will keep you from itching like crazy. Just make sure that you take a hot shower before applying each time. That will do it.

RE: Chigger question
 

nail polish

RE: Chigger question
 

I got a great chigger fix. SALT WATER! I found this by accident when I went up to the property and the next day took my kid and wife to the beach. We played in the surf for about 2 hours and lo and behold the itching stopped. I mean it even stopped that night. Since that time I try to do a little wade fishing after going hunting but if I can not I go and get 2 five gallon buckets of sea water and soak the legs while watching TV. It really seems to work for me.

RE: Chigger question
 

Whisky, Bowie knife and a pice of leather to bite down on!

RE: Chigger question
 

Chiggers? Only something I've heard of. Iknow nothing about them, other than you don't want to get them. I don't even know what kind of enviornment they prefer. I don't know if their even in my woods.[&:]Can they even be seen with the naked eye?:eek:Let's hear it.

RE: Chigger question
 

LOL:D....the wire brush feels nice too.

I get them every year, andall summer long. I've actually got used to them now....just let-em eat, and deal with the agony.

...although if you take preventative measures and spray permanone all over your boots and pantlegs as well as duct taping your jean openings to your boots, you will avoid 90% of them.

RE: Chigger question
 

We're used to them down here. For the most part you just watch where you step. If your in a really thick shady grass (like crab grass) area you can bet they will be hiding out for you. Or a wet thick grassy area (like near a pond) Make sure you wear long pants and keep them tight around the ankles of your boots. If they do get in it's all over. They prefer the crotch area. Once you've been bitten there isn't much you can do but wait it out. The trick is to not get eaten.

RE: Chigger question
 

I like to use a solid piece of ice and freeze em as soon as they start to itch then let it air dry and use nail polish or if your really tough and want to dry them up fast nail polish remover.

RE: Chigger question
 

There was a convicted murderer who escaped from the prison in southeastern OK, he was hidden in the woods for 3 days in August and they couldn't find him no matter how hard they tried. Finally, he gives himself up and they ask him if it was the intense manhunt that made him come to his senses and he replied, 'No it was those #%@! chiggers, I just couldn't take anymore!' That's how bad they are.

RE: Chigger question
 

If you wear your scent-loc, after it's been washed in UV eliminating soap, tuck your pant legs into your dream season boots and spray down with scent killer before going into the woods they won't be able to see you, smell you or bite you. [8D]

RE: Chigger question
 

I always wipe the bitten area with ammonia. It burns for a bit and then sweet relief! Have you ever seen a product in stores called the "Afterbite Stick"? Its active ingredient is ammonia.

RE: Chigger question
 

I've always used bleach as soon as I got home... leave it on for a few minutes then wash off... It works. I keep a small spray bottle of it handy.

And you're right Greg, Ammonia soothes the bites.

RE: Chigger question
 

Mineral Ice that stuff works wonders on them.

RE: Chigger question
 

Your too far north so count yourself lucky.They are why I hate hunting in NC until after the first good frost. I would rather run to MD.

Bruce good post. The other remidies will also work.

RE: Chigger question
 

Well it wasn't me that had them. My daughter called and said a friend of hers son had them. I take precautions by using Peramone before entering the woods. I have almost always to the best of my knowledge got them while walking through the leaves on the forest floor. Since using Peramone I never had a return bout with them nasty devils. Thanks for the remedies, I'll pass them all alone.

RE: Chigger question
 

LOL that was a good one!

RE: Chigger question
 

I've used nail polish with good results

But they sell an item called chigarid in eckards or at least they used too, controls itch and its over in a few days

RE: Chigger question
 

i just remembered that i saw a product called chiggerX at wally world. not for sure if it works or not though.

RE: Chigger question
 

I'll submit another vote for nail polish. Most of them wifey's should have that laying around...at least I hope it's her's!!:eek:

RE: Chigger question
 

Clear nail polish worked for me!

RE: Chigger question
 

I've got about ten bites on my waist line as we speak..... I spent 3 hours saturday in waist deep grass doing a little scouting.... The rascals are driving me nuts!