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Bug bites from MP

Mexico City, Mexico
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113 posts
23 reviews
103 helpful votes
Bug bites from MP
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I went to Peru in May, and I was attacked by bugs (sand flies?) while I was at MP. I went to the doctor's about a month after getting back to the US because they were still itching like mad. Unfortunately, they had no suggestions for me.

It has now been over 4 months and my bug bites are still visible, itchy, etc. Has this happened to anyone else? I think I might go back to the doctors because I feel like this is not normal!!

514 replies to this topic
Vancouver, Canada
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130 posts
55 reviews
44 helpful votes
1. Re: Bug bites from MP
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Brouhaha

I can't give you any advice (except cover the bites with a paste of baking soda and water to alleviate the itch) but thanks for the heads up to take deet to MP as we are going to MP in a week.

Patricia

Fox Island...
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611 posts
16 reviews
21 helpful votes
2. Re: Bug bites from MP
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It sounds like you might have chiggers.

louisville, ky
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129 posts
3 reviews
13 helpful votes
3. Re: Bug bites from MP
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The same thing happened to my mother and I after returning to the States from Peru, and the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu. We both had a flare up of small bites all over our arms and legs about a month after returning.

While I was at MP, I wore shorts and no protection, at one point I looked down and my legs were bleeding from the bites. I concluded that my clothes and stuff must have gotten infested.

My doctor was not much help either.

I washed everything including bed clothes in hot hot water, as they seemed to happen overnight in bed.

I covered the bites in clear fingernail polish, as this is supposed to kill the bugs (I forget what they were exactly). Finally, after another month they seemed to go away.

It was quite odd and scary, as I thought these things were laying eggs in my bed and clothes, but I have been fine since then. Good luck.

Yorktown, Virginia
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6,183 posts
13 reviews
8 helpful votes
4. Re: Bug bites from MP
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Wonder if it could be bedbugs or similar? These are supposedly getting more & more common, even from nice hotels in US.

Prescott, Arizona
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349 posts
77 reviews
70 helpful votes
5. Re: Bug bites from MP
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We've been to MP twice. The first time, we didn't have any problems, but we did wear deet protection and cover-up clothing. The second time, we didn't use any deet... only cover-up clothing. My wife had no problems at all. However, I did get several bites on my hands.... similar to those described above. I believe the bites resulted from resting my hands on the dirt for several minutes while trying to steady my camera for a telephoto shot.

I used Afterbite for the itching.

Prescott, Arizona
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349 posts
77 reviews
70 helpful votes
6. Re: Bug bites from MP
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PS: I always carry Afterbite in my pocket while traveling, and recommend the same for everyone traveling where there are bugs.

Newport, Oregon
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16 posts
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
7. Re: Bug bites from MP
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My remedy is Cortizone 10 creme. Apply thickly when going to bed to avoid scratching. I also take a pseudofed-type antihistamine for allergic itching. I have adopted this routine after years of trekking around Belize and Indonesia on SCUBA trips where no-see-ums are common.

I just returned from 6 days in MP, Sacred Valley, Quillabamba (coffee jungle terrain) and 5 days at Posada Amazonas in the Tambopata River area (awesome!).

My wife and I had Ex-officio Buzz Off hat, pants and longsleeve shirt the whole time. I also used 100% DEET around ankles, waist, neck and arms when going into thick jungle treks.

This probably sounds "overdone" but it was very successful!

The one time I let down my guard was the morning we left Puerto Maldonado. I did not apply DEET to my arms and hands and noticed around 7 in the morning during breakfast that something was biting my wrists. Sure enough by the time I got home, there are about 6 tiny but itchy whelps. Not bad though considering the exposure I had been through!

Hope this helps

John

8. Re: Bug bites from MP

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new york
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796 posts
1 review
9. Re: Bug bites from MP
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Thanks to all for the info. I will be going to MP and the Sacred Valley in early September.

I'm still not 100% sure - are the bites at MP or in the hotels in the area (while sleeping)?

Thanks.

10. Re: Bug bites from MP

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