Damn sandfly bites

They can be a problem there. Not to sure how to stop the itching but Bushman seems to work for prevention for us . Are they still "fogging" each evening?

Calamine lotion works for chicken pox so suspect works for insect bites as well. Plus there is sting goes.

haha I know the feeling Glenn!

Depends mate, people react differently to em but what I use is vinegar. It itches like hell for the first 5-10mins but then the itching stops. Just make sure you don’t apply it before you get in a car like I’ve done, its like driving with your legs on fire.Dont scratch em either, just have a few shots of jacks before doing this as its a bit like torture at first!

Try it, but if its still itchy after 5mins wash it off because it does go nuts with the itch, it should go fast though. It always works for me.

Cheers,
Tommo

Hi Glenn,
I agree with the vinegar, but not just any vinegar... It should be brewed Apple cider vinegar... white... not brown. Sand flies don't actually bite, they pee on you and this is whats causing the burning itch. The vinegar counteracts that as well as acting as a sort of antiseptic. The enzymes in the vinegar also help the healing. Use some cotton wool to apply the vinegar; if you have been stung severely, you may have to apply several times, AND DON'T scratch.
Hang in there, it will improve.
regards

My worst sandfly nightmare was also at Pt Smith.

Absolutely shocking.

Was at wit's end until reaching Karratha where the pharma suggested antihistamine tablets.

They worked a treat - itch resolved witin hours. We now carry same everywhere. Mind you, I still have the scritch scars.

OP rum is also good until the hangover.

Cheers hopefully.

Chemist gave us Fenezal tablets. Take 3 initially and then 2 3x a day. Sand fly bites can easily last a week.

We use eucalyptus oil in a spray can from Woolies, spray on as needed, but try not to scratch anymore after applying it, and goes quite quickly. It's worked well for us.

cheers Unc

Glenn

Go to the pharmacy and speak to the pharmacist. He will ask if you're on mediction for any other conditions ie asthma, diabetes, heart, blood pressure etc etc. Don't just take something without checking because many products are dangerous if used in conjunction with others or are dangerous if you have any of the conditions mentioned above.

The pharmacist will probably then recommend an anti histamine ...ie Phenergan etc and give you the instructions on side effects (drowsiness etc) and how many and when to take them.

Ray has reactions such as you've described to bites and has found that Phenergan plus a cream such as Dermaid 1% gives him relief.

But, its important to check with a pharmacist first just in case.

Viv

Gday Glenn

This is what we use when fishing or in the scrub, got the recipe of an ol fisherman years ago . . .

Sand fly and Mozzie Mix

1 Spray bottle, 1/3 fill with metho

Mix equal parts

Detol, Baby Oil and Citronella

Use

Put mix into 1/3 metho filled spray bottle, shake well before use, spray and rub onto exposed areas, spray and wipe hands behind head, face, through hair, wipe hands on clothes and around bum, if sitting on a mesh chair.

We also ensure that we take vitamin B, for about a week before travelling, my swambo is a pom, so have to put heavy gloves on her to stop her scratching otherwise she shreds herself, so don't scratch the bites, will only get worse and can become infected.

Haven't tried the vinegar treatment as Fred suggested, we also have one of those little zappers that we place over a bite, works good too.

Usual disclaimers etc..... . .

Oh . .

Medicinal JD, is made overseas, for overseas conditions . . .

Medicinal Bundy Rumbo is made in mozzie and sand fly country, to local conditions . . .

Cheers and good luck

The Mozzie Stuff is the best stop itch cream you can buy go to the chemist in Broome and ask for it, it's made in point sampson

There is no real solution to your problem because God made us all different so therefore what might work for you might not work for me. Try a cream called EURAX from pharmacy it's used to control; itching etc......like with scabies. Do you have any ole vera plants near you? If so brake some off and try rubbing(the juice) of that on the itchy bits or just use the ole vera cream. The best cure is prevention (not trying to be a smarty) but complete coverage of the body, don't go out on nice still days especially near sunset /sunrise (midges are prolific hunters just before sunset) the wind seems to keep them at bay & they don't like the cold (who does). Good luck and maybe even calamine lotion maybe beneficial.

i have a mate that lives in port headland that i go fishing with , we put our crab pots in then went of fishing, when we got back to the pots they were high and dry on the grey mud banks.
we had to cast our lures at the pots to get them back. i got bitten by sand flies like i had never been bitten before, my mate nothing. he takes vitamin b and eats plenty of vegemite which is why he does not get bitten (or pee'd on).
i had swollen legs and and if you were to run your hand over them it was like feeling a pineapple.
but i used isocol rubbing alchahol antiseptic. i would use some sort of antiseptic because if you are anything like me you won't be able to stop scratching and this should help to stop infections at least.

I swear by pure Lavender Oil. Stops the itch almost immediately.

Ah memories :-) Port Smith say no more!

We used the vinegar which normally does the job but not at Port Smith - we always carry an antihisamine like non-drowsy Sudafed. We have never been into taking tablets for everything but sometimes you just have to - especially if you have been to Pt Smith, nothing else seems to work. The itching and redness can last for over a week! First time we were there we didnt have the Sudafed back up and for the whole week following leaving we were suffering! I really feel for you.

While no good if walking around I've found that these ThermaCELL thingies work very well for all sorts of midges around the campsite.

Gday mate,

Hope i'm not doubling up on anyone, We came across this by accident in the topend. SWMBO was getting bitten all the time and also had a strained ankle. She put deep heat or metsal or similar on strain and itch from bites in that area vanished... We tried again on other areas like arms etc same result..

Cheers

Glenn

In 2004 I came down with Ross River Fever (RRF), and a mate on a separate trip in the NT, was hospitalizing after spending the night marooned on a mud bank where he received hundreds of midge and mozzie bites.

After returning home I was doing a bit of research on RRF, and came across the following Disease Control Bulletin released by the NT Government:

http://www.det.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3713/BitingMidge.pdf

Hope this helps.

Regards

Kim

Hi Glenn,
On a recent trip to QLD we were eaten alive by Midgies (not sure on spelling) and itched for days after. It wasn't until we got to Narrandera in NSW that we decided to do something about it! We were advised to rub a lotion called Animine ( anti-itch lotion) into the bites and take phenergan (tablet form) until the itches stopped.(About 1 or 2 tablets did it for us)

Regards Annette

If you are allergic - there is NO remedy.
I am so I fully understand your pain. I now keep a map of places I am NEVER going to visit - places with a known sandfly presence.

When I see someone with sandfly bites, I ask them where they have been - and add that place to my map.

I went to the doctor after a bad dose of bites. he prescribed an ointment and I asked for two large tubes as I was on the road at the time. Lasted for a few years and definitely helped -

The label is hard to read but it looks like - CELESTONE_M CREAM

My partner reacts badly to the midgies too and seems to get eaten alive by them here in Brisbane. He has a big tube of cream from the doctor- it's called Elocon 0.1% and contains mometasone furoate- tube says it is a topical corticosteroid.

I nabbed a bit for a mozzie bite this morning and it works pretty much straight away- excellent!

Glenn


Have you ever heard of telfast.

It is a non-drowsy anti-histermine.

I take it before going mud fishing, etc. and have no problems with sandfly bites.

There is always a packet in my patrol.



Regards

Its good to hear Pt Smith is still standing - thought is was hit by the cyclone - much damage done?
We go to Pt Smith for a couple of months May to June each year.
The only way we survive is to cover ourselves with a spray containing DEET.
Twice a day about 9 oclock and 2 oclock. At beer o'clock long sleeve shirts and pants or more DEET.
Don't muck around - spray it on like heavily - wet like spay paint.
Last year there was a young couple staying next to us. They had a little kid wandering around in nappies with no top on. This kid was imune to them and they didn't need to protect her.
Regards Dennis

You poor bugger Glenn, unless you get some of that Sandfly and Mozzie Stuff made by The Locals, you'll find those bite may continue to give you grief for up to 3 weeks!!!, especially during the night. It's fantastic stuff, I was told it would reduce the swelling and stop the itching, and it worked immediately on my bites. If you can't find it at the caravan park or visitor centre where you're at, give them a ring on 0409 840 045 or look them up on their website www.thelocals.net.au where you can buy it online. Good luck