UKC

Delayed reaction to midge bites normal??

New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
 Flicka 10 Jun 2009
Went climbing on Monday and got duly midge attacked throughout the day. (I WILL remember the deet next time...!) But didn't seem to react too badly to them, so all good.

Then, this evening (seemingly activated by a hot shower??) the bites have come up in force, my arms look like they have measles and they are itchy and some of the bites have swollen up a bit. Is it normal for there to be a delay between the biting and the reaction like this? Just wondering!!
 brieflyback 10 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka:

Not completely surprising to have a delayed reaction. My wife's bites generally turn nasty 24 hours or more later.

Take a decent dose of antihistamine and wear something long sleeved to stop you scratching in your sleep.
 biscuit 10 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka:

always gets me the next day. They inject an anaesthetic type substance with their bite that stops you feeling it. I guess this also stops the body reacting immediately.
OP Flicka 10 Jun 2009
In reply to biscuit:

Aaah! Makes sense!
Little buggers.
 jonny taylor 10 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka:
I find I don't react too badly _until_ they get irritated in some way (such as clothing rubbing), at which point they go crazy. My recommendations:
Eurax HC cream - antihistamine and hydrocortisone which takes the edge off them
Antihistamine (hayfever) tablet before bed to stop me scratching in my sleep
In reply to Flicka:

Yes, for me they always get worse about a day or two later, when they turn into dark purple spots.
 Ann S 10 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka:

we climb on Monday nights and I usually start scratching from 2.00pm Tuesday. You'll get a chance to test this out if you're at the BMC lakes Festival in Duddon valley this weekend. Last year they were ferocious so bring a midge net-you have been warned.
Removed User 10 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka:

I don't react to midge bites but I got savaged by sandflies in NZ - they swelled up horribly a day later and I looked like I had a syndrome. I found witch hazel gel worked a treat in reducing the swelling and itching.
 snailonvalium 10 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka: glad im not the only one!!
 Banned User 77 10 Jun 2009
In reply to Removed User: I was the same, my wife reacts similar to midges here, I guess like us over in NZ, Flicka and my wife are naieve tio midge bites and have some over reaction to them. I got attacked by mozzies last night running around a lake in Northern Germany and have got welts tonight.
 Duane 11 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka:
yeh midge bites can take over a week sometimes. after one vicious attack a few years ago at the roaches, my legs were roar for about three weeks, as they slowly started appearing everyday in that time.
nasty.
 JohnnyW 11 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka:
Yep, me too. After years of not even being marked by them, my body finally said f**k it, and now they really itch a few days later, for a week at a time.
When you live on a moor, the b******s are a fact of everyday life, not just climbing unfortunately - getting in the car on a still grey morning is hell, and as for mowing the grass..........!
 CurlyStevo 11 Jun 2009
In reply to biscuit:
> (In reply to Flicka)
>
> always gets me the next day. They inject an anaesthetic type substance with their bite that stops you feeling it. I guess this also stops the body reacting immediately.


Pretty sure that's not the case and that midges don't have anaesthetic. That's why it hurt from the off.

http://www.pete-smith.co.uk/midges.html
http://www.stevecarter.com/ansh/midge.htm
 Banned User 77 11 Jun 2009
In reply to CurlyStevo: Anasethetic also only prevents you from feeling the pain, not reacting to it.

The delayed reaction is our bodies natural immune response, some people are more sensitive to midge bites and over react, I over react to mozzie bites, but midge bites dissapear immediately.
 CurlyStevo 11 Jun 2009
In reply to IainRUK:
pretty sure I can feel midges bite straight away whilst mossies I don't.

If you google about I think you'll find mossies are more advanced and inject Anasethetic whilst midges don't

 SouthernSteve 11 Jun 2009
In reply to Flicka:

There are two phases of response that can occur, immediate (in say 20-30 minutes) in which chemicals are released and then this is usually followed by the late phase response a few hours later in which defence cells move into the area. For different immunological stimuli the balance of the two is different. Obviously there is variation in people and it is possible that there is some variation in people with age and level of exposure so it may not be a static thing.

 stonemaster 11 Jun 2009
In reply to Removed User: You may have meant blackflies... aaarrgh (makes sign of cross and runs away)....
New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
Loading Notifications...