Chiggers
Shown is a diagram of a chigger, which is barely visible to the naked eye.
(Photo provided)
Earlier this month, I ventured out to the Salem County fairgrounds to speak with people who were bringing their animals, 4H projects and displays to the Pilesgrove landmark.
I wandered through the arenas and fields enjoying the animals and warm summer day for about an hour.
Finally I found the hard-working Salem County Fair Association President Yankee Eller and spoke with him about this year's festivities.
It was an enjoyable visit...until the next morning.
I woke up with strange, tiny bumps on my ankles that were itching like crazy.
The affected area was the same location where one would Velcro ankle weights before taking a walk in an effort to strengthen their legs.
Thinking mosquitos or gnats got a hold of me, I grabbed my handy-dandy, anti-itch, analgesic gel, smeared it on, and went to work.
After mentioning my ailment in the office, someone suggested chiggers and said one of our photographers had also come in contact with the critters on a separate outdoor assignment.
My immediate reaction was, "Ewwww!!!"
I remembered hearing about them, but have never encountered them, even though I am an avid outdoors person, and have spent my summers mostly outside my entire life.
So, while fighting the urge to scratch my ankles until they were raw, I decided to check into this nasty situation brought on by tiny, microscopic blood suckers.
Dr. Jessica Ware, an entomologist at Rutgers University Newark, department of biology and entomology, said chiggers are the juvenile form of a type of mite. These larvae are barely visible to the naked eye and attack human skin by climbing on and inserting their feeding structure, called a stylostome, into the spot they think will be most tasty.
Contrary to popular myth, Ware said chiggers do not embed themselves under the surface of the skin, but they do inject digestive enzymes that cause "destruction of the host's tissue."
"They don't burrow, but they have sharp mouths that they poke you with and eat your dead skin cells," Ware said. "They secrete an enzyme that breaks down the cells and that's what can cause the itching."
The bugs usually begin to inject the enzymes sometime between one and three hours after they begin migrating across the skin, and that's when the symptoms show up — which is most likely why I woke up itching the next morning.
The injected enzymes cause red bumps that can resemble a blister, and itching that can last for two to three days. The red spots can remain on the skin for up to two weeks.
"It depends on the person really," Ware said. "Don't scratch, even though that seems impossible, because that can cause infection and it will take longer to heal."
Because the chiggers don't actually burrow under the skin, home remedies such as applying nail polish to the affected area, or using alcohol or bleach to kill the bugs is not necessary.
Using topical corticosteroid creams or oral antihistamines will help relieve the symptoms.
Because the chiggers are so tiny — about a quarter of a milimeter in size — the best way to avoid them is prevention.
"You can use bug spray containing Deet," she said. "Spray the edge of your socks or clothing to prevent them from climbing on."
Ward said she doesn't have any conclusive information stating that chiggers are worse this year than normal, but said she has heard of more cases herself.
"I don't know if it's worse, but it seems I've heard a of a lot more people having them this summer," Ward said. "Maybe it's because this summer has been so mild, so more people have been outdoors more since we haven't had the heat waves like in recent years."
If you're out in a field or wooded area where you think there may be chiggers, wash well with soap and water as soon as you can, to help remove any chiggers that may be looking for a place to stick their feeding structure, before they can get comfortable.
My itching subsided after about three days, but the red spots are still there. I'm kind of grossing myself out, so I'll feel much better when they are totally gone.
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Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@southjerseymedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellylin89. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.