Bed bug bite HELP

[Loretta S]

My daughter has gotten bed bug bites (pretty sure). She has sensitive skin so it’s pretty bad. I read that the bites can appear over the course of several days. She continues to show new bites. We washed all our clothes in hot water (according to the woman helping me) and dried them in dryer. I also emptied backpack and sprayed both of ours with permethrin. How do I know if these are new bites and we were unsuccessful in our washing or just the original? Dont know what to do. This didnt happen on my last Camino. I am giving Benadryl at night and have gotten her hydrocortisone. Any other help for the itch. She has them EVERYWHERE.

 

[natefaith]

I think you are doing the right things. Those who show bed bug bites are usually allergic to them; others can get bitten and not show anything. Benadryl is good, but perhaps also take her to a pharmacy or doctor and see if there's more medication that can help.

Since you've washed and dried the clothes with heat, these sound like the original bites just slowly manifesting as she reacts to them.

Hope she feels better soon.
Faith

 

[trecile]

Was the dryer set on high heat? Hot washing isn't important - hot drying for at least half an hour is what kills the bugs and their eggs. You don't need to wash the clothes first - you can put them in dry. If it's a warm sunny day you can put things that can't go into the dryer in a black plastic trash bag and place it in the sun for a few hours.

 

[kelleymac]

The nuns in the Dominican Republic gave me white vanilla to use on nasty mosquito bites and it worked wonderfully. (who knew?) You might try that, if you can find some.

 

[Anniesantiago]

The nuns in the Dominican Republic gave me white vanilla to use on nasty mosquito bites and it worked wonderfully. (who knew?) You might try that, if you can find some.

Now that's one I haven't heard before. I wonder if it was the alcohol?

 

[Lea Page]

I don’t know about bed bug bites, but as a tasty person myself, I’ve suffered through a lot of insect bites. In addition to Benadryl and cortisone, I put Bactine on all bites. It helps with the pain and itch and also keeps them disinfected. Hope she heals quickly. As a mom, I know how hard it is to watch our kids suffer.

 

[Deleted member 73892]

Hola! LorretaS. As a parent its hard to see a child suffer like that - one of my three attracted a mass of insect bites, whilst the other two seemed unnaffected (or without allergies to them).
The advice here is sound, but as a fellow insect bite sensitive traveller I go to all sorts of lengths to try to protect myself and clean any wounds. The bites can take two days to react and show. So may I also suggest:

• small sacks of strong-smelling lavender in your rucksacs
• checking closely the seams of clothing, sleping bags, beds and rucksacs, especially when you leave or arrive somewhere (you will get into the habit and it will get quicker to do). Especially check beds before you unpack upon arrival. Complain if you find any at all.
• They want food- blood. They are patient opportunists or will hitch-hike around the world with you. When you get home leave everything to be dealt with in a garage or something. Intense heat kills them and their eggs.

Think like a bed bug: where and when can I get my next meal and free lift?
Good luck and I hope your family don't suffer any more from the nasty little blighters.
Buen Camino
K

 

[Deleted member 67185]

There are a few anti-itch preparations that use pramoxine hydrochloride.

"Pramoxine is an anesthetic, or "numbing medicine." It works by interfering with pain signals sent from the nerves to the brain. Pramoxine topical (for the skin) is used to treat pain or itching caused by insect bites, minor burns or scrapes, hemorrhoids, and minor skin rash, dryness, or itching."

 

[Loretta S]

There are a few anti-itch preparations that use pramoxine hydrochloride.

"Pramoxine is an anesthetic, or "numbing medicine." It works by interfering with pain signals sent from the nerves to the brain. Pramoxine topical (for the skin) is used to treat pain or itching caused by insect bites, minor burns or scrapes, hemorrhoids, and minor skin rash, dryness, or itching."

Is it called pramoxine here in Spain? Is that what I should ask for?

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Is it called pramoxine here in Spain? Is that what I should ask for?

I do not know what the equivalency in drug names would be, but if I need to obtain an equivalent product that I use in the US, I will write the name down and show it to the pharmacist. Many pharmacists and farmacia staff speak some English, so that is helpful vs awkward pantomimes. Fortunately, there are a number of translation apps that can help, too, if needed.

 

[kelleymac]

Now that's one I haven't heard before. I wonder if it was the alcohol?

I spend some time hunting around about vanilla and vanilloid receptors, and updated my post. I also found some research about the vanilliod receptors on an NCBI website if you're interested I'll send you the links.

 

[trecile]

I do not know what the equivalency in drug names would be, but if I need to obtain an equivalent product that I use in the US, I will write the name down and show it to the pharmacist. Many pharmacists and farmacia staff speak some English, so that is helpful vs awkward pantomimes. Fortunately, there are a number of translation apps that can help, too, if needed.

What's the name of the product that you buy in the US?

 

[Deleted member 67185]

What's the name of the product that you buy in the US?

The product that we used to help with severe itchiness during lice treatments was by prescription. It was labeled by it's drug names and came in tubes of a cream: Hydrocortisone Acetate/Pramoxine Hydrochloride, 2.5% (hydrocortisone) + 1% Topical (Pramoxine)

 

[lt56ny]

Is it called pramoxine here in Spain? Is that what I should ask for?

Usually when you know the generic name of a drug it will be the same or very similar in Spanish. The branded names are different. Saying the branded name of a drug, (in this case that is not an issue) may cause confusion and they will also cost a lot more money in Spain as they do in USA. If you have medical conditions or you are taking medications you should write down your conditions in Spanish as well as the generic names and dosage of any meds you are taking. If a doctor prescribes you medicine, even if it is an OTC you should make the doctor and the pharmacist aware of your morbidities/meds. There are lots of medications that are very common overseas that either are not prescribed often in the USA or maybe not approved. Taking a medication that is contraindicated for certain disease states or other meds must be brought to the medical professional's attention. If not it could be a seriously dangerous or even life threatening cocktail.

 

[lt56ny]

The product that we used to help with severe itchiness during lice treatments was by prescription. It was labeled by it's drug names and came in tubes of a cream: Hydrocortisone Acetate/Pramoxine Hydrochloride, 2.5% (hydrocortisone) + 1% Topical (Pramoxine)

Hydrocortisone 2.5 is available only with a doctor's prescription. Come to think of it that is another thing to keep in mind. Strength of OTC drugs differ in different places. For example I always take a tube of Votraren a topical for pain. Basically it is diclofenac. I believe the strongest dose you can get is 1% in the States without a prescription. In Mexico I can walk into Costco and buy it OTC that is 2.5%. Big difference. In many pharmacies in Spain and Mexico you can have trouble finding 200mg. Ibuprofen. Often the lowest dose starts at 400mg. I have even been sold doses that are 600mg. So be careful new pilgrims to Spain and Europe.

 

[Yoyo]

When I had bed bug bites on the Camino, the pharmacist recommended a small (lip stick sized) roll-on liquid named GOIBI PIC which helped a lot with the itching.
My bites also showed up over the course of several days although I am quite certain the bed bug encounter was a one-time event in one albergue. I also did the washer / dryer / trash bag routine, and had no problems afterwards. Of course, it took a while for the bites to heal completely, but with the roll-on, the discomfort was quite manageable.
Best wishes for your daughter and buen camino to both of you!

 

[Deleted member 73892]

Hola! LorretaS. As a parent its hard to see a child suffer like that - one of my three attracted a mass of insect bites, whilst the other two seemed unnaffected (or without allergies to them).
The advice here is sound, but as a fellow insect bite sensitive traveller I go to all sorts of lengths to try to protect myself and clean any wounds. The bites can take two days to react and show. So may I also suggest:

• small sacks of strong-smelling lavender in your rucksacs
• checking closely the seams of clothing, sleping bags, beds and rucksacs, especially when you leave or arrive somewhere (you will get into the habit and it will get quicker to do). Especially check beds before you unpack upon arrival. Complain if you find any at all.
• They want food- blood. They are patient opportunists or will hitch-hike around the world with you. When you get home leave everything to be dealt with in a garage or something. Intense heat kills them and their eggs.

Think like a bed bug: where and when can I get my next meal and free lift?
Good luck and I hope your family don't suffer any more from the nasty little blighters.
Buen Camino
K

I find any camomile-based preperation-lotion-cream is a great soother to sore, itchy bites, and a healer too. Hope it works for you. K

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hydrocortisone 2.5 is available only with a doctor's prescription.

You are correct, good point - - same applies with the strength of the other ingredient. The medication that I specified is not an over-the-counter purchase, but should be available in Spain if someone with severe allergic reactions to bites are evaluated at a medical facility then given a prescription.

 

[john newman]

Hi Loretta
The rash that you describe could be bed bugs but it could also be other things. Some of these will go away but some (such as scabies) may not.
You may do well to get it checked by someone such as a doctor who knows the differences between different types of rashes.
Best of luck with this
John

 

[lt56ny]

You are correct, good point - - same applies with the strength of the other ingredient. The medication that I specified is not an over-the-counter purchase, but should be available in Spain if someone with severe allergic reactions to bites are evaluated at a medical facility then given a prescription.

I kind of remember that in Spain when I tried to buy the Voltaren at the 2.5% strength they said I needed a prescription for that. But I may be wrong.

 

[MikeyC]

This may be of use. (From the UK National Health Service)

Bedbugs

Find out about bedbugs, including checking if you have them, how to get rid of them and how to treat bedbug bites.

www.nhs.uk

 

[Anniesantiago]

I kind of remember that in Spain when I tried to buy the Voltaren at the 2.5% strength they said I needed a prescription for that. But I may be wrong.

I've never had to have a prescription for Voltaren 2.5%.

 

[lt56ny]

I've never had to have a prescription for Voltaren 2.5%.

Thanks for letting mr know. I wasn't sure if it was needed or not in Spain.

 

[JRO]

Is it called pramoxine here in Spain? Is that what I should ask for?

Pramoxine is the generic name, and should be recognizable in Spain too. Though it might be sold under a different "brand" name, the active ingredient should be Pramoxine.

 

[cbacino]

My daughter has gotten bed bug bites (pretty sure). She has sensitive skin so it’s pretty bad. I read that the bites can appear over the course of several days. She continues to show new bites. We washed all our clothes in hot water (according to the woman helping me) and dried them in dryer. I also emptied backpack and sprayed both of ours with permethrin. How do I know if these are new bites and we were unsuccessful in our washing or just the original? Dont know what to do. This didnt happen on my last Camino. I am giving Benadryl at night and have gotten her hydrocortisone. Any other help for the itch. She has them EVERYWHERE.

Washing won't kill them; water temperature isn't hot enough. You should have dried them first at the hottest temperature for 30+ minutes. Don't worry about high temperatures and synthetics. Didn't hurt any of my clothing or gear (pants, shirts, sleeping bag, pack), but it kill all the bedbugs that got into my stuff.

 

[MarGoX]

Hi Loretta
The rash that you describe could be bed bugs but it could also be other things. Some of these will go away but some (such as scabies) may not.
You may do well to get it checked by someone such as a doctor who knows the differences between different types of rashes.
Best of luck with this
John

I was just thinking that too John , I caught scabies once , not recommended ! I agree get it checked,

 

[Dancing Rain]

Put everything possible through the dryer again including bedding

 

[robertt]

I was bitten on the hands and lower arms in Sarria. Being Australian I had no experience of bed bugs. Simple acidity was the most accessible remedy, as with so many bites and stings. Travelling with a bottle of vinegar for some days was awkward and nothing could have stopped the furious itch all together, but it was certainly a remedy when applied constantly. The aim is to reverse the chemistry, so avoid creams etc which block penetration and the action of lowering pH. No point being timid, really slosh the vinegar or lemon on the skin and rub it in as often as possible.

 

[The Kolbist]

aside from the sprays, i bought my wife who is super-sensitive to anything foreign-to-bodies living organism that bites, a fleece liner that is hypoallergenic anti-bed bug which is made by 3M.. it is a little heavier than an ordinary fleece but if you want an extra layer of protection/defense against those suckers, you may have to build a walled city around your body..

 

[C clearly]

Being Australian I had no experience of bed bugs.

I don't understand the connection. Australia is not a bedbug-free zone. I have never encountered bedbugs in Canada but I have no doubt about them being here!