I suffered from sand fly bites recently, at least thats what my gp doctor. I had no clue when, where, why, how it happened because i did not visit any park or beach or the jungle or desert or anywhere near the sand flies habitat. I googled but couldnt really find much information describing the symptoms and hence i decided to pen it down for the benefit of others.
I begun with numerous "mosquito bites" looking small pink dots on my right leg, mostly crowding at my thigh area just above my knee. I discovered it all of a sudden due to its itch. There were a few bites on my left leg too, though rather few compared to my right. The itch was not killing me, it was pretty mild, bearable and stopped itchy once i stopped touching it. The itch came and go away infrequently for a period of one week. It didn't bother me too much as i could still dress (revealing the bites by wearing dress above my knees), eat, play, sleep normally. However, my best friend, my boss and my mum kept questioning if it was bed bugs in my house. It totally freaks me out. For safety measures, i flipped my house upside down (exaggerating i know, its just my mattress, carpet and sofa) to check for any sight of bugs but thank god i didn't find any. nonetheless, I still went ahead to the polyclinic to consult the doctor. I described my symptoms, showed the doctor my bites, doctor didn't really gave any diagnosis, was given hydrocortisone 1% (steroid) to apply since the bites wasn't eating me up.
Week 1
At the beginning of week 2, the spots suddenly got unbearably itchy. I couldn't help but kept on scratching it. I scratched it so much that it got inflamed. The bites have transformed from tiny little pink dots to big angry red inflamed spots bigger than 0.5cm. It was so itchy and irritated even when i was walking to the train station and my dress (now long dress to hide the "diseased looking" spots all over my legs) was brushing against my legs. I had to bit my lips to not scratch it every minute. I was leaving hong kong for work the end of the 2nd week so i knew things have gotten really serious and i needed medication now. Went to the gp doctor, requested for a jab. Doctor gave me a jab which consist of anti-inflammation, steroid and anti itching properties (hydrocortisone 100mg and chlorpheniramine), oral medication of cetirizine and prednisolone and tropical cream betamethasone . It gave me temporary relief. Over the next few days, the spots seemed to be in control, but new ones were still appearing everyday. In Hong Kong, it felt like lesser new ones were appearing though. for your information, Hong Kong was at about the same temperature as Singapore at that point of time. i bought this cream in hong kong which comprises of diphenhydramine hci 2%, calamine 2%, centrimide 0.5% and Tolnaftate 1.0% and felt it was great in relieving the itchness. (couldnt find it in Singapore, checked with a friend's nurse friend). by the way, calamine lotion and tea tree oil gave me no relief at all. boo to them.
Now it has been the beginning of week 3. what was bothering me was, new ones were still appearing everyday. i am about to cry looking at the massive ugliness the bites have created on my legs. they look big, dark colored (some more reddish, some brown), slightly protruding and it rips my heart even more than new ones were still appearing every fxxking day (please pardon my language). it meant that i am not recovering from it. i was assuming from the research on google, that sand flies' saliva is toxic and it must be my body having an allergic reaction to it. but 3 weeks seems far too long and i was really afraid it might mean that the female ones are laying eggs and growing beneath my skin, hence no complete recovery!! ( i was scaring myself btw) went to doctor the 3rd time now, at a polyclinic with the intention to be asked to be referred to the national skin centre. described my symptoms, medicine jabbed, taken orally, applied tropically, everything i could told him. No diagnosis from doc from polyclinic again (sorry i don't find them good at all), just said he will refer me to national skin centre and they will be in a better position to give me advise. appointment was 6 weeks later. 3rd doc gave me loratadine and chlorphenamine maleate because i still have tropical cream.
Week 3
Middle of week 4, which is the time when i am writing this post, feeling the bites have calmed down, majority of spots have gone flat down (about 95% of them) , slightly lighter brown, did not find anymore new spots appearing. feeling less depressed, more relieved, before i could find the strength and heart to pen this down.
i think that adding a slice of lemon to my drinking water helps reduce the appearance of new spots. i observed lesser spots in hong kong because of this habit, and when i did it again from week 3 after visiting the doctor, i felt this works. i was assuming it had detox effect on my body, as well as replenishing vitamin c in me. this is something i felt had worked for me.
hence my advise to sand fly bites are to not scratch them (i know, easy to say though to do because i scratched like a mad woman), see a doctor, a better doctor, apply the cream and take the medicine religiously, observe the bites, adjust your diet to reduce sugar, processed meat, white carbs, fried food and increase your veg and fruits intake. have a slice of lemon in your drinking water too.
Week 4
and lastly, i hope you are free from sand fly bites problem soon!
Love,
Hui San.
Signing Off~
