![]() If symptoms persist, an underlying medical condition is should be strongly considered as the cause.Review the list (Tables 4, 5) of some possible environmental causes that produce symptoms mimicking “bug bites”. Make changes that eliminate contact with these products. Reaction to new products used in and about the home or work area may be a cause. These might include recent travel or outdoor activity. Review recent changes that have occurred in a client’s habits. If conditions of the bite/itch occur in the absence of conditions suggesting an arthropod or if they persist after treatment efforts have been made, the source of the bites is almost certainly of some other origin.If conditions exist that may be a source of bites/itches (e.g., mites moving off an infested pet, bat bugs migrating from bat roost in attic) then suggest to the client that they remove or treat these sources. These are discussed in the following section and consist of a fairly short list of options. Review possible sources of cryptic arthropod bites and itches that can occur in Colorado.Such samples will either be discarded or returned, unexamined. Samples of that contain skin scabs, dried fluids, feces and other medically hazardous material will not be examined. Samples as vacuumed bulk samples, bundled clothing, or are similarly poorly collected are unusable for examination and will usually not be considered for further evaluation.Samples collected on tape applied to the skin surface or from surfaces where a suspected insect/mite is present also can usually be examined successfully. Samples that need identification should be preserved as well as possible to prevent fragmentation. If county Extension offices are unable to make the diagnosis these can be forwarded to Extension entomology on campus. Samples of specific arthropods or suspected arthropods can often be evaluated through CSU Extension.Similarly, skin scrapings cannot be evaluated except by medical personnel. ![]() Observation of the affected area by anyone other than appropriately trained medical personnel will not assist in the diagnosis. Never attempt to diagnose the cause of a “bite” based on symptoms.Suggested protocol for county Extension offices in Colorado when handling queries regarding “invisible itches” or “bites” of unknown origin. A suggested protocol for attempting to determine the cause follows Properly diagnosing a “bug bite” is very difficult and often does not have a satisfactory end result. Underlying health conditions (bacterial infections, diabetes, drug reactions, etc.) Reaction to chemical agents (personal care products, cleaning agents, inks, etc.) Environmental conditions (chemical or physical agents contacted or dispersed in air, abrupt changes in humidity) Similar symptoms can be, and often are, produced by other causes that include: This confusion is made worse as bites by insects or arachnids (e.g., mites, spiders, ticks) can rarely be diagnosed by symptoms alone. At least as often self-diagnosed “bug bites” that occur in Colorado have a different origin. Sometimes this is a correct diagnosis of what cause the itch/sore/bite, as there are a few insects, mites and spiders that do bite humans. Often these are suspected – or self-diagnosed – as being Abug of some sort. Michael Potter: Įveryone has experienced at some time various skin bumps, sores, or persistent itching that have no obvious source. Often clients that will insist otherwise.Īcknowledgment: The development of this fact sheet, adapted to Colorado, was largely derived from work that was developed for the University of Kentucky Extension fact sheet by Dr. Very few arthropods can actually infest human skin (topically or subdermally) and reproduce. Identification of an insect, mite or spider as the cause of a suspected “bug bite” is usually not possible based on just symptoms alone. Skin irritation resulting from bites of arthropods varies greatly between individuals, in large part due to individual immune responses. When handling a client with a concern about arthropod bites/itches, an open mind must be kept in regard to the possible identification of a source that may be the cause of the client’s concern. Often sources of skin irritation or those that produce “bite-like” reactions include environmental allergens such as chemicals or irritant fibers. There are some insects, mites, and spiders that bite humans and/or can cause skin irritations or dermatitis.
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