What are chiggers and how do they affect people in Ohio. How can you identify chigger bites and what are the best treatment methods. What preventive measures can Ohioans take to avoid chigger bites during outdoor activities.

Understanding Chiggers: Tiny Mites with a Big Impact

Chiggers, also known as harvest mites or red bugs, are minuscule arachnids that can cause significant discomfort through their bites. These tiny creatures, smaller than a period at the end of a sentence, are prevalent in Ohio’s outdoor spaces, including grassy fields, lakesides, and forests. But what exactly are these microscopic menaces?

Chiggers belong to the arachnid family, sharing relations with spiders and ticks. Their diminutive size makes them nearly invisible to the naked eye, often requiring a magnifying glass for proper identification. It’s crucial to note that it’s only the baby chiggers, or larvae, that bite humans and animals.

The Life Cycle of Chiggers

Understanding the chigger life cycle can help in prevention and management of bites. The process unfolds as follows:

1. Eggs are laid in soil
2. Larvae hatch and seek hosts
3. Larvae feed on skin cells of hosts
4. After feeding, they drop off and molt into nymphs
5. Nymphs develop into adult chiggers

Adult chiggers don’t bite humans; they feed on plant materials and small insects. It’s the larval stage that poses a problem for humans and animals alike.

The Mechanism of Chigger Bites: How Do They Attack?

Chigger bites are more complex than simple pinpricks. These tiny arachnids employ a sophisticated method to feed on their hosts. But how exactly do chiggers bite, and what happens during this process?

When a potential host (human or animal) brushes against vegetation where chigger larvae are waiting, the chiggers quickly attach themselves using their tiny claws. Once secure, they don’t actually bite in the traditional sense. Instead, they use their mouthparts to pierce the skin and inject their saliva.

This saliva contains potent digestive enzymes that break down skin cells, creating a small, hardened feeding tube called a stylostome. The chigger then sucks up the liquefied skin cells through this tube, obtaining the protein it needs to grow into an adult.

The Feeding Process

• Chiggers attach to skin in warm, moist areas
• They inject saliva containing digestive enzymes
• A feeding tube (stylostome) forms in the skin
• Chiggers feed on liquefied skin cells for several days
• They drop off once fully fed, leaving behind irritated skin

Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin or suck blood. The intense itching associated with chigger bites is an allergic reaction to the injected saliva and the presence of the stylostome.

Identifying Chigger Bites: Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing chigger bites is crucial for proper treatment and prevention of further discomfort. But what do these bites look like, and how can you differentiate them from other insect bites?

Chigger bites typically appear as small, red, itchy bumps on the skin. They can resemble pimples, blisters, or small hives. These bites are often found in clusters and are most common in areas where clothing fits tightly or where the skin is thin or wrinkled.

Common Locations for Chigger Bites

• Around the waistline
• In the groin area
• Behind the knees
• In the armpits
• Around ankles and on feet

One distinctive feature of chigger bites is that they often appear in groups or lines, as the chiggers tend to move around on the skin before settling to feed. The bites typically start to itch within hours of the chigger attaching to the skin, with the itching intensifying over the next few days.

“Summer Penile Syndrome”

In some cases, chigger bites on the penis can lead to a condition known as “summer penile syndrome.” This can cause swelling, itching, and painful urination. While alarming, this condition is not serious and typically resolves on its own within a week or two.

Treatment Options for Chigger Bites: Soothing the Itch

While chigger bites can be intensely itchy and uncomfortable, the good news is that they don’t transmit diseases like some other insect bites. How can you effectively treat chigger bites and alleviate the associated discomfort?

The primary goal in treating chigger bites is to relieve itching and prevent secondary infections that can occur from scratching. Here are some effective home remedies and over-the-counter treatments:

1. Wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water to remove any remaining chiggers.
2. Apply a cool, damp washcloth to the bites for immediate relief.
3. Use calamine lotion or over-the-counter anti-itch creams containing hydrocortisone.
4. Take oral antihistamines to reduce itching, especially if it’s interfering with sleep.
5. Trim fingernails short to minimize skin damage from scratching.

It’s crucial to resist the urge to scratch, as this can lead to skin infections. If signs of infection develop, such as increasing redness, swelling, or the presence of pus, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While most chigger bites can be treated at home, there are situations where medical intervention may be necessary. Consider contacting a healthcare provider if:

• Over-the-counter treatments don’t provide relief after several days
• There are signs of infection (increased redness, swelling, warmth, or pus)
• Symptoms of “summer penile syndrome” occur
• The itching is severe enough to interfere with daily activities or sleep

Remember, while chigger bites are not dangerous, they can be extremely uncomfortable. Proper treatment can significantly reduce discomfort and prevent complications.

Preventing Chigger Bites: Strategies for Outdoor Enthusiasts

For those who love spending time outdoors in Ohio, preventing chigger bites is key to enjoying nature comfortably. What are the most effective strategies for avoiding these tiny pests?

Prevention of chigger bites involves a combination of protective clothing, insect repellents, and mindful behavior when in chigger-prone areas. Here are some effective prevention strategies:

Protective Clothing

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks or boots
• Choose tightly woven fabrics that are harder for chiggers to penetrate
• Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot chiggers

Insect Repellents

Apply insect repellents containing DEET (10-30%) to exposed skin and clothing. For added protection, treat clothing and gear with permethrin, an insecticide that remains effective through several washes.

Behavioral Strategies

1. Avoid sitting directly on the ground in grassy or wooded areas
2. Stay on cleared trails when hiking
3. Shower or bathe immediately after coming indoors
4. Wash clothes in hot water and dry on high heat to kill any lingering chiggers

By combining these strategies, outdoor enthusiasts can significantly reduce their risk of chigger bites while enjoying Ohio’s natural beauty.

Chiggers in Ohio: Understanding Local Prevalence and Habitats

Ohio’s diverse landscape provides ideal conditions for chiggers. But where are these tiny mites most commonly found in the Buckeye State, and when are they most active?

Chiggers thrive in areas with high humidity and dense vegetation. In Ohio, they are particularly prevalent in:

• Tall grass and weedy areas
• Forest edges and wooded areas
• Berry patches and orchards
• Lawns and gardens, especially those near wooded areas
• Areas around lakes and streams

Chiggers are most active in Ohio during the late spring, summer, and early fall. They are typically at their peak from May to October, with August often being the worst month for chigger activity.

Chigger “Hot Spots” in Ohio

While chiggers can be found throughout Ohio, some areas are known to have higher concentrations:

1. Hocking Hills State Park
2. Mohican State Park
3. Wayne National Forest
4. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
5. Maumee Bay State Park

These areas, with their dense vegetation and high humidity, provide ideal conditions for chigger populations. However, it’s important to note that chiggers can be present in any outdoor area in Ohio, including urban parks and residential lawns.

Misconceptions About Chiggers: Separating Fact from Fiction

Despite their prevalence, there are many misconceptions about chiggers that can lead to ineffective prevention and treatment strategies. What are some common myths about chiggers, and what’s the truth behind them?

Myth 1: Chiggers Burrow Under the Skin

Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin. They remain on the surface, feeding through a tube-like structure they create in the upper layer of skin.

Myth 2: Chiggers Are Too Small to See

While chiggers are tiny, they are not invisible. With careful observation, you can see them as tiny red, orange, or yellow dots on the skin, especially when they cluster together.

Myth 3: Nail Polish Suffocates Chiggers

Applying nail polish to chigger bites is a common folk remedy, but it’s ineffective. By the time the bite is noticeable, the chigger has usually already detached from the skin.

Myth 4: Chiggers Transmit Diseases

Unlike ticks and mosquitoes, chiggers do not transmit diseases to humans. Their bites, while uncomfortable, are not dangerous in themselves.

Myth 5: Only Outdoor Enthusiasts Get Chigger Bites

While chiggers are more common in wild areas, they can also be found in well-manicured lawns and gardens. Anyone spending time outdoors can potentially encounter chiggers.

Understanding these facts about chiggers can help Ohio residents better protect themselves and respond appropriately when bites occur. Remember, prevention is key, but knowing how to identify and treat chigger bites is equally important for anyone enjoying Ohio’s outdoor spaces.

Chigger Bites (for Parents) – Humana

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What Are Chiggers?

Chiggers (also called harvest mites or red bugs) are tiny red, biting mites. Their bites aren’t painful, but do cause intense itching.

Chiggers are members of the arachnid family (the same family that includes spiders and ticks). They are smaller than a period at the end of a sentence. Most can only be seen with a magnifying glass.

Chiggers are found all over the outdoors, including in grassy fields, along lakes and streams, and in forests. It’s the baby chiggers that bite people and animals.

How Do Chigger Bites Happen?

After hatching, baby chiggers wait on plants for people or animals to pass by. When they do, the chigger attaches to them using tiny claws. Once attached, it pierces their skin and injects its saliva (spit). The spit contains digestive juices that dissolve skin cells. The chigger then eats the dissolved cells, which provide the protein it needs to grow into an adult. After a couple of days the chigger falls off, leaving a red bump on the skin.

What Are the Signs of Chigger Bites?

Chigger bites are itchy red bumps that can look like pimples, blisters, or small hives. They are usually found around the waist, ankles, or in warm skin folds. They get bigger and itchier over several days, and often appear in groups.

Chigger bites start to itch within hours of the chigger attaching to the skin. The itch stops after a few days, and the red bumps heal over 1–2 weeks.

If chigger bites happen on the penis, they can cause swelling, itching, and painful peeing. This is known as “summer penile syndrome.”

How Are Chigger Bites Diagnosed?

Doctors can diagnose chigger bites by looking at them and asking about a person’s recent outdoor activities.

How Are Chigger Bites Treated?

Unlike mosquitoes and ticks, chiggers don’t carry disease. So they are not harmful, only annoying. You can usually treat chigger bites at home:

• Scrub chigger bites well with soap and water to help remove any chiggers that are still attached to the skin.
• Holding a cool washcloth over the bites can be soothing.
• Calamine lotion or anti-itch creams can help with the itching.
• Antihistamines (allergy medicine) taken by mouth can sometimes help with itching, especially if your child has trouble sleeping at night.

Discourage kids from scratching at the bites because this can lead to:

• impetigo, a bacterial infection of the skin, with pus and crusts around the bites
• a larger area of increasing redness, swelling, pain, and warmth, called cellulitis

Keeping fingernails short can help prevent skin damage from scratching. Antibiotics may be needed if a skin infection does happen.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call your doctor’s office if:

• Over-the-counter creams or lotions don’t help the itching.
• A bite looks infected (watch for warmth, redness, swelling, tenderness, or pus).
• Your child has symptoms of “summer penile syndrome.”

Can Chigger Bites Be Prevented?

To help prevent chigger bites when enjoying the great outdoors:

• Apply an insect repellent with 10%–30% DEET.
• Clothes also can be treated with a specific insecticide (like permethrin) to help prevent bites.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into shoes, especially during hiking. This also can help protect kids from other biting critters like ticks and mosquitoes.
• Wash kids’ skin with soap and water when they come back inside. Wash all clothes in hot water and tumble dry on high heat before they’re worn again.

Chigger bites aren’t contagious, so kids can’t catch them from someone or give them to somebody else. They can still play sports and do all normal activities unless the itching makes them too uncomfortable.

Reviewed by: Yamini Durani, MD

Date reviewed: June 2023

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Introducing the oak itch mite: Chigger-like bites on upper body confuse Clevelanders

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This is the straw itch mite, which is closely related to the oak itch mite, under a microscope. (United States Department of Agriculture)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – If you’ve been seeking shade under oak trees in the late-summer heat, you might wake up the next day itchy.

Many Clevelanders are noticing small, red bumps on their upper bodies, similar to chigger bites. These could be the work of oak itch mites, which drop out of trees onto humans and bite them.

Oak itch mites are booming in Northeast Ohio, much like they did three years ago in the Miami Valley area, said David Shetlar, professor of urban landscape entomology for Ohio State University.

Here’s what you need to know:

What are oak itch mites?

The bugs are microscopic, Shetlar said, so you won’t be able to see them. But you’ll know it’s them because the bites will be on your upper body, whereas chigger bites are mainly on the lower body because they live in the grass.

Oak itch mites live in oak trees, where they feed on a type of midge larvae that lays eggs on the leaves, causing them to fold over. Whenever the mites eat all the larvae or the larvae mature and fall off the leaves to burrow into the ground, the mites don’t have a food supply anymore. It’s then that they fall off their leaves onto unsuspecting humans passing by.

How do they bite?

The bugs have pincer-like mouthparts they use to bite. They don’t suck blood, like mosquitoes. Instead, they use their saliva, which has special enzymes, to dissolve cells, which they then eat. The bites look like small blisters, and itch because humans have a severe reaction to the mites’ saliva.

Why are they booming this year?

The idea is floating around that oak itch mites are in full effect now because they have a new food source. Because the increase in oak itch mite population is happening in areas where the periodical cicadas emerged, people think that they fed on cicada eggs.

There’s no scientific evidence to support this yet, but it could be credible, Shetlar said.

The whole thing is slightly unsettling, yes. However, it’s preventable.

How do I keep from getting bitten?

When you go home after being under a tree somewhere, take a shower and toss your clothes in the dryer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes. The bugs don’t bite immediately, Shetlar said, so you’ve got time to wash them off.

Bites can be treated with an over-the-counter itch product or anti-histamine, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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News at 20:00 last full issue watch online

February 16, 2023
21:38

Denis Davydov

While Europe, within the framework of the tenth package of anti-Russian sanctions, calls to seriously consider providing Ukraine with missile systems, fighter jets and helicopters, the helicopter of the American National Guard falls on a busy highway in Alabama. Everyone who was inside the collapsed Black Hawk died, and the fire was extinguished for more than 5 hours. Where and why the helicopter was flying, the aviation services do not report, but they are afraid in social networks: what if they mistook it for a Chinese one and shot it down?!

Two large-scale chemical emergencies are shrouded not only in smoke from the fire, but also in mystery. But if a warehouse with plastic is just burning in Florida, then Ohio is already on the verge of an environmental disaster, which the White House does not comment on.

The explosion was filmed from different angles, because the explosion is controlled. Dozens of cameras followed a black poisonous cloud covering for many kilometers many towns in Ohio and neighboring Pennsylvania. The authorities did not come up with anything better – they decided to set fire to tanks with chemicals that had derailed near the town of Eastern Palestine. Residents were carefully evacuated, but on the second day, as soon as the smoke cleared, the care ended – everyone was offered to return home.

“We smelled chemicals when we were driving towards the city. I have a chemical burn on my face, a rash. Fish died in the streams, there are multi-colored oil stains on the water, a constant smell of burnt plastic. Our dog is lethargic, he constantly vomits. Terrible things are happening here “, says one of the locals.

The train that brought so many troubles to these parts was carrying a whole periodic table: ethylene glycol ether, isobutylene, butyl acrylate, but most importantly – vinyl chloride. A colorless gas that decomposes into hydrogen chloride and phosgene when burned. Phosgene poisoned people in the First World War. Of the 150 tanks in the train, 50 derailed.

Those who decided to set it on fire have their own truth – they were afraid of an uncontrolled explosion. Tanks could break, and pieces of metal, like shrapnel, would mutilate everything around for several kilometers. Now they cheerfully report that there are no casualties and destruction.

“If I were there right now, I would drink water there. Yesterday, when our chief physician advised drinking only bottled water, he simply did not know the results of water tests. Today we have them,” said Mike Devine , Governor of Ohio.

Governor giving advice from the state capital, hundreds of miles away from the crash site. For two weeks, he never appeared at the overturned tanks. The authorities pretended that nothing terrible had happened.

“They are happy when they collect our taxes. The authorities are happy to spend trillions of dollars around the world on their military operations, just leaving ordinary people. People like these unfortunate East Palestine in Ohio,” said American politician Tulsi Gabbard.

Residents heard the first official messages that it is better to drink bottled water only on the 10th day after the accident. “The EPA didn’t seem to be doing any water tests, and the railroad company that made it happen hired some office to do all the tests. It’s the same type of office that BP hired. Remember, 12 years ago they told us that the water in the Gulf of Mexico is in perfect order after BP’s towers with trillions of tons of oil flew into the air?!” says one of the locals.

What just happened in Ohio, how serious the damage is, whether there will be compensation – a queue for answers to these questions lined up at the school gym, where the townspeople gathered. But no one came to see them. The management of the railway company sent a letter – they are afraid for the safety of their employees, so somehow without them. The only representative of power was the local mayor, who is also a local resident. “I’m just the mayor of a town of 4,700 people. If you think I can fight the railroad giants and the federal government, then you’re out of your mind. I need help. I’m not ready for this,” he said.

The railroad company sent one check for $1,200,000 to the entire city.

“That’s not enough! Maybe this is just the beginning. Help is needed now from different places. Many are responsible for what happened. I was told that the bearings of the train overheated. Why did they overheat? Maybe because they were not properly maintained ?! All this needs to be investigated,” said Brad Venstrup, a member of the US House of Representatives from Ohio.

Just a month and a half ago, railroad workers complained about how companies cut staff, those who remain, lengthen shifts, and even lengthen trains, giving a damn about the safety of transportation. There were more accidents under the new Minister of Transport. Biden gave the job to Pete Buttigieg. The pride of the administration is the first openly gay minister. In his speeches, he does not even mention the disaster in Ohio. Other issues matter.

“From generation to generation, we’ve heard too many stories about infrastructure when a neighborhood of color finally gets a project, but everyone who works on this project, doing well-paid jobs, looks like they’re not from the area” said Pete Buttigieg.

Neither Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg nor President Biden came to Ohio and commented on the catastrophe extremely sparingly. Journalists suggested that if the tragedy with the train happened not in the United States, but in Ukraine, the American authorities would have shown greater sensitivity.

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“For us, it’s Pearl Harbor.” How a city in Ohio lives after a train crash with toxic chemicals

• Bernd Debusmann
• BBC East Palestine, Ohio

February 18, 2023

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Image caption,

Many residents of East Palestine, Ohio, can now only drink bottled water – tap water gives them strange symptoms

For John and Lisa Hammer, residents of a small town in East Palestine, Ohio , normal life ended on February 3 at 20:55. At that moment, a train loaded with toxic chemicals derailed just a few meters from the building where their thriving garbage company was located.

This report was published in English, the original can be read here .

The Hammers have been developing their business for 18 years, going from five clients to more than seven thousand.

“It completely ruined our lives,” John tells the BBC, barely holding back tears. We talk to him in the parking lot outside his company office, where the smell of chemicals still hangs in the air after the disaster.

“I’ve already decided to get out of here,” he adds. “We’re moving. We can’t do this anymore.”

After a train derailment, rescue services had to release vinyl chloride, a toxic, colorless gas, from five tanks. Otherwise, they could explode.

Image copyright Reuters

John’s eyes are red and swollen – he believes chemicals released into the air after the crash in East Palestine are to blame.

But the couple told the BBC that they suffered even more psychologically.

“I can’t sleep at all. I’ve already been to the doctor twice, now I’m taking a sedative,” says John Hammer. “It’s ten times worse than just losing your livelihood. We built this business from the very beginning.”

Just like her husband, Lisa Hammer stays up all night thinking about what will happen to the company, her ten employees – and the whole city where she has spent 20 years of her life.

• Massive explosion in Bangladesh at a clothing warehouse for the West. More than 40 dead, hundreds injured
• A million babies a year are born dead because of polluted air, scientists say – they are now also planning to leave East Palestine.

  “I’m scared for the people who live here,” she says. “I don’t know anyone who can sleep well now, because literally everything is at stake. Business, health, and the health of friends.”

  We climb a mountain of rubbish that rises near the burnt wreckage of wagons, and Hammer compares the train accident here to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

  Photo credit, Reuters

  Photo caption,

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  He’s not the only one who thinks so. In the two days we spent in East Palestine, several locals told the BBC that they saw the train derailment as a critical moment in the city’s history. For the foreseeable future at least, their lives will be defined by what happened before and after this catastrophe.

  Federal and local officials advise residents not to drink tap water, but to buy bottled water. Authorities have said it’s safe to return to the city within days of the crash, but environmental experts aren’t sure the advice can be trusted.

  Substances released into the atmosphere after the crash (vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate) are hazardous to health and in sufficient concentration can cause various complications – from nausea to cancer.

  “For our city, it’s Pearl Harbor, or 9/11. This will always be remembered,” says local café owner Ben Ratner.

  In the case of Ratner, what happened led to a “curious combination” of experiences and sensations. Now he visibly shudders every time he hears the sound of a passing train, although he had not noticed such things before. And he adds that now the trains seem to him louder and more annoying than in the past.

  Image copyright, Getty Images

  Photo caption,

  60-year-old car wash owner Ron Rafferty says he wears a mask at work because he fears for his health

  He says that his friends in East Palestine start to panic about everything and remain constantly on their guard – feelings he compares to post-traumatic stress disorder .

  “It’s time for us to think about the long-term consequences for the psyche and emotional state of people,” says Ratner. “People have become worried when trains pass nearby, when their children go outside, when they let dogs out – and they accidentally get drunk on contaminated water. It’s all very serious.”

  According to him, local children only recently survived the Covid-19 pandemic, and now their lives have been turned upside down due to another trauma. “This could go on for generations,” he says. “It’s not just gas or clouds of chemicals.”

  Johns Hopkins University professor Kiv Nachman told the BBC that the substances released into the atmosphere after the crash could significantly damage people’s health.

  “There is very little information about how people came into contact with these chemicals – through air, drinking water or soil,” says the expert.

  US Environmental Protection Agency chief Michael Regan visited eastern Palestine on Thursday to see firsthand how the rescue operation is progressing, meet with local officials – and reassure residents that the government is doing everything possible for them.

  “We see you, hear you and understand why you are worried,” he said.

  The agency claims that no dangerous concentrations of toxic substances have been recorded in the atmosphere, and experts have checked the air in hundreds of residential buildings.

  In addition, both Senators from Ohio, JD Vance and Sherrod Brown, sent messages of support to the city’s residents. Gov. Mike DeWine has asked the federal government for help.

  Representatives of local water networks admitted that the Ohio River was polluted, but they say that the drinking water supply system was not affected.

  The author of the photo, Reuters

  Photo caption,

  Residents of the town discussed problems with representatives of the authorities at meetings many times

  The head of Norfolk Southern, which owned the crashed train, understands that people are tired of what is happening, afraid of the consequences, they “have a lot of unanswered questions.”

  But at the same time, representatives of the railway company on Wednesday refused to meet with the population of Eastern Palestine, citing security concerns.