Firefly

Cathie tells me Dexmethzone is not an antibiotic - it's a steroid.
 
This is a medication a doctor wouldn't normally prescribe for mossie bites unless there has been a history of a severe inflammatory allergic response to mossie bites - it sounds like you have had such an experience in the past, Firefly.
 
The response people have to mossie bites is an allergic one, so, as a number of folk have said, an antihistamine is the thing to use.
The body releases histamine to stop the stuff that mossies put into to you from spreading through the body, an antihistamine combats this relieving the swelling and itchiness.

Antibiotics are given for an infection, rather than for an allergy - though of course mossie bites can become infected.
 
The 'Click Zapper' is simple and effective (Most camping stores sell them).
As someone mentioned - 5 to 10 clicks usually stops an itch - a few more to alleviate swelling.

We wouldn't travel without a couple of 'Click Zappers' - as well as Aeroguard, antihistamine tablets - and Band-Aids of course (wheres the Mercurochrome?)

Jim

Some websites about the subject.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexamethasone

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~aair/antihistamines.htm#WHATRANTI

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10278.php

Oh no Ma, well lets hope it has an effect for you mate. x o x o

Jim, thanks for that. I haven't even taken them yet, I am not much of a pill popper unless I have to.

I did have a bad experience in Darwin where the infection started to track up my arm. I lost a few days in that haze and its not the last time it happened so he has given me that lot to carry in case of a recurrence.

They sound damn good mate, I will have to re stock, mine must be outa date now.

Well, there are three of us here in Tassie, Blue, Me and Blue's brother, take your pick......

You got it in one Fly, better make that a double murder......

When I first went to Broome for a weekend off the station I was attacked by sand flies. They are a huge problem during the biggest tides.
I blistered and itched for a couple of days, so I went to the doctor and was prescribed cortisone cream to hasten healing. It worked and I've never reacted to these little monsters again. I feel the sting but if I wash the area with cool water immediately I get no reaction and no more itch or sores.
The little buggers which got me at Lake Maraboon were not sand flies. They looked like a minute beetle. That was Christmas Eve and the sores are just starting to fade now.
I don't think we can prepare for EVERY bug which wants our blood or to feed on our perspiration. We only learn about the allergy once we've been attacked.
Hang in there Ma. Ice in the very first instance can freeze the toxin, but it doesn't work for everything either.
Eucalyptus works on some bites. I carry it in the van all the time, but not in the car. We used to use metho a long time ago, and it did work after the sting stopped.
I hear it's ok in orange juice too. Don't try this at home folks.

I had the chance when I met Bob and Bev at Mildura last week on my way home from Greens Lake. Bev showed me the little gadget, and I tried it on my bites, but it didn't seem to stop the itch.
While I consciously tried NOT to scratch, I found myself (not that I was lost) scratching as I drove. Bugger!
One flared up more than the others, so I'd judge that as a higher allergy factor. Nothing I could do.

Well thats a bit of good news then Ma.

I might get a clicker just for the hell of it, maybe it will help the other half. He can't use sprays as he has an allergy to most of them

Let me know if the clicker works Fly.

It is evidently important to keep the body core as cool as possible to lessen the incessant itch.

When in the car I turn the aircon to "freezing" (much to Blue's chargrin) and direct the air flow to my ankles.

When in the van I wipe arms and legs with a wet face cloth and have the aircon as cold as I can bear it, or at least as cold as it will go.

It does work.

I have decided that during the night if it becomes too bad I will have my little laundry tub full of water underneath the table and I can then sit and read with my feet in the water and not disturb Blue's beauty sleep at some ungodly hour.

wendyv wrote:

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I have at times been affected by sandfly bites when up north. But for the first time ever, I seem to have been bitten by midges of some type - in my garden in outer suburban Melbourne! Same deal as sandflies - no idea I was being bitten at the time, but later (a day or two??) the blisters and itches. We are a very long way from the sea/mangroves etc, and have lived here for 20 years without anything like this happening before, so I am rather mystified - not to mention p***** off.

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 We had the same thing happen in Canberra, Wendy. An entymologist who's a mate of my partner's said that they are a type of sandfly, and they breed in damp soil.... summers have been uncommonly wet the last couple of years. Those blisters seem to be particular to sandfly bites with me, mossie bites are just a red lump that itches for 2 days and goes away. (Apparently the common name of Midge covers several kinds of little bitey including sandflies.) 

I hate having to use repellant every single day at home, but its worth it.

Hope you are feeling better Ma.

Gert, did the entymologist give any idea what could be used on the bites or the prevention, if any.

I use the telfast 180 when I travel and they seem to quell the itch a lot Gert. They help me sleep as well but nothing like the Polaramine, they knock me for six those babies.

Look out Blue!!! You'd better top up with some steroids to keep up with the girl.
I found ice was good to keep any inflammation to a minimum.
I was attacked at Emerald, way inland from the ocean, but there's water lying around everywhere from recent floods.
When I get attacked by sandflies I don't always feel it at the time of the bite, but as soon as I feel the sting I wash the spot with cool water. Apart from my first attack this seems to work.
This time it wasn't sand flies, but more like a tiny beetle, and I felt the bite while the little bugger was still sitting on my skin. I slapped him/her for the trouble they caused, and washed the spot, but this didn't work for this critter.
I developed inflamed really hot circles around the bite so I'm guessing I was a little bit allergic. Nothing seemed to calm the itch for about 5 days.
I don't usually suffer allergies so this little critter must be a doozy, just like my first sand fly attack.
The vitamin B does seem to keep the worst of the mozzies at bay, but the buzzing around the ears can be just as annoying as the bite.
I could even hear them buzzing outside my camp bed screens. Thank goodness for those screens.
I hope you really get on top of this and recover with the help of a good night's sleep. Nothing beats a good night's sleep.
(Must be getting old.)