Cyprus-Forum.com

[Marg]

I recently spent some days on Cyprus and got bitten? by a small something or other that left me with loads of pinhead-sized red bumps. Not really itchy, as with mossie bites, but the darned things aren't going away. I felt the 'attacks' which happend in the evenings.

Only managed to swat one 'beast' that looked like a tiny greyish fly.
What are these and just how long do the marks take to disappear?

I'd appreciate your comments.

Marg

[Niki]

I think they must be the 'no see-um's" as they're called here. Really nasty little bu**ers and very difficult to see (hence the name).

They are so small they can fit through the mosquito screen mesh. I was bitten so badly in May and when we moved here in July but I think they must had died down now unless I've become more immune to the bite!

The way I ended up avoiding them was to spray the bedroom an hour before bed and have a plug-in.

[Marg]

Thanks Niki
You described them exactly.
Any idea how long the red marks take to disappear? Mine are over 2 weeks now.
I don't live on Cyprus and only have the occasional harmless but itchy mosquito bites to deal with here in Germany.

[tessintrnc]

Hi Marg, I too get long lasting bites from these little flies, they seem to bite more than once in the same areas dont they? The red marks have gone, but I can still feel the tiny bumps under my skin around 3 - 4 weeks later.
Tess

[Niki]

Yes 3-4 weeks I think. I can't really suggest any cure or prevention.

Immunity does kick in after the first thousand bites!

[Marg]

Thanks for the replies Nicki and Tess. All I have to do it seems is to be patient.

[allanm]

I have had my bites for 2 weeks now and they are as itchy as ever.
Mine are still blisters and red. l have tried alsorts of treatment nothing has worked.
CJ

[Marg]

This doesn't describe what I had/have CJ. They were best described by Nicki [ above]..not blisters rather pin sized red marks and countless. The bites I felt at the time. They were not itchy. They are getting paler in colour and remain as a slight 'bump'.
Thanks for your comments anyway.
Marg

[michalis5354]

Thanks Niki
You described them exactly.
Any idea how long the red marks take to disappear? Mine are over 2 weeks now.
I don't live on Cyprus and only have the occasional harmless but itchy mosquito bites to deal with here in Germany.

Maybe you can apply an antiseptic cream to the affected area this will make the healing faster. This is If the spots are due to mosquito bites .

If you have small red itchy spots appearing everywhere on your skin (and not feeling well)then you need to see a physician for antibiotic treatment .

[observer]

They sound like sandfly, also known in Cyprus as grassfly.
You can read more about them here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_fly

You can catch sandfly fever from them. Symptoms high temperature and weakness for a couple of days, followed by feeling generally run down for a week or two. Obviously some people are worse affected than others but it does seem that once you have had it you are unlikely to have a repeat dose.

And yes, they do itch like crazy.