Sand flies – how to treat bites and how to protect

On some beaches of Thailand, another unpleasant insect is found – sand fly or sandfly, similar to small midge. I wrote an article about mosquitoes and fever Denge, I did not appreciate the problem with which my readers encountered. On the phuket sand flies are not or found very rarely. They live on a pair of islands near. My tourists never were saint with sandflams. In any case, I did not complain. And not complain, seeing this, will not work.

What the sand flies look like?

Insect very much reminds our midge. Such insects appear at the beginning of summer, call their gnus. Tiny Black Taurus size of just a couple of millimeters. These midges have only two white or transparent with black wing stains. Sometimes you will not even see a sand fly. You can only feel a bite, and then see the consequences. Some people do not even notice bites.

Sand flies, like mosquitoes, need blood mammals for breeding. During the bite of flies, saliva with allergens are introduced, which launch the body’s protective reaction. Toxin does not act equally. Even more: not all people bite sand flies, only the most "Delicious".

The first symptoms are not always manifested immediately. Some bites begin to get it in a few hours, others – in a couple of days. I notice the first redness and blisters in the evening, if we bite the day.

Sand Fly or Sand Flea?

Do not confuse sandy flies with sand flea. The latter in Thailand is not found. Sand bluha looks like an ordinary, which Left-shelled. She moves jumps, she has no wings. Habitat – India, Africa, Central and South America. This insect is even called the Brazilian Earthy Bloch. It is dangerous by the fact that the fertilized female, when bitten, bite under the skin and remains there until the ripening of eggs. Of course, fleas in Thailand are, but not those called Sand Flea.

Another sand flea is called Emerita’s racks. Among their names – sea cicada, crab-mole and sandy crab. In Thai "Chuck Kachan Tala". On the phuket of such crustaceans collect, fry straight with the shell and eat. You can try marine cycades in the markets of the Indi-Market, Chilva Market and Sunday Fair on Talang Street. Pretty tasty snack.

Only sand flies can bite on the beaches of Thailand. In Thai, they are called "Rin us Khem", What is translated as "Sea midge" or "Moshka in salty water". In our sandy flies they call the hoists real, they belong to the genus Culicoides.

Where they live in Thailand?

Sand flies dwell throughout Asia, are found in Africa and America. China, Philippines, Cambodia, Maldives, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Madagascar, Dominican Republic – this is an incomplete list of countries. It turned out that in Thailand there are still not the most bloodthirsty. Statistics says that sand flies are found in wetlands: mangrove thickets, salty water dumps, algae beaches.

On Phuket, such flies are not seen. They live on a pair of islands near: Hong in the province of Krabi and Rang. On the latter there is a pearl farm, it is possible that it attracts insects. Hong Island in Krabi you are famous for the film "Jungle" with faith of Brezhnev and Sergey Svetlakov. This is part of the National Park. On the one hand, the island is located a chic white sand beach, on the other – the lagoon with mangroves.

In other places – in the Bay of Phang Nga, on the Islands of James Bond, Yao Yai, Phi Phi, Rock and Ha, Racha, Coral, in the Kao varnish area, on Krabi Beach – Insects did not bust. And never met sandy flies on Samui. They say that in Pangan and Tao bite.

Most of all busted on Chang Islands, Mac and Kud. Recreation sometimes even be alarming. Sand flies occur even in Pattaya, on the island of Samat, on the beaches of Chumphon, Cha-Ama and Hua Hina.

What the bites of sand flies look like?

All people have an individual response to insect bites. Very often any rash is taken for celebrating after a meeting with a sand fly. In the sea of ​​Thailand lives biting plankton. During swimming, you can feel shots similar to nettle. Burns look like small red dots and in a couple of days pass.

Among the plankton there are larvae of several types of jellyfish, which produce toxin from cutting cells already on land. Sea fleas – so they are collectively called – are not visible to the naked eye. When a person leaves the sea, marine fleas stick to his skin. Water flows, the body begins to push, and the larvae jellyfish die and discharge their combat shells. It turns out that someone climbed on the shore. The same reaction of marine fleas for fresh water and mechanical friction, such as a towel or swimsuit.

The bites of sand flies are unlike the burns from plankton. Tropical flies are combined into the skin and isolated with saliva special toxin. There is a clear track from the bite, similar to a micro yam. The first time the bite is unobesened, only a little bit. Then there is a red stain with a bubble of liquid at the site of the bite. After a few hours, the red spot is sprawling and harden. Over time, the bubble turns into an uneven blister, similar to crater. Sometimes it reaches the size of a 10-bato coin. Blembabs can burst, lymph leaked out of them, and then they pour again. So the body struggles with poison. Without treatment, bites are long, sometimes up to 1-2 months.

How to protect against flies?

There is a legend that these flies bite only at sunrise and sunset. My experience shows that they are active all daylight. Even in the most sun, sitting in the shade or walking along the edge of the water, you can meet evil females. To protect yourself, use repellents. Although they do not always help. It is better to use organic sprays with citronella and lemongrass.

Some helps a thick layer of coconut oil. Then the flies are harder to get to the skin through a sticky obstacle. As an option – oil for sunburn with SPF. And from the sun saves, and the flies do not bite. Apply oil after each bathing. Sea and fresh water also help to protect the sand flies. While you swim, they do not bite. As soon as the skin starts to push, flies here like here.

Than treat sand flies?

The reaction to the allergen in the saliva of the flies each of their own. I have blisters and the temperature rises if there are a lot of bites. A particularly sensitive colleague began fever from itching. Therefore, first-in-idle need to take antihistamins: Supratine will quickly remove the first signs of allergies. In Thai pharmacies, he is famous called Chlorpheniramine.

Contact your doctor if you have the following symptoms:

• heat,
• pain,
• labored breathing,
• numbness or tongue,
• big step in place bite.

The doctor discharges medicines and a treatment regimen. You need to rinse the seats of bites well with soap to disinfect the skin and wash off the remaining toxin. For local exposure, use antihistamine creams and ointment with hydrocortisone. SYSTRAL CREAM helps me. Therapeutic cream is shown in the bite of different insects, burns from jellyfish and plankton. After some time, the enemy falls, itching stops, and the wound heals without a scar. With Systral Cream, the recovery process takes 4-7 days against the month without it.

Sometimes it is recommended to use Thai balms, essential oils or Calamine Lotion, but they do not help me. You can still dry bubbles with Lymph iodine (Betadine) or a strong manganese solution (Potassium Permanganate). And do not fed the place of bite in order not to make an infection. Although it is incredibly difficult to fulfill. In particularly severe cases, the doctor will write antibiotics and injections with steroids.

In the saliva insects contain foreign proteins alien organism. They are allergic reaction. To alleviate itching, you need to destroy this protein of high temperature. Take a hot bath or shower. Some advise pm hot air from a hair dryer or make a hot spoon. From the untested methods you can use row with vinegar or economic soap. Say, acid or pitch should help destroy toxin.

Is it worth refusing a trip to Thailand because of the sandy flies? Absolutely not. You should not be afraid of them. Remember how to act in case of bite and apply knowledge in practice. Health to you!