Came back from my trip to Lang Tengah with 14 sand fleas bites, so I decided to google for more information on how to prevent and treat the bites..
I found the article from
http://malaysiadivingcommunity.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4622 very useful but after suffering from terrible itch, I decided to consult a doctor who prescribed me 3 medicines and a cream to prevent further infection.
On personal note, I feel that the best way to prevent the bites are to
keep your body dry - example apply powder on your legs whenever you go for walks along the beach cos apparently fleas LIKE damp surfaces.
In treating the bites, one must again keep your body dry especially after bath and not to scratch. That is why it's important to see doctor or pharmacist to get anti-itch medicine especially during night time as we humans have tendency to unconsciously scratch when we slumber.
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Recently I have also suffered from itchy face. For more details and how to treat it click
JL Journal.what-do-you-use-when-your-face-itch
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Listed below is the very useful excerpt from Malaysia Diving forum:-
In many cases, a trip to the beach means a sand flea bite or several
bites. What are sand fleas and should I be concerned if I get bitten?
A
sand flea is also known by many other names. For example, this
crustacean (although it resembles an insect, the sand flea is actually
not one) is also called a sand fly, beach flea, hop-a-long, no-see-um,
biting midge, and punkie or punky. The sand flea is less than 1/8 of an
inch (3 mm) long and is often difficult to see. It is a shrimp-like
creature in appearance and ranges in color from pale to brownish. The
body has seven segments and it has long legs that are used for swimming
or jumping. They are known to jump to a height of at least 40 cm and
therefore, it is unusual to experience a sand flea bite on upper body
parts unless the victim was lying down. The bites are normally found in
clusters around the ankles.
Sand fleas feed on organic and
decaying plants. A favorite treat is seaweed on the beach. Whenever
seaweed washes to shore, there will be a large number of sand fleas
around and a sand flea bite is likely to occur. In general, the sand on
the beach is a popular location for these fleas to live.
A sand
flea bite is most likely to occur at dawn or in the evening and night
time hours on the beach or other sandy areas that are near water.
Wetlands, swamplands, creeks, and lakebeds are other areas where sand
fleas can be found. Sand fleas generally stay close to their breeding
ground. They never wander more than 350 feet or about 100 meters from
their breeding area. Sand flea swarms produce a high-pitched wine.
Therefore, if you are on the beach and you hear something like this, it
is best to move or risk a sand flea bite.
The fleas will jump
onto the feet, ankles, legs, and then bite. They are very persistent and
quite annoying. Because of their small size, a sand flea bite occurs
before individuals even know any sand fleas were in the area. Like a
mosquito, a sand flea bites to thingy blood. It is the female sand fly
that bites. It does this in order to get the protein from the blood that
is necessary for its egg laying. The sand flea bite involves the
injection of saliva to thin the blood, making it easier for the flea to
take blood from its victim. This same saliva triggers the body’s immune
system to react.
Despite its size, the bite from a sand flea is
quite painful. In fact, most of the time the bite is more painful than
one from a typically larger mosquito. In addition to pain, the bite
causes a large welt or rashes on the skin that can persist for several
days. A fever may also occur. The welts or hives produced from bites are
very itchy. Scratching the bitten areas should be avoided in order to
prevent the development of an infection. Scratching will also prolong
the symptoms of swelling, itch, and skin redness.
Sand flea
bites are also known to carry various diseases such as Carrions disease,
the Pappataci fever virus, and various parasites that can cause
conditions such as Leishmaniasis.
Leishmaniasis is not as widely
known as malaria, but is just as painful and dangerous. Because the
sand flea feeds on human blood, there is the possibility of transferring
protozoan parasites that are responsible for this disease to humans.
Leishmaniasis
is more likely to be encountered in the Mediterranean, North Africa,
The Middle East, South East Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean.
There are various forms of the disease:
Mucocutaneous: Skin ulcers form which spread and cause tissue damage to the nose and mouth areas in particular.
Diffuse Cutaneous: Widespread skin lesions develop which resemble leprosy.
Cutaneous:
This is the most common form of Leishmaniasis and is characterized by
numerous skin sores on the body that develop weeks or months after
experiencing a sand flea bite. The sores usually leave scars that can be
quite disfiguring.
Visceral: This is the most serious form of the disease and can be fatal if left untreated.
Other
problems, which may become present anywhere from a few months to years
after the bites occurred include fever, damage to the spleen and liver,
and anaemia.
Treatment procedures and prevention steps for a
sand flea bite are similar to those of mosquitoes. If more severe
reactions are encountered or if there are signs of Leishmaniasis, then
the sand flea bite requires professional medical treatment. As of 2006,
there is no vaccine to combat Leishmaniasis caused by a sand flea bite.
Treatment
In
order to get relief from the bite symptoms, a bite treatment is
required. A bite treatment involves washing the affected areas with soap
and water to ensure no infections develop and to help reduce the itch.
Applying soap directly to the bite has been suggested as an itch
remover. Use a cold compress on the bite site to help alleviate the
itch, swelling, and redness. Bite treatment may also involve some of the
procedures listed below.
Making a paste of baking soda and water and spreading it over the bites.
Using calamine lotion or a topical anesthetic to help relieve the itch and pain.
Itching can also be relieved by using a one percent hydrocortisone cream.
Anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen will help with the swelling and pain.
The use of antihistamines is also a useful mosquito bite treatment because they will alleviate the itch and swelling.
Aloe
vera gel is an effective all natural mosquito bite treatment. This
compound reduces swelling and itching and soothes the affected area.
A mosquito bite treatment is also available in the form of commercial products specifically designed for this purpose.
Not
scratching the bite area is an effective bite treatment. Scratching
prolongs the swelling, itch, and discomfort, and can open the skin and
cause an infection. If the bite area becomes red and swollen and if the
area around the bite feels warm to the touch, the bite may be infected.
If this condition persists and does not respond to a standard bite
treatment, then consult a physician.
