Bedbug or no bedbuggs! Need your help!

hillaryj

Our three year old is waking up with dozens of tiny bites all over her body. Most often on back, torso and upper leg. We are trying to rule out bedbugs and thought you could help. Here is what makes me think it is not a bedbug. What do you think?
--Happened all of a sudden--this week going from no bites to dozens
--Her room has two windows with a tree outside..insects could be getting in.
--We examined everything in her room and saw no evidence (black or red droppings). We even did the flashlight thing in the middle of the night and nothing. And for the number of bites--wouldn't she need like dozens of bedbugs?
What makes my husband think it could be bedbugs:
--while they come in a huge cluster, within the cluster there may be a row of three
--they happen at night (or so it seems)
So, what do YOU think?
H

brooklynpotter

i think a: your child might have the chicken pox. and b: you need to bring your child to the doctor.

shishkab

do you have any pets? could also be fleas, esp. if she lays on the floor.

poor girl!!!

hillaryj

No pets...
H

jayce

sounds like a heat rash. I used to get that all the time as a kid when the weather would turn instantly hot and humid. god i dont miss those days.

good luck, Hillary.

emily

We had something that was biting me a few months ago and I was totally convinced it was bedbugs, but the exterminator said it wasn't. I wore OFF to bed for about four nights in a row, and whatever it was went away.

alafairnadia

I'd guess fleas or mosquitoes. I'm assuming you've done this, but just in case - google the various bugs you might be worried about and look at photos of how their bites appear on human flesh.

also, like emily described, put some sort of insect repellent on your child before bed. since she's so young, maybe skip off and go to natural heights and get one of the hippie bug repellents.

and cotton balls soaked with pennyroyal are excellent natural insect repellents - I use them all the time when traveling to latin america to keep fleas and mosquitoes away from my bed. just tuck them under the bottom sheet at the corners of the bed. hitch: I think that it's tough to get your hands on pennyroyal oil these days b/c some people screwed up trying to use it to induce a miscarriage. the internets may be of assistance.

hillaryj

Thanks all! I've asked everyone I know and have gotten these possibilites:

heat rash, chicken pox, impitego, a virus and fleas

I've ruled out scabies! Either way she sees the doc tomorrow at 9 AM--funny, I really don't care what it is as long as it's not bedbugs. We are referring to this as the Great Bedbug Scare of '07. I'll let you all know.

H

shishkab

good luck! and let us know

frugalandhep

you can always check out the begbug blog: http://bedbugblog.blogspot.com/

you can check if your building (or any nearby) have known infestations

i would recommend not looking at the pictures if you're squeemish about bites.

brooklynleather

frugal, make sure you send that to caitie.

hillaryj

Well the doc is treating her for scabies. She said it is very common and the first thing she thinks of. She also has it in "crevices" which is typical. The treatment is easy as overnight and if it doesn't work she'll look into something else. No to bedbugs though! She said they are a lot worse.
Thanks all.
H

shishkab

well, sorry she has to go thru this, but glad it's not bedbugs!!! thanks for the follow-up, HillaryJ. hope your little one is feeling better soon O:)

sweet tea

frugalandhep wrote: you can always check out the begbug blog: http://bedbugblog.blogspot.com/

you can check if your building (or any nearby) have known infestations

i would recommend not looking at the pictures if you're squeemish about bites.

i went to that site and even though i didn't look at the pictures, last night i dreamt i had a bed bug infestation in my ears.