Sandwiched
I’m sure many of us in Central Indiana have experienced chigger bites. I’ve had a few cases of them in the past. Typically they in result in 15 to 20 little red dots on my body that annoy me slightly with mild itching for a couple of days. They last for about two to three weeks and haven’t been a big deal.
After a wonderful vacation last week in Branson, Mo., however, I realize not all chiggers are the same. Apparently Missouri chiggers are monstrous, ferocious beings sent straight from the pit of hell.
While watching one of the fantastic water and fire shows at Branson Landing near Lake Taneycomo, I decided up to climb up on the nearby wall to sit and give my aching feet a rest. I hardly noticed the bushes at my back as I watched the wonderful display.
I guess I picked out a favorite hangout for local chiggers. I noticed a few tiny red bumps the next day after we got home but figured once again that they wouldn’t be a problem.
Those tiny bumps morphed into more than 70 big, ugly, red, itchy welts last Monday. And I’m not talking about a mosquito-bite itch. I mean maddening, skin-crawling, insanely intense itching like I’ve never felt before.
Sure enough, after doing some research, I discovered that Missouri is chigger country. They generally live in dense grass, brambles, and … bushes. Ugh.
Naturally I’ve been gathering advice from friends and researching every remedy known to mankind to find relief from the crazy itching. Thankfully hydrocortisone cream has helped me sleep and kept me sane. But putting it on each spot every four hours, which includes my back, has been comical.
Apparently, even though the itching should subside soon, I’ll still be sporting these lovely red spots for two to three weeks as well.
So, Dear Readers, please learn from my story as you go out and about enjoying what summer has to offer. Cover up well with long sleeved shirts and pants when hiking and avoid overgrown trails. Use insecticides like permethrin, which is sprayed on clothes, to deter or kill chiggers.
And for Heaven’s sake, steer clear of those darn bushes, especially if you’re visiting the lower Midwest!