I just got back from Belize on Friday and the bumps on my skin and the itching is getting progressively worse (at least is seems this way). Does anyone have any recommendations for what might get rid of them? I think I might scratch through my skin if they don't go away soon.

I will say that the trip to Belize was worth the fleas..... it's incredible there.

Hi Angie,

I think I have some relief for you!!!

I am from Canada, but have lived in Belize for the last 6 years...

My husband has fairly sensitive skin, and occasionaly has some problem with Poison Wood...it is a tree in Belize, that causes problems similar to Poison Oak.

His skin gets a small red area, with small bumps that are really itchy. If you scratch them, the fluid in them will cause more redness and itching.

We were in Belize for Hurricane Keith, and afterwards, his legs were having a major reaction...the water we had walked through had Poison wood that had fallen into it, and his legs got a rash all the way up his thighs. When we flew out 5 days after the storm passed, his legs were really bad, and we wound up in the Houston Hospital as a medical emergency. The doctor that examined him said he didn't know the plant, but he knew how to stop the reaction.

He gave us Benedryl and Zantac...both over the counter drugs. He said they are TH1 and TH2 inhibitors...and they dried up the fluid immediately....well, within 24 hours! It is the fluid that causes the itching and speads the rash.

On the other hand, if the bumps are just one bite each, and they are swollen big red bumps, then it might be an allergy to Sand flies. I have only seen this type of reaction once before, and it was allergies.

I would suggest trying the Benedryl and Zantac combo. The benedryl will make you sleepy though so don't take it before you go to work!

Hope that helps!

Wendy
www.belizediscountvacations.com
Your Key to Belize

I don't have any ideas - but I'm having EXACTLY the same issue - the bumps showed up AFTER I got back from Belize. and It's unlikely that I got bit on the night before I left .. . is this just some sort of hives b/c my body can't adjust to civilization?. . .and I've been sneezing like crazy for three days - some crazy histamine thing? anyone have any ideas?

Same here not untill 3 days after I got back did my legs break out, knees down at least 50 bites each leg. 48 hours of hell. I thought I was lucky I got no bites while there while other people were getting bites and itching. I must have had some delayed reaction. Not fun. Was in the southern are of Placentia.

I get bad sand flea bites from the carribean, and they do get worse the day or two after you get back. I went to the doctor the first time this happened, he explained that it's the change in climate that makes these bites appear once home...the bites are there while you're in Belize, they just aren't bothering you as bad. Anyway, he gave me prescription medicine that did not help any more than over the counter. I would suggest what everyone else has...benadryl and a topical ointment. A trick I learned in Jamaica...put overproof rum on them, then wipe bites with a slice of lime....it dries them out. Even without anything, they will get progressively better over the next few days.

Whatever you do, do NOT scratch them. Find whatever you can to help the itch. I have a horrible allergie to pretty much anything that bites me - ESPECIALLY sand flies.

If you scratch them they will get ALOT worse - I have the scars to prove it. I won't be able to wear a skirt/dress in public for awhile. I looked like an AIDS patient with the sores all over my legs. It wasn't pretty.

Just try to ignore them and they will go away. If you see a red spot in any of the bites - squeeze them until a clear liquid comes out. Also, like Wendy said - Benedryl helps too (I was also swollen).

I came home on my last trip and they went away much quicker when I did these two things.

Next time you want to ask for a local bush (plant) while your there, that can help aliviate it.