Clayton, back on 1/2/09 said...I thought that it was mosquitos at home that were getting me, because I would go Kiting and come home fine, and then overnight wake up with terrible itching, and the next day look like I had been monstered by a squadron of Mosquitos.
When I had a bit of a dig, I found this:
www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/and this:
www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/community/pelicanitch.aspxIt seems like the dredging doesn't relate.
The summary is that it is likely to be a blood fluke. It comes out in water temps over 24 degrees, and wanders around the surface of the water looking for a bird to go and live in.
When it reaches a human, it burrows into the skin, but can't reach a blood supply and dies.
The itching and lumps is the bodies imune system response.
I have been getting it really badly between my waist and my knees.
My theory is that my full sleeve rashy keeps the little bastards off my body, the water flowing along my legs washes them off, but the trapped water under my boardies gives them time to attack.
My kite buddy wears a springsuit, and hasn't been bitten once.
I know that I probably just need to HTFU, but this **** is killing me, I can't sleep at night for the itching of these frigging bites.
I think until the water cools down a bit I might try and find some skins or similar to wear under my shorts to see if that helps.
SB
Keeping the wetsuit on to minimise infestation.
