Serious medical advice needed

pict

pict

Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Messages
2,373
A few weeks ago I went out for an overnighter with my daughter. All fine and good, the field we camped in was loaded with tiny chiggers. We had Deet'ed up pretty good and it took care of the immediate problem.

Upon arriving home I had to hit it running and didn't get around to cleaning up my gear for two days. Two days later, messing with my packs and bush clothes I got slammed by chiggers, this time with no DEET. I ended up with about 50 bites:eek:

OK, I've been down this road before 3x worse. The problem is that apparently I have developed a serious allergic reaction to chiggers and it sent me into anaphalactic shock (sp?). Hands swelled up, skin on fire, hives, massive drop in blood pressure.

I wound up spending the evening in the hospital, serious IV meds, adrenaline shot, O2, the works. At the time I didn't connect it to the chigger bites but I'm almost positive that was the culprit.

So. I'm confident that I can DEET my way out of a serious chigger attack in the bush but it does give me pause. How is such a reaction treated in the bush? What kind of meds could I take along to lessen the severity of such a thing? I realize that I won't be able to be in the bush anymore without preventative chigger repellent, religiously applied, but I want to have some sort of medical back-up in my kit because this is something I will face long term. Help! Mac
 
I would talk to my doctor and get some allergic test performed. Once they find out what causes the allergic reaction you could ask for an emergency medical kit. These can be prescribed by a doctor. Or they can opt for desensitivation treatment where they administer very small amounts of the allergene so your body slowly builds up anti-allergene in your system.

An anti allergene kit is very usefull to have, my daughter has one for bees (they also know what to do when she get's stinged at school). It includes epinephrine injection that you can immediately self-administer if you are stung, anti inflamatoiry oitment, and an oral antihistamine drug called zyrtec for a doubtable case (sting without definite identification of the culprit). They also have a note what to do when she get's stung.

two of the most "bug sting kits" well known brands are Epi-pen and Ana-kit

http://darbydrug.com/scripts/prodpage.aspx?CAT=14&SUB=252&GRP=DM99257008

http://darbydrug.com/scripts/prodpage.aspx?CAT=14&SUB=252&GRP=DM99257007

I believe the Ana-kit would be the most usefull in your situation

Stay Safe
 
Don't depend on DEET. Anaphalactic shock is not to be taken lightly ! It's life threatening !! You'll carry a kit with antihistamine and adrenaline and it's a good thing to teach family members how to administer them ...I know a man who was stung many times by bees while working on a roof and developed anaphalactic shock reaction to them because of it. He now carries at all times [except winter] such a kit.
 
Mongo-man,

Great info. I've been losing sleep over this thing. I know other people face this kind of reaction with far more common circumstances, peanuts and such.

I have been planning to visit an allergist to make sure it was the chiggers. Last year I was bitten about 150 times on a weekend survival course and I think that episode created the allergy. Aside from this I have no other allergies so this isn't something I'm used to thinking about. It's good to know there are kits out there like the ones you posted.

The reaction I had was really scary. I just started crashing all of a sudden here at home watching TV. A friend drove me to the hospital just in time for me to start passing out.
If this had happened in the bush I would have been crow food. Mac
 
I did some quick research on permethrin. This really seems like the stuff for chemical war on ticks and chiggers, it kills on contact. US military uniforms soaked in a treatment gave 100% protection from ticks. In addition to a allergy reaction kit it looks like I won't be going to the bush again until the BDU's, pack, bag, and bivy are treated with this stuff.

I've maintained that the most dangerous animals in the tropics all weigh less than a gram. In my case a gram-full of chiggers could prove fatal. Apparently permethrin is highly lethal to them on contact, the treatment lasts through repeated washings and the particular death they die sounds nasty. Time to stock up. Mac
 
If this can help, never, but NEVER think about a tracheoscopy as a solution.

When I took my first aid class (is this term correct? sorry I'm french) they told us that if it's not made under medical supervision (i-e in a hospital/ambulance), it get infected most of the time and the person just die anyway.
 
get an ana-kit from your doctor and carry benadryl. If you have any cardiac arrythmias, the ana-kit may be somewhat risky for you, but still may be a life saver. Consult your doctor. You displayed all the classic signs of an unstable anaphylaxis patient: hives (uritcaria), swelling (angioneurotic edema) and hypotension (low BP).

I'm a paramedic and our anaphylaxis protocol is 0.3mg epinephrine (the usual dose in a prescription epi-kit or ana-kit, and in our jurisdiction is considered the maximum adult dose) followed by 50 mg of Benadryl (diphenhydramine) followed by an IV of normal saline to deal with hypotension if it's present. These treatments are often very effective, but as you say, prevention is probably the best medicine in this case.....
 
I carry an Epi-pen and liquid Benedryl (generic) for a tree nut allergy.

Almost died a couple years ago from them, and don't wanna re-do that. Luckily I've had allergies all my life and had the generic Benedryl liquid at home plus pills. I think I took about 125 mg before we left for the hospital, then they gave me more when I got there.

Anaphylaxis is NOTHING to mess with.

The next onset may not be so slow to present, and can be even more intense, i.e. potentially fatal...

Get tested to see if it is the chiggers/mites.

Get an Epi-pen.

If the bugs are the answer, you have some major decisons to make.
 
I am a doctor. Always hesitate to give medical advice on-line but in this case it seems prudent.

First -- see an allergist and make sure it was chigger bites that caused the reaction.

If it was -- DO NOT REEXPOSE yourself. Anaphalaxis has a tendency to get worse with subsequent exposures. Your airway can close off and you could die in literally minutes. Don't spray on some OFF and hope you don't get bitten..

Follow up with your allergist. They should have some recommendations for you.
 
Kimper said:
If it was -- DO NOT REEXPOSE yourself. Anaphalaxis has a tendency to get worse with subsequent exposures.
Click to expand...

Assuming it was the chiggers, is it possible to know the extent of the problem. Can you medically determine if 1, 10 or 100 bites is enough to trigger an attack?

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
Assuming it was the chiggers, is it possible to know the extent of the problem. Can you medically determine if 1, 10 or 100 bites is enough to trigger an attack?

-Cliff
Click to expand...
Well, technically one, and that is the sort of thing that unfortunatly does happen.

Pict, as Kimper said you should try to make sure where the reaction come from. I've been told once, being the "victim" of some sort of allergic attack that if some critters bite you near blood flow veins (or something like that, I don't pretend to be a MD and that was some time ago), you can have a generalized reaction, without really being allergic.

So check first.

Now, about "real" allergies.

I've some lookalike allergic reaction quite recently (actually it was not but that's not the point) and I had an occasion to talk with my doctor about allergies.

Here is what he told me:
* allergies can occur about two-three days after you ate, got bitten... by the wrong thing.
* you can quite suddently become allergic to something you've been exposed many times before. Doctors can't explain how it works yet.
* allergies, particularly violent ones, keep getting worst after each exposure, from skin reactions to anaphalactic shock.
* there are some "de-sensibilisation" treatments that exist, but not for all allergies, and they don't work that well.

Anyway, that's serious problem, and I think you should try to identify the cause first, and until keep away from whatever it could be.

And of course you should talk to a doctor first, preferably a specialist if available. There are also some "medical" forums on the internet that could give you better first advice.
 
That is interesting, are there ideas yet on why this happens to some people but why other people have the opposite effect and after awhile it doesn't tend to bother them, bee sand scorpian stings for example? Bees have been started to be used medically recently and there are a number of people who get stung on a semi-regular basis. Have one bit have the potential for a severe reaction would pose a pretty severe hazard indeed.

-Cliff
 
I had had no reactions before almost buyin it.

Ate some hazelnuts and brazil nuts, and that was all it took. Had been eating them all my life.

Go get tested.

Remember, they may not want to test you even, since even the test can evoke a reaction.

I hope you find the allergen man.

Deadly allergies suck.....
 
For what it's worth the advice on the epi-pens and the allergy checks are heading you in the right direction. We carry the epi-pens on our ambulances just for such an emergency. It is important that you have your doctor or a specialist do the allergy tests on you. A doctor will have to prescribe the pen if warranted. Remember, it is a matter of life or death. If you have to carry one, make sure all you hang with are aware of it and how to use it. That info in their hands just may save your life! Good luck!
 
Yes, be sure those around you know how to administer should the doc prescribe the Epi-pen or ANA-kit.

I brought in 4 out-of-date Epi-pens (liquid had turned colour) to our staff meeting and let people see them, and then let a few "inject" an empty soda bottle. I also brought in an extra training device supplied with the Epi-pens now.

Go get tested.....:thumbup:
 
Just remember EPI pens are short acting and a one shot deal. If you are in the woods or far from help you need A LOT! more EPI as it only lasts minutes and your throat could close up again.

MANY MANY people have no idea this is the case, talk to your DR.

Skam
 
Pict,

Sorry to read that. Reading you over the forums, I have come to like you, buddy. I'd hate to hear you hit the forest floor because of an allergic reaction. I'd also be pretty pissed to know that you'd have to permanently change your lifestyle because of this...

However, further risk of exposure to that allergen (see an allergist and get tested !) is a no-go. As already pointed out, it gets worse every time. The first anaphylactic reaction is a mere warning, usually, compared to the second one...

Carry some ephedrin AND liquid benadryl as a liquid is easier to swallow when your throat starts to swell. Get people around you aware of your situation and teach them how to use the stuff...

Above all, see an allergist. Once you find out to what you're allergic, you'll be able to prevent more effectively and eventually get desensitized to it. Some desensitizations protocols are available. They're long and somehow risky but on the long run they can improve your safety and let you do what you like...

That being said, I'm glad you survived and I hope you'll be fine now !

Cheers,

David
 
Guys,

Thanks for your advice and concern. A Dr. friend back in the States is going to get me some Epi-Pens and have them shipped down to me. I'm also going to order a healthy supply of assorted Permethrin products to slay the little monsters.

It is a sobering thought that such a reaction could be fatal, or that the next time could be worse. I'm not going to take any chances with this. At least when I go to the higher elevations there aren't any chiggers or ticks.

I'm not ready to take up knitting yet but until I can keep them off me and have serious meds to treat a reaction I'm stuck on the pavement. Not that the pavement in Brazil is actually any safer. Thanks again. Mac
 
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