Sand Flies in DB?

[jac8]

Hi just wondering if anyone else has had a problem with sandflies in DB? I got eaten alive while waiting at the bus stop near club siena. Is there any repellent that actually works and is safe to use on children too?
Thanks

[0ze_Kid]

Midge-es (a nick name) are evil little mites that I didn't know about until I moved to HK! The Dr told me they can only fly as high as your ankle but let me assure you I have a bad reaction to them and they bite my legs, arms and have been known to attack one of my kids' face (also reacts badly to them like me)!

We take a measures before going out (RID as a simple mossy repellent doesn't seam to do much, you need the heavy duty stuff - both the Drs clinics sell it and they have children version) and take antihistamine if more than one or two bites appear plus Anthisan which the Dr gave (you can get it from Watsons or the like) or Mopiko-s ointment for rubbing on the outside of your skin. When I didn't have the ointment I used calamine lotion.

Good luck

[gunsnroses]

Are they found in HK park too? Because a few days ago I was in the park during my lunch break and got bitten by really small bugs on my hands and it made the skin red & slightly bumpy and it was itching. It took 3-5 days for it get cured. Very very nasty bugs, ruined my plan of being with nature during my lunch hour.

[0ze_Kid]

I think they are all over. I first got attacked in Quarry Bay!

[jac8]

Thanks for your response Oze Kid, I will visit the Drs as soon as we arrive. I was just over checking out apartments last week. Sand flies seem to love me too and its incredible how my husband can be lying next to me on the beach and not get a single bite but I end up looking like Ive got chicken pox! Do you know if the repellent you are talking about contains DEET? I know its not really considered safe for long-term use in children so I am hoping to find an alternative.

Gunsnroses that does sound like sandflies. On me they become raised red bumps the day after, sometimes blisters and itch for at least a week.

[kenbo23]

Glad I found this thread..

my Fiancee has been getting bitten all over her feet at work and had no idea what was causing it.. I'd say i'm now 90% sure I know what it is.

I'll let her know.

Cheers.

[elle]

I it helps a bit: You do grow kind of immune to them after a few years. One way of spotting newcomers in DB is their bitten ankles. I had real problems and swollen spots all over my lower lags when I first arrived in DB - have not been bothered for a number of years since.

[0ze_Kid]

I believe RID does contain DEET. But the child version only has a very small amount in comparison to the adult. I used it when I new the kids were going to the park to play or down to the bus stop to wait for the bus. Otherwise we didn't use it and would live with the one or two bites that occurred in between. The beach was OK for us as we stayed on the sand and didn't go near the water. Still got one or two but it was not as bad as the playground.

[Lilybo]

Yey! So glad I'm not the only one - I've now been hiding in jeans for the last week after getting eaten alive at the beach playground - as quickly as I was knocking them off they were coming back at me!! I had even sprayed before I went out!!

Just good to know it's not just me who looks like they have chicken pox!! Oh to wear a skirt again sometime soon....!

[amseiko98]

Yes, sandflies absolutely love the bus stops at Siena. I always stand further away from the bus stop when it's very humid.