Diagnosis? Something in the woods

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,120
68
Florida
No medical expert but from personal experience that looks like allergic reaction rather than bites.
I hope whatever the cause it's gone soon and doesn't come back.

It's possible it's an allergic reaction to bites. That would explain why his wife and kids didn't have the same rash (they may have been bitten also but didn't react)
 

wicca

Native
Oct 19, 2008
1,065
34
South Coast
It's an extremely annoying creature particularly prevalent at this particular time known as a Politicinas de campaignus. They have a tendency to get under people's skins and cause extreme irritation and are notoriously difficult to avoid, even I understand, capable of transferring their infection from things like newspaper, and not just by physical contact.

The only consolation I can offer is that their season of high infection is relatively short and normally dies away to an insignificant annoyance afterwards. I would suggest that within 48 hours the majority of these irritating bugs will be hard to find in an urban area and almost impossible to trace in a rural environment. So the cure is grin and bare it for a little while longer, and allow yourself to rejoice in the certain knowledge that quite a few of them will soon lose their ability to inflict pain and discomfort on people.
Or you could try Calamine lotion.......;)
 

Silkhi

Forager
Mar 28, 2015
202
7
N Yorks
Ouch you have my sympathies. As someone who is both super tasty to insects and prone to allergies I am erring towards an allergic reaction to...something...maybe even an allergy to bites as suggested elsewhere. Allergies can get nasty fast if you get clammy/sweaty. Might be easier to tell later on when the swelling goes down.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,463
492
47
Nr Chester
Does not look right for chiggers. There would have to be hundreds of the little bleeders. Plus they tend to prefer the arm-pits, waste band, groin etc. I am a magnet for the little bleeders.

Certainly looks more reaction that lots of individual bites.

Heal fast and resist the itch!
 

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