Insect bites

[barrov]

Originally Posted by HelenMW

... Therefore I can generally be seen watering my veggies at the height of summer wearing trousers tucked into wellies, an old mens skirt tucked into the trouser, gloves & a hat- definitely more Margot than Barbara!!

I now have visions of a lady wearing wellies, trousers, a kilt and a hat, dodging mosquitoes whilst watering the plants...

[Rosie King]

Have just come home from Lunigiana and my legs look like a war zone - bites galore. I'm so pleased I'm not the only one - have read all the comments, and will try some of the remedies. Rosie

[Lorraine]

I'm afraid the only thing that works for me is antibiotics regardless of the sting/bite.
Been bitten/stung in Greece, Italy, Canada, England, Spain etc. (redheads a must) and the only cure has been a visit to either hospital or doctor for a prescription. Came back from Canada and first stop was the hospital and an injection and course of anitbiotics. In Greece ended up with what can only be described as a punch in the eye after being bitten by a horse fly - never felt a thing, but my eye was so swollen the owner of our accommodation thought my husband had lamped me one. Sun glasses were needed for the next seven days.
Lorraine

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Noble

If you are bitten the itch can be cured almost instantly with a cream in a tube, from the Farmacia, it's called FARGAN. It smells of lavender!

My wife is very allergic to zanzare and gets large marks that are raised, red and feel hot to the touch. We tried various products and for her nothing worked to prevent the bites but for me to go around the house swatting the bugs. If she got a bite, after much trial and error and lots of visits to the farmacia, we found only Fargon works and must be put on soon after the initial bite.

[Penny]

Thank you. My husband is fine now but we did have to go to the hospital as the sting site turned black and looked like some type of necrosis. Very horrible. Interestingly he has now turned from someone who was never allergic to anything to having had two other allergic reactions to ordinary stings and plant sap. It must have left him a bit weakened.

[Gala Placidia]

I was stung by a nasty bee at Montefegatessi a month ago. I still have a mark on my leg. It was horrible! But I applied alcohol on and it helped. But for a while the sting site also looked like some type of necrosis.

[headyheady]

I got bitten twice by a horse fly after a thunder storm at Lago Trasimeno last week - I too didn't feel anything and then the bites swelled up and turned yellow. I just kept applying ice and anti histamine cream. Ice always works the best for me - it takes the heat out.

[tinacara]

I keep Vape Magic plugged in all night to keep the zanzare away but I've recently heard that keeping a geranium plant or a basil plant in the room will keep them away! Anyone willing to put it to the test??
I've been using fargan cream for more than 15 years- it's great !!

[fudgieoto]

Fargan is good for the after affects, also is the pure alcohol they sell here for the limoncello. It eases the sting.
Citrinella insense sticks for the garden work well, so it you have a small pot near to the door , put on in the pot and light, similar for the windows, if you leave them open.
Also now they sell an outdoor spray that is meant to keep the area free up to 8 hours from flies mozzies etc. cost about 6 euro a spray.

Hope this helps

gill

[pjay]

Some bites are worse than others, and can last for days. After 3 years in Italy we have decided that Germolene is good, ( boots do not stock it anymore).
Also I agree with the member who suggests Vitamin B . Brewers Yeast is very cheap in the UK, so take some tablets before going where you know the " diners" are waiting for you.
Not very happy to try out the lighted cig method - The italians all say do not scratch the bite -very difficult. My husband swears by vinegar, so smells like a fish & chip shop.