Chigger blister? (company, move, event)

[Greyhnd]

We moved to TN this past year, so not familiar with many of the insects/snakes we are finding here. Do you get a big blister from a chigger bite? My husband has been outside in the grass barefoot a few times (won't do that again!), had terribly itchy toes for a night or two, tried Epsom salt soak last night for some relief and wound up with a huge blister (looks like a jelly bean sitting on his foot). Does this sound like chigger bites? Is there a need to go to a dr, or just leave the blister alone (very uncomfortable but I don't want him to break it open and risk infection)? Thanks! (sorry for unpleasant subject )

[Forest Breath]

Sounds more like fire ants to me. I get them mowing, tilling, or just not paying attention to where I am walking. They burn and itch like no other bite for awhile and the next day you have a nasty little white colored blister on the area. Popping this blister, as tempting as it may be, will cause definate scarring.

I had a kitten screaming on the patio once. I picked it up and held it to my chest to comfort it. In a few seconds I got stung by about 50 fire ants all over my chest....NOT a pleasant experience at all! The blisters sometimes will remain for weeks.

Those ants are everywhere now....just be mindful and watch where you step.

[JoAnn5]

Naw, chiggers don't usually cause blisters.

[2mares]

I didnt realize fire ants had made it to E. TN. I havent encountered any here, but I had the misfortune to experience them one summer in Mississippi. OUCH!

Chiggers will just leave a red bump similar to a mosquito bite.

[Greyhnd]

Thanks very much for your replies. We had seen "chigger blisters" on the internet, so that's why we thought of that. Either way, very unpleasant. That poor kitty! (and you too, Forest Breath!). Now I will worry about my dogs, they are always lying in the grass.

[jabogitlu]

Not too many fire ants up this way, yet. (Eventually they will spread even further.) Far less than in Southern TN.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Forest Breath

Sounds more like fire ants to me. I get them mowing, tilling, or just not paying attention to where I am walking. They burn and itch like no other bite for awhile and the next day you have a nasty little white colored blister on the area. Popping this blister, as tempting as it may be, will cause definate scarring.

I had a kitten screaming on the patio once. I picked it up and held it to my chest to comfort it. In a few seconds I got stung by about 50 fire ants all over my chest....NOT a pleasant experience at all! The blisters sometimes will remain for weeks.

Those ants are everywhere now....just be mindful and watch where you step.

That poor kitten!!!!!! Were you able to help it?

Oh and back to the OP: yeah I agree with everyone else, that doesn't sound like a chigger blister to me, either. I've only gotten chiggers a couple of times and both times were when I was wearing short socks, and the chigger bites were all around the sock line on my ankle. They're itchy and annoying but nothing like a big blister. I'm going camping this weekend and will definitely have long socks and plenty of DEET.

[jabogitlu]

FYI, for chiggers: turpentine.

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by Greyhnd

We moved to TN this past year, so not familiar with many of the insects/snakes we are finding here. Do you get a big blister from a chigger bite? My husband has been outside in the grass barefoot a few times (won't do that again!), had terribly itchy toes for a night or two, tried Epsom salt soak last night for some relief and wound up with a huge blister (looks like a jelly bean sitting on his foot). Does this sound like chigger bites? Is there a need to go to a dr, or just leave the blister alone (very uncomfortable but I don't want him to break it open and risk infection)?

IMO, it sounds like he may've gotten into some poison ivy or poison oak. You might want to check your yard where he's been walking just to see if you see either one. I've had huge blisters erupt on my fingers after unwittingly tangling w/ a poison ivy vine.

A fire ant's sting causes immediate pain and the blister/pustule that comes up afterwards is generally much smaller than a jelly bean.

[Greyhnd]

Well, it doesn't seem like fire ants if you would immediately know that you were stung, as he wasn't aware of any particular bite/sting at the time, just his top of feet/toes getting itchy for 2 nights, then the blister appeared after soaking. Re: poison ivy, we have had that quite often, so don't think it could be that, though I know what you mean about the small blisters that accompany a bad case of poison ivy; I've had them many times.