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<\/p>\nINSECT bites are a not-so-pleasant souvenir many of us bring back from our holidays. <\/p>\n
And it can often be hard to figure what kind of creepy crawly has left us with such a memento. <\/p>\n
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One creature you might not have heard of are jiggers – also known as chigoe or sand fleas. <\/p>\n
The little pests often go for your feet and ankles, leaving a line of itchy bites that mask something pretty gross.<\/p>\n
But you're unlikely to fall victim to jiggers unless you've travelled to certain areas. <\/p>\n
Here's everything you need to know. <\/p>\n
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Jiggers are little fleas known by an number of different names and can be found in sandy areas, such as beaches, farms, and stables.<\/p>\n
They're pretty tiny, not easy to spot with a naked eye. <\/p>\n
Luckily for Brits, you should be safe from these painful bites unless you're travelling to an area with chigoe fleas. <\/p>\n
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the little pests can be found in limited distribution in Central and South America, Africa and the Indian sub-continent. <\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Health reported that you may find jiggers in: <\/p>\n Jigger bites will appear as a cluster of red dots on your skin. <\/p>\n You probably won't notice if a sand flea is having a nibble of you in the moment. <\/p>\n But the bite itself won't necessarily be the problem. <\/p>\n The female fleas will usually go for your ankles and feet. <\/p>\n They'll burrow into the skin there, after which males will meet them briefly to reproduce, according to Nancy Hinkle, a professor at the University of Georgia's Department of Entomology. <\/p>\n She told Health that this process is called tungiasis. <\/p>\n The female flea will expel her eggs to the ground after mating and will eventually die and fall out of your foot after about two weeks. <\/p>\n After burrowing under the skin, the flea typically forms a white, disc-like shape with a black point at the centre, according to Very Well Health. <\/p>\n Over time, the round skin lesion turns black and you miht also experience inflammation, pain, swelling, and itching. <\/p>\n You're not the only one whose stomach is turning at the thought. But according to Dr Hinkle, even the burrowing and egg laying isn't the problem. <\/p>\n Basically, the opening in your skin created by the female jigger crawling into it can make you vulnerable to developing a bacterial infection, which in some cases can lead to tetanus or gangrene. <\/p>\n Dr Hinkle advised you get the fleas removed from your skin in a sterile way and then covered in a dressing. <\/p>\n You'll then be given a tetanus shot if yours isn't up to date, and medications such as dimethicone are pretty effective in treating the bites. <\/p>\n The best way to protect yourself from being bitten by chigoe fleas – or any another critter for that matter – is to wear insect repellent. <\/p>\n It's best to opt for a bug spray that contains DEET. <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/crop-23696090.jpg\")
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What do jigger bites look like?<\/h2>\n
Do jiggers go away on their own?<\/h2>\n
Read More on The Sun<\/span><\/h2>\n
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