Intense itching at night since travelling to the Philippines
Replies: 6 - Last Post: Dec 8, 2012 3:25 PM Last Post By: nutraxfornerves
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Intense itching at night since travelling to the Philippines
Been 3 months since I travelled to the Philippines, since then I have been itching all over at night time. The itching leaves papules on my skin, mainly in the web things between the fingers and the back of hands. Curiously I have no itching during the day, it starts at sunset until I sleep. For the record, I am in the United Kingdom so we can rule out mosquito bites etc.My wife has the same symptoms, but not my two children who travelled with us.
My GP here is at a loss and a blood test he did last week was inconclusive and he is yet to offer any diagnosis or prescription.
Anyone here brave enough here to offer a speculative diagnosis? Is filariasis a sensible possible cause?
Thank you
1
My first thought is scabies. Since both you & your wife have it, it seems to rule out some of the other possible causes.Scabies is caused by is a tiny mite that burrows into the skin. Symptoms include:
• Itching, especially at night
• Rashes, especially between the fingers see picture
- Sores (abrasions) on the skin from scratching and digging
- Thin, pencil-mark lines on the skin
The link above is from the UK NHS. It talks about diagnosis & treatment, as well as describing scabies.
My second thought is that you might want to consult a dermatologist
2
Of course!seems so obvious now. which makes me wonder why my doctor has been so useless and has had me running around in circles these last few months with no progress.
Off to the pharmacy first thing in morning to get the Lyclear 5% permethrin cream, also will be getting some alternative rememdys such as Pine Oil soap
I guess I need to apply the Lyclear to my kids as well? correct? even though they are asymptomatic
4
Im not so sure about it being scabies... I had a pretty wicked itchy monstrosity on my back a few years ago. Im not sure what it was but it was itching with such intensity and persistence I thought I was would lose my mind. Seriously. To help calm the itch I was taking scalding hot showers four times a day, including when I woke at 3am. Then I would clean it with rubbing alcohol which would help dry out whatever was causing the itch. The only reason why Im not sure it was scabies was that it went away fairly "easily". I was unemployed at the time and didnt have insurance so I was unable to see a doctor to verify.You dont seem to have that desperate tone bordering on insanity in your email so Im inclined to think you might have some kind of annoying fungus, like athletes foot which also loves warm damp places like in between your fingers.
5
filiarisis papule I am having second thoughts about it being scabies.Went to the pharmacy today to get some Lyclear for suspected scabies, and he looked at me and said it definitely not scabies. He thinks a blood-bourne parasite, which is exactly what I was thinking till I came on here a few days ago.
It makes sense, I have been seeing my GP on this matter for 3 months now and and any half-decent doctor would have diagnosed scabies by now.
I am awaiting the results of my second blood test which suggests to me that my doctor thinks its an internal parasite too - although he hasnt actually told me anything about what he thinks apart from once saying quote "Ahhhh the Philippine Tiger Mosquito" unquote.
The itching starts at about sunset and continues until I sleep. it is not intense enough to cause me to wake-up or to make it hard for me to sleep. It is certaining not an itching that is driving me to insanity. The itching is mostly on the hands and in between the fingers, but also on the back, the buttocks and the upper thighs and a bit around the ankles. The itching is "fizzy" like - almost like pins and needles and it leaves papule like marks on the skin. My wife has the same symptoms but not my children.
Whilst this started almost immediately on my return from the Philippines, we travel a lot (and I mean a lot) and given that parasites like incubation periods, this could have been picked anywhere in the world. My wife and I travelled to West Africa earlier in the year, but the kids did not.
I am seeing my doctor on Tuesday and this time I will pressure him for whatever specualtive diagnosis he has inside his head.
Once again my hunch is filiarisis which can be routinely cleared up using anthelmintic drugs. On Tuesday I shall press for a prescription of broad spectrum anthelmintic drugs. Or does anyone here know if this would be a bad idea until a definite diagnosis is made?
I ask again, anyone here with a similiar experience?
Anyone here know what I should do? Bearing in mind that I cant really afford top-notch private medical care (although I have done that in the past and probably will do again if I really had to) and I am constrained to the British NHS with all its bureaucracy, running around in circles and failings.
Thank you in advance.
6
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases is an NHS facility. It's in London. Your GP can contact them and get you an appointment to a clinic. The GP can also call them for help.The GP can also consult with the The National Travel Health Network and Centre
Advice line for health professionals
Telephone: +44 (0)845 602 6712 (local call rate)
Monday to Friday, 9am-12midday; 2-4.30pm
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine also does consultations with doctors and their laboratory will diagnose samples form NHS doctors, for a fee. Filariasis is one thing they can check for.
