(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Welts and pink bites from oak itch mites have sent a rash of people to suburban doctors’ offices.
Family Medicine Dr. Kevin Koo says he’s seen about three or four patients a day at Advocate Health Care in Park Ridge for bites. Patients started coming in for this issue about four weeks ago.
Dr. Koo says the bites feel different from other insect bites, the itchy pink spots often have a raised pimple and last longer than mosquito bites.
Dr. Michael Greenberg with the Illinois Dermatology Institute in Schaumburg explained that the bites are so itchy. because the mites burrow under the skin.
“Because they get under your skin. They just don't bite on the surface, they get under and they stay there for a few hours,” Dr. Greenberg said.
He’s been discouraging the five to ten patients a day he’s seeing with the bites from scratching them, because that could lead to skin infections.
Instead the dermatologist suggests treating them with topical steroids like hydrocortisone and taking antihistamines like Allegra or Zyrtec.
Dr. Greenberg has encouraged people to take off and wash their clothes after they’ve been outside because he said the microscopic mites may hide in clothing.
He and Dr. Koo can speak from experience about the itchiness of the bites – both doctors have some bites themselves.