Try to avoid scratching any bites that you get as this does make the reaction worse. Anti-histamine medications such as loratadine should ease the itching to some extent. An anti-histamine cream specially designed for use on insect bites is also helpful. When you take a bath keep the water cool as heat will tend to make the itching worse. One thing that you need to be aware of, is that bites do sometimes become infected, and for this reason if you notice that the area around a bite is becoming very red, hot, or swollen,...

Try to avoid scratching any bites that you get as this does make the reaction worse. Anti-histamine medications such as loratadine should ease the itching to some extent. An anti-histamine cream specially designed for use on insect bites is also helpful. When you take a bath keep the water cool as heat will tend to make the itching worse. One thing that you need to be aware of, is that bites do sometimes become infected, and for this reason if you notice that the area around a bite is becoming very red, hot, or swollen, it is always a good idea to arrange to see your GP or practice nurse so that they can check that this is not happening.


Any health risk of travel to Spain may be reduced by the following precautionary health measures when visiting Spain:

Never eat undercooked ground beef and poultry, raw eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products - risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease [nvCJD]
high rate of motor vehicle trauma - avoid night driving and wear seatbelts
mosquito bite prevention
insect bite protection
avoid drinking non-treated water - only drink bottled or canned water
eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself
to prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot
always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
although risk of infection is low, don’t eat food purchased from street vendors
don’t drink beverages with ice
don’t share needles with anyone
don’t handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague - risk for travelers is small)
use sunblock and take sunglasses and a hat
Earthquakes may occur - take care and heed local precautions
high risk of avalanches in mountainous areas - take care and heed local precautions
conditions in mountainous areas can change rapidly - take note of weather conditions and consult experienced guides

Its possible that you are dealing with annoying ( "Gnats/Midges".)

Got a gnat bite? No worries. Gnat bites are fairly harmless, unless you count the itching and scratching until you don't have any skin left on your arm. Ease the itch of a gnat bite with calamine lotion, and don't scratch at it unless you really want an infection.
...

Its possible that you are dealing with annoying ( "Gnats/Midges".)

Got a gnat bite? No worries. Gnat bites are fairly harmless, unless you count the itching and scratching until you don't have any skin left on your arm. Ease the itch of a gnat bite with calamine lotion, and don't scratch at it unless you really want an infection.

Family History of this Annoying Insect

The Ceratopogonidae (biting midges) are serious biting pests, and can spread the livestock disease Blue Tongue, the other midge families are not. Most midges, apart from the gall midges (Cecidomyiidae), are aquatic during the larval stage. Some Cecidomyiidae (e.g., the sorghum midge) are important plant pests. The larvae of some Chironomidae contain haemoglobin and are sometimes referred to as bloodworms

They are found in almost any aquatic or semiaquatic habitat throughout the world. Females of most species are adapted to suck blood from some kind of host animal. Culicoides, Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea), and Leptoconops suck vertebrate blood. Some Atrichopogon and Forcipomyia are ectoparasites on larger insects. Dasyhelea feed exclusively on nectar. Species in other genera are predatory on other small insects. Larvae are always found in some damp location, such as under bark, in rotten wood, compost, mud, stream margins, tree holes, or water-holding plants (i.e., phytotelmata).

Many of the hematophagic (blood-sucking) species, are pests in beach or mountain habitats. Other species are important pollinators of tropical crops such as cacao. The blood-sucking species may be vectors of disease-causing viruses, protozoa, and filarial worms. The bite of midges in the genus Culicoides causes an allergic response in equines known as sweet itch. In humans, their bite can cause intensely itchy, red welts that can persist for more than a week. A localized allergic reaction to the proteins in their saliva, the discomfort can be somewhat alleviated by topical antihistamines.
The smaller members of the family are tiny enough to pass through the apertures in typical window screens. Camping tents are often equipped with extra-fine mesh netting, called no-see-um nets, to keep the pests out.

In order to get rid of midge gnats, biting and non-biting midge gnats, it should be prudent to enforce a change of lighting habits in your home. First thing you should do is get rid of all of the regular light bulbs you’re using for outdoor lighting. Low pressure and high pressure sodium lights are the recommended bulbs to be using if you want to attract fewer midge gnats. The orange light produced by sodium lights seems to be the key to controlling midge gnats.

A bowl full of vinegar and a little dishsoap is a popular way to reduce gnat populations by trapping them. Gnats go for the vinegar in the hopes of a good meal, and find that the lack of water tension caused by the dishsoap won't let them out of the bowl. There's nothing like cheap and natural gnat control for a slim budget.

To see other control methods, click the link
http://www.getridofthings.com/...

A better strategy may be to use a repellent. If you are female and use perfumes you are asking to be bitten. Try leaving them off for your treks into nature and replace them with Citronella or some such repellent. Put it on the "pulse spots" where you would normally spray perfume.

You may treat itching at the site of the bite with an over-the-counter antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in cream or pill form. Calamine lotion also helps relieve the itching. or Chlor-Trimeton, A spray of local anesthetic containing benzocaine, such as Solarcaine, may help relieve pain. If your skin reacts to the spray, stop using it.
http://firstaid.webmd.com/inse...
...

You may treat itching at the site of the bite with an over-the-counter antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in cream or pill form. Calamine lotion also helps relieve the itching. or Chlor-Trimeton, A spray of local anesthetic containing benzocaine, such as Solarcaine, may help relieve pain. If your skin reacts to the spray, stop using it.
http://firstaid.webmd.com/inse...

An amazing amount or relief can be had from cleaning the bite perhaps with alcohol and putting a piece of tape over it. This excludes the air. Of course you look like a patchwork.

For prevention:
# Use insect repellents, which are readily available from pharmacies or supermarkets. Those containing D.E.E.T (diethyltoluamide) are the most effective.
# Permethrin can be applied to clothing to give protection for two weeks, through two washings. It can also be applied directly to exposed skin keeping the insects away for a few days.
# Thiamine (vitamin B1) can be used as a systemic insect repellent (the skin has a characteristic smell)
http://dermnetnz.org/arthropod...