Sandflies in Southern Thailand (page 2 of 2)

pro-Western sensitivity

Being pragmatic means having a pro-Western sensitivity?

offend

This isn’t where you’ll offend anyone.🙂

Sawadeeka! There are always some in Ban Phe! I just got back and my body remembers it!^^

You mentioned little magic vials to soothe bites... I'm interested, but there are quite a few small items in 7/11 with explanations in Thai. If you have a specific name or—even better—a photo, I'd love that. Thanks!

Hi Mavietongs,

As mentioned in my message, I’m not currently on-site and don’t have any with me.

If it’s urgent, ask the staff either in English or in Thai using a translation app. FYI, "piqûres d'insectes" is "insect bites" in English. But as I’ve already said, many of these "little things" are labeled for that—opt for the "oils" versions over the "balm" ones.

If it’s not urgent and you don’t feel comfortable communicating on-site, I’ll send you a PM as soon as I can.

Best regards,

Partirdeloin

Hello,

I’m heading back to Thailand soon, and from my research, I’ve noticed that some beaches/islands are infested with these dreaded insects!

I’ve noted the remedy: rub the bitten area with 90% alcohol, then apply soothing cream.

But prevention is better than cure!

Which areas should I avoid right now?

Are there seasons that are more prone to these itchy invasions?

I’ve already stayed in Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Krabi, and Phuket without any issues like this.

I’d love to keep it that way...

Thanks

Hi, my legs were bitten (devoured!) on the last island I visited in Thailand, Ko Phi Phi. It must’ve been on the sand of a beach that was away from the main ones. I was surprised there was almost no one around except stray cats (I get it now), but the water was so beautiful... I lay down on my towel. The itching started that evening, and the wounds lasted... weeks after I got back—two months, actually. My doctor, who treated me after my return, had never seen anything like it...

Ughhh, damn insects! 🤪😠

Hello,

I got eaten alive at Koh Mook… and well, my girlfriend wasn’t affected at all.

So, not everyone is sensitive in the same way…

Hi, do you remember which beach it was? I’m going to Ko Mook in February

Hello, no, I never knew that—those itches aren’t immediate, are they!

Hello, no, I never knew that—itching isn’t immediate!

Really? Are you sure they were sand flies? A sand fly bite, as far as I know—unless there are different varieties—is immediate or nearly so. I’ve experienced this (the *mokafoa*) in Madagascar after a spearfishing trip… We didn’t stay long on the beach!! You don’t see the little critters, but you sure feel them. It’s true that the marks on the skin appear after the itching, though. Kind of like mosquitoes, but meaner. The real problem is scratching, which can infect the bites. If you don’t scratch, they disappear pretty quickly.

I read that the pain can only show up 2 or 3 hours later... but hey, it depends on the person.

Yeah, you don’t see them, and afterward it itches like crazy—scratching just makes it worse.

I’ve found something that helps now: I put on Saletphangphong, a Thai herbal balm, when I get bitten, which happened to me last week in Ranong. I’d used mosquito repellent, too, but no luck.

Yeah, the best solution is anti-itch cream, whether it's local or from a pharmacy. I don't really trust repellents, not even for mosquitoes, actually. With some types of mosquitoes, it works, but with others, you'd have to spray the product every 10 minutes!

Sand flies are like mosquitoes in France—I get eaten alive by all these critters, while my husband and the various friends who’ve come with us weren’t bothered at all. At home, the itching and reactions don’t show up right away, and it took me ages to figure out what was going on. Since I was using mosquito repellent and treated clothing for evenings out, I thought bed bugs were attacking me at night... except I never saw any, and the bungalows were pretty much drenched in insecticide because Europeans can’t stand cockroaches. I wasn’t scratching, but the itching kept me up at night... until someone told me about sand flies. In my research, I found that DEET-based products repel these tiny pests. Now I slather it on first thing in the morning and after every swim... my life’s changed, thank you Insect Ecran Infested Zones! (free plug after testing by the consumer magazine *Que Choisir*). I don’t trust local products—they might be counterfeit—so I bring my own supplies from France. Without that, I wouldn’t have gone back to Koh Sukorn and Prachuap Khiri Khan, places I love. People who aren’t bothered by these bugs or only have mild reactions can’t really tell if beaches are sand-fly-free. Also, know that sun loungers don’t protect you—I used them on every beach... Have a great holiday anyway... with the right chemicals, since there’s no better option.