Associated symptoms

The bites of the grass mite larvae trigger different reactions in humans. In most cases, they are not noticed immediately, since they do not hurt or show other symptoms at first. After a few hours, however, the affected areas often develop a sometimes very agonizing itchiness and small red spots appear, which can resemble small pimples.

In some people, so-called wheals form around these, i.e. raised, reddened skin areas. In rare cases, however, even the typical itching is missing. This is the case when there is only a weakened reaction to the bites.

This is the case with some people. In very rare cases, however, pronounced, sometimes allergic, reactions are possible, in which the entire skin becomes very itchy. In such cases, there may also be accompanying wheals all over the body.

These skin changes result from a reaction of the immune system to the bites of the larvae and do not only affect the skin areas where the bites are present. They are very itchy and show up all over the body. Bed warmth increases the damaging effect in the first few hours.

After about 14 days, the symptoms subside on their own. Other accompanying symptoms such as fever, pain or similar are atypical and rather point to other causes. The bites of the grass mites cause skin changes.

For most people, these are limited to the immediate vicinity of the bites. This is where it happens: These skin changes are usually not larger than 0.1 – 0.3 cm and last for an average of 2 weeks. However, the extent of these skin changes varies from person to person.

Even slight discolorations of the skin, which remain even after the symptoms have subsided, are possible. In the worst case, scratching the itchy bite marks may cause inflammation. These can look different.

Frequent are reddish, weeping scratch marks. In the case of a bacterial infection of the inflammatory scratch marks, yellow purulent deposits are a possible consequence. In very rare cases, very pronounced reactions resembling a skin rash can be seen.

This is usually a so-called hives (urticaria). A reaction of the immune system to the bites of the larvae causes reddish, raised skin changes all over the body, which are called hives. They vary in size and in some places merge into two-dimensional reddening of the skin.

Hives are accompanied by itching. In less pronounced reactions, only the already described few millimeters large, punctiform redness is present only at the bite sites, which are usually present next to each other or grouped together.

Redness
Pünktchenbildung
Quaddle formation