I have a similar condition/problem...
I moved into a new apartment, started getting this crawling sensation all the time, then biting, and now itching as well. I thought it was fleas too. Previous occupant had 3 dogs, a cat, a rodent of some kind. And now that's it's winter the place has mice as well. Treated it for a few weeks, only got worse. Now I know it's not fleas!
A trick to tell if it IS fleas. Drag your white socks across the carpet. They should come up as red, darker patches. I heard that fleas can be dormant for up to a year and a half. Another trick: use a small light/ reading lamp. Put it above the floor about a foot at night when no other lights around. Under the light put a small dish of cooking oil (water doesn't work as well). In the mourning, you'll see them stuck in the top of it.
Another possibility: mites. These guys are small, can't be seen. Many types, common biters are scabies which is a human condition. They burrow in your skin causing itchiness. They tend to really like in between your fingers a lot and joints like elbows, behind knees etc. Other mites are bird mites and rodent mites (two types) they can feed off of humans when host animal is absent. However, I find that they can not reproduce off of humans. The trick is to get rid of host animals. Bird Nests, Mice, Pigeons, Squirrals, et cetera.
One trick to tell if it's mites is to put a piece of black construction paper on the carpet, vertically if possible. They will climb up it and wait at the top to grab onto something / someone. Use a light and mangifying glass to check, usually they are white and you can see them against the black.
I am now fairly convinced that I have body lice! They are horrible! Can't get rid of them! Been over a month. After doing much research and ruling out everything else, I've come to that conclusion. I thought they were fleas, jumping at first. But now I know they like to crawl. I think the tiny, tiny ones can jump / fly due to static / changes in static vs. enviroment. They pop up and land by static attraction I think. I was wondering if I was going crazy at first, but now I know I'm infested. This is very rare in the united states... they say. I identified were I picked them up at. Local laundrymat... large somalian population washes their clothes there, and I must have got them from using cold water. I saw the buggers there after I found out what to look for. Somalia = war torn / over-crowded = lice infested.
These guys live in your clothes... they say... but really they live all over your stuff and on the floor, carpet, etc. I now sleep on a cot in my kitchen, all other rooms closed, wash my clothes everyday, put them in plastic bags, and take like 3-4 showers. It sucks, still can't get rid of them. My apartment keeps reinvesting me. Got 100% free, bought new set of clothes, went to parents for Thanksgiving, had no problems there. Came back, and SLAM... Instant misery. Sleep like 2-4 hours at a time.
I really hope you don't have them! The internet does not have very much info on them and it's of very low quality. You can find them on your clothing sometimes, depends on the color of clothing. Lice are very small < 3 mm (a dime width is 1 mm). They are usually little white specks, oval. Showers are the best treatment. You need to wash clothing above 130 degrees. Local laundrymats don't get the hot, so I'm screwed. Plus I'm in MN so I can't wash my jacket, hat, etc everyday. I'm in college so I don't have the time to properly fight this. Winter break will be here soon, plus I ordered some safe chemical alternatives off the net. They say use Lice shampoos but you can't for all over your body, they burn too bad, and don't do shit.
What helps me is I like to boil my socks, boxers. Iron everything else. Wash bedding everyday. (sleep on a cot with a blanket) Get drunk, forget about them and pass out :)
My newest remedy: Bought some organic Tea Tree Shampoo (Jason Brand) They hate it! I put it on and they start biting me all over (agony) before they die / fall off. It's really good for your skin / dry skin. Australian indigenous people use it all the time. It's one of the very few natural anti-parasite items! Also anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. Otherwise Neem Oil is good.
They really like your feet, socks, legs, thighs, and back. Don't know if that sounds familar or not.
I've kinda become an expert on these things since my life now sucks.
Hope this post helps.
--- InfectedMN@yahoo.com
