Collembola Infestation in Humans

Me | 26 Sep 2010 | gov_bean_ counter

[gov_bean_ counter]

My wife and I seem to have become the hosts for a skin parasite. Mine is localized, however my wife's condition is much more serious. Most of the literature we have seen does not recongize collembola as a parasite able to impact humans. My wife has been told by a dermatoligist that the bugs only exist in her mind. We have been able to extract whole specimens from our skin and take a look at it under a microscope. What we have seen isn't any figment. Nasty looking bug.

[gov_bean_ counter]

The medical community hasn't been any help. We are going to have a pest control specialist take a look at it. I have found a website run by an entomologist and are going to send picturest there. Any other recommendations for a course of action would be greatly appreciated. Places to send

[Mears]

I’d go to the health department in my town.

[Revelation 911]

does your house seem damp?

[gov_bean_ counter]

We think we picked it up working in a plant bed in the yard.

[gov_bean_ counter]

As to your question, no.

[Bubbette]

I have seen a show on this. No one would believe the people affected. It’s been several years at least and I can remember bits and pieces but not where I saw it....perhaps 20/20 or Nightline. I will look around locally here in the Dallas metroplex to see if it was local media. My heart goes out to you. I remember the people in the story and they suffered for years. No one would believe them.

[Krankor]

They are nasty little buggers.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Thank you very much. God Bless...

[Tawiskaro]

You’ve probably already seen this:

http://www.headlice.org/news/2005/august/tiny_bugs_wreak_havoc.htm

[gusopol3]

There are quite a few citations on Google. (Headlice.org for one)

[JoeProBono]

[gov_bean_ counter]

So you didn't read the part about viewing SOMETHING through a microscope.

[reasonisfaith]

Is that a Yorkshire terrier?

[gov_bean_ counter]

Yes, thanks, we have been through the head lice, scabies, etc and followed the protocol for removing them. This thing doesn't act like those creatures.

[Tawiskaro]

And this:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/484727

[aft_lizard]

Was it “something” or was it a springtail? Big difference. Do you by chance have a picture of your specimen?

[GSP.FAN]

That looks like my first wife.;>)

[cmsgop]

This might helphttp://www.cedarcidestore.com/COLLEMBOLA_TREATMENT.html

[Tawiskaro]

The link is from the head lice folks, but not about head lice. Fwiw, I found one sufferer who claims Windex kills the little buggers—collembola, not head lice.