Sea lice in Miami, Florida?
 

Hi: In planning a long weekend in Miami in mid-May, I've come across some warnings about sea lice in the area around that time of year. I don't want my concern over this to interfere with my enjoyment of swimming at the beach, but I fear an outbreak of this "sunbather's eruption" could negatively impact the romantic getaway I have planned. <BR> <BR>Is this a valid concern? Has anyone run into this while vacationing in the Miami area? How can this be treated if I get it during my vacation? <BR> <BR>

Hi, Christina! We have been going to <BR>the Miami/Lauderdale/Boca Raton/ Delray <BR>Beach area for over 20 years. We usually visit in May & Oct. "Sea lice" are <BR>a problem in mid-May 'from <BR>Mother's Day to Father's Day'! As far as I know, there is nothing you can do to avoid being bitten except stay out of the water. Some years it's worse than others. Having been 'infested' once I am very cautious & generally stay away from the water in May. They do have a 'sea lice info line' that you can call for updates on the severity of the problem <BR>from day to day. They weird thing about sea lce is that they are very particular <BR>about whom they bite! For some reason they never go near my husband or son <BR>but they loooove me! So you may be one of the lucky ones!

Thanks for replying Susan! Do you know anything else about that information line: what the number is, which city or organization sponsors/organizes it? Any tips on how to treat the bites? <BR>Thanks!

Christina, I have it here somewhere! <BR>I'll get back to you...I'll try to post later today or sometime throughout the weekend. <BR>

I live in Pensacola, Fl, and have never heard of flea lice. <BR>Is it something like "sand fleas" or is it really some sort of lice? <BR>?

Sharon, It's sea lice and they are real--in the water. We don't have them on the Gulf coast, thankfully. <BR> <BR>Susan...your family sounds like mine, but our experience was with chiggers. Hiking together, my husband and daughter will be chigger-free, my son and I will be covered with bites. I'll never hike in brushy areas in North Texas again as long as I live unless there has been a killing frost!!! <BR> <BR>The remedy was to paint the bites with nailpolish to kill the chigger below the skin. I had visions of being involved in a wreck and ending up in the ER with red nail polish all over odd body parts! :&gt; And if anyone has ever had chigger bites...you know where that nail polish would have been!!

Olive Oyl, <BR>If you'd had a real email addy, I would have directly asked you this stupid (no questions too stupid???) <BR> <BR>So. Are sea lice like hair lice? <BR> <BR>Thanks for being patient! lol

Sea lice are the larva of some sort of sea creature (like skates or something related) - sorry I can't remember the actual creature. When visiting my brother in Florida they seem to be a late spring thing - but are not always there and can vary from one beach to another. They are invisible and leave little itchy red marks on your skin - I am allergic to all types of things that bite and have found them annoying rather than oppressive. Wash well after swimming, maybe an over-the-counter antihistamine if it gets real bad.

Christina, here's the info. line # for the Delray Beach area:<BR>(561)27BEACH (272-3224)<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>