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.

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?

Hi, Christina! We have been going to
the Miami/Lauderdale/Boca Raton/ Delray
Beach area for over 20 years. We usually visit in May & Oct. "Sea lice" are
a problem in mid-May 'from
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
from day to day. They weird thing about sea lce is that they are very particular
about whom they bite! For some reason they never go near my husband or son
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?
Thanks!

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

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

Sharon, It's sea lice and they are real--in the water. We don't have them on the Gulf coast, thankfully.

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!!!

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,
If you'd had a real email addy, I would have directly asked you this stupid (no questions too stupid???)

So. Are sea lice like hair lice?

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:
(561)27BEACH (272-3224)