Contagious Itching

[Unregistered]

Hello,

I've found that recently I have been experiencing an odd itching problem. I seem to itch during the night, especially, rarely during the day, but the main problem seems to be that people around scratch more than normal. I went to a dermatologist about this and he seemed to find no insect and kind of dismissed my claim but it's really upsetting. People around me in class start scratching, on the bus, on trains, etc. People who have no common cause to scratch save my presence, my friends also seem to notice but don't want to say anything and I am too ashamed to talk about it. Basically those within a certain radius of me scratch more than those who are far away, it's definitely not fleas, and even though I carefully looked for insects, no effect. Washed my clothes and wore them straight away after a shower and got the same effect.

It may sound psychological but I am sure of this, I've seen it too frequently, even when I am not thinking about it and only notice once I see the higher incidence of scratching around me. Oddly I normally don't itch during this time itching mostly during the night. It's really driving me crazy, any thoughts?

[Unregistered75]

I have this very same problem. It started about 3 years ago upon joining a new workplace. Everyone who came near me or sat next to me began continually scratching their heads, especially around the nape of the neck. I thought I might be carrying fleas off the cat or something like that. I spoke to my boss and he said it was all in my imagination. I went to the Doctors and he said there was nothing he knew of which would cause this to happen. I've scoured the internet to no avail.

I sit here in work right now, looking at my colleagues as they scratch and it's starting to make me ill just thinking about it. Does anyone have any ideas about this?

[Unregistered in Texas]

i have had this since i was in high school. i have been to about ten doctors in my life, and they all say i dont have anything. i have quit good paying office jobs because of this. my own family never believed me, and even to this day, they think im hallucinating. i am as normal as can be. if i didnt have this, i could have been an executive in some big corporation, but instead, i work menial, filthy jobs, fitting of how i feel.

my own wife of ten years says she never felt anything. even she thought i'm imagining all this.

several people have verbalized their concerns towards me. this is more than enough proof that it is not just my imagination. in fact, i myself cannot sleep at night because of intense itching. seems to get worse when i sweat.

symptoms: i make people itch around me..example, if i walk into a room with twenty people, fifteen will start scratching everywhere from neck to face to legs to back. not normal behaviour. also, recently, i notice people sneeze around me..more and more i am noticing this..couple of months ago, i entered a store, and a lady was right behind me as we went inside...within minutes, she started sneezing and others started scratching abnormally,,,,,this lady told the cashier , and i quote as best as i remember,,,,"i don't know what it is, but as soon as i came inside, i started to sneeze"

this is an indication that people do notice these things, but unfortunate for us, the sufferers, doctors dont believe us.

in high schoo., when i started school late, i was new kid in a class, obviously...and this kid that sat right in front of me, started scratching uncontrollably, and turned around and asked me out loud, in front of whole class, if i had lice.

at a recent office job (customer service call center), two girls were talking amongst themselves privately, then turned to me and asked me if i was the one making them itch.

so no, it is not imaginary. it is real. but i live a hellish life every day..i cant do things that normal people can do, like go out comfortably to a restaurant. i cant go karaoke, as i love to sing, and i sing damm well, i might add. i cant go to amusement parks..i hate standing in line at stores or anywhere else.....i can tell, sometimes, there are people that are quite bright, and they can tell right of the bat that i have something..example, cashiers at stores...sometimes, people put my change on the counter, when, to the people right before me, they hand the change in their hand..it's terrible.

[rokin]

Yes it could be your bedding and such!! Cleanliness is not the problem - you can pick these things up from anywhere!! If it is bedbugs - then yes it is contagious!! Everyone in your apartment must be treated and the apartment especially the bedding must be fumigated to get rid of them!!! If even just one person is not treated they will come back! And any where else that you have slept must be treated so that you will not pick them back up and reinfest your apartment!! You must also treat all clothing, pillows, curtains, sofas, etc. Have you eliminated other sources of itching such as new laundry soaps, perfumes, cleaning products, etc. It is unlikely that you would all be allergic to the same thing but it is worth a try!! And also there are some contagious illnesses that you could be spreading from one to another - so if fumigating the apartment and cleaning everything with really hot water does not work you might want to go to a doctor and get checked out!!! There are many products at the local drug store to treat both lice in the hair and body and for !! Good Luck and be carefull when using pesticides not to inhale or get it on your skin - be sure to read all directions!!

[Goingcrazy75]

I am also experiencing the very same problem for the last 2 years and have tried many cleaning methods to get rid of these things but to no avail. It is a horrible feeling and I also avoid getting too close to people for fear they will start scratching or rubbing their eyes. I consider myself to be a clean person so I am so upset that this is happening to me. I have done plenty of reading online about this but honestly, people have so many different suggestions and remedies that its hard to decipher what method is best or really works.

Firstly, I dont believe what we have is scabies or bed bugs since there are no visible bites or rashes on my skin. Everything I have read online about scabies or bed bugs indicates that you would have one or the other. What I do notice is that there is a significant amount of what appears to be "dust" or lint-like fabrics coming out of all of my clothes and bedding (which I wash constantly in hot water). Nothing I do gets rid of these things. I have tried washing my clothes in tea tree oil, with Borax, with Ammonia. Nothing works. I cannot get this "dust", "lint" or whatever the **** it is out of my clothes. I also notice that it is on my skin if I brush my arm, I see the particles floating in the air. They are very light and translucent so its hard to see sometimes except in the right sunlight. I also noticed them coming out of my hair after brushing it.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it. I am beginning to think this may be environmental and something is either in my apartment or the building itself which is releasing something into my home (its a very old building). Honestly, I exhaust way too much energy thinking about this issue and I'm so tired of it. I had an exterminator in about a year ago and he was not able to identify any "bugs" in my home but just did a general spraying in the apartment. I noticed a slight improvement for about a week or two but then everything went back to "normal" and I was itching like crazy again. I am ready to move, burn all my clothing and bedding and start over at this point. What the **** is this!!!!!! If anyone can help - again this does NOT seem to be scabies or bed bugs so I dont think treating for those things will work.

[Unregistered09]

I've researched and read several forums lately and it seems as if we have similar symptoms... I make people itch as well, around their napes in particular. I've noticed this since high school... and like some of you, I know my friends are aware of my condition but we don't talk about it... This is really a very sensitive topic for me.

I try to avoid crowds. People's momentary exposure to me don't immediately trigger the nape-scratching symptom. It takes around 30 minutes of my being around.. That's why classes or seminars really scare me. I've also noticed that people have either 2 reactions: scratching (napes/faces) or incessant sneezing. I know this is true because a few observant (sadly, rude!) people have given me more than one snide remark about this condition.

For those outside our "circle" ... it sounds strange! Funny! Even Insane! But your testimonies have validated my observations. I'm not alone. It gives me some comfort even if I know that this doesn't have a cure yet. If you search PATM at Google - you'll find more of us.

[Unregistered]

Someone reply , any luck with the itch ???????????????

[Concertono1]

Someone reply , any luck with the itch ???????????????

Dear all who are still affected by the strange phenomenon mentioned in this thread and viewing or returning to view these thread. I have the same issue too, what ever it is, i concluded that these "stuff" are airborne, and there are three possibilities:

(1) dust mites allergens due to dust mite infestation in bedroom or wardrobe;
(2) fungi growth in bedroom(i.e. mould/spores/pollens);
(3) chemical irritants released from wall in bedroom or toxical bodies including yourself

For (1) and (2), dehumidifier and puting moth ***** in wardrobe may root out the growth of fungi and dust mites, and probably those who are no longer suffer from this condition, may have these problem solved as weather gets into hot dry season.

For (3), please look at airborne chemical irritants from the following website from University of Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg343

From this website, i understand that aireborne chemical contaminants can cause itch,
such contaminants may come from paints on the wall, cleaning agents, and even pesticides,
esp. when it is repeatedly used for suspected control pest infestation. If such chemical exists in the bedroom, I figure we or our shirts are probably being "fermented" by these chemical when we use such bedroom.

Anyway, is a good website the produce all itch possibilities. Please take a look.

However, i read about the morgellorn website too, i know most people will end up feeling they might have that. but i bought their ebook, and realize that is less airborne stuff that we are experienceing as described in this thread. So dun worry about that. Nonetheless, I do entertain the idea of possible toxification in the body, causing our body to emit certain chemical through body smell or breath. At the moment i am trying some detox suppliments and drinking of green tea. May consider visiting medical experts or toxicologist to zoom into this area, though comprehensive medical screen shows that I am healthy.

Lastly, I am trying to solve this thing too, i know is frustrating and frientening, try to stay positive to fend off stress, which may agrrivate further toxics in the body.

For those suspecting wearing dust-mite-allergen-femented shirts from infested wardrobe, try to hang out the clothes u wanna wear next day overnight, it seems affect people around me lesser. I m still experimenting, not too sure. Will try to update again.

Cheers~!

Concertono1

[Unregistered]

Sounds like PATM, look up PATM and Medhelp in google and you will find a group of people with very similar symptoms.

[Unregistered]

Hello all I too am I having this symptoms. It started back in Nov 2009. I dont believe its stress related because I have been in more stressful situations at the time. I went to my pcp, Dermatologist, and Internal Specialist. First Diagnosis was a fungus, next one was its mental, next was Diabeties. I dont believe any of this. I have taken the meds no luck I recently have began a new job everyone there now complains of a felling of bugs biting them. I dont believe this is some type of mite in the skin. Everything I have read has pointed to this, but I really think these doctors know of this. There is a reason why the continue to think that this is your imagination or your crazy. I dont do drugs so thats out. I rarely eat sweets so Diabeties not hearing it. I have known people with diabeties and the have been in my presence never made me itch when I came by them. I am researching this as well. The thing that gets me is that these doctors do blood test nothing else. How about a checking or skin maybe take some of it to test. Cause thee things are horrible. Im keeping faith by asking god for help, but Im tired anyone could find a doctor that knows of this please post