Chiggers are tiny mites that can cause intensely itchy bites, often leading to discomfort for those who encounter them. This article clarifies what chiggers are, how they infest, and specifically addresses whether they can be transmitted from one person to another.
What Are Chiggers?
Chiggers are the larval stage of certain mites, making them arachnids, similar to spiders and ticks. These nearly microscopic larvae are typically less than 0.3 millimeters long. Only the larval stage is parasitic and feeds on humans or animals.
A common misconception is that chiggers burrow into the skin. Instead, they attach to the skin surface and inject digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down skin cells, creating a feeding tube called a stylostome, through which the chigger consumes the liquefied tissue. Chiggers do not suck blood; they feed on dissolved skin cells. Their natural habitats include moist, grassy, or wooded areas, such as fields, forests, and even lawns, particularly in warm, humid conditions.
Can Chiggers Spread Between People?
Chiggers cannot be directly passed from one person to another. Once a chigger larva attaches to a host and begins feeding, it typically remains on that host until it is engorged, which can take several days if undisturbed. After feeding, the larva detaches and drops off to continue its life cycle.
Chiggers are not social mites and do not actively seek out new hosts once they have attached. Therefore, they are not contagious in the way some other infections might be, and direct human-to-human transmission does not occur. Any perceived transfer between individuals results from physical proximity in an infested environment, where larvae might move from clothing or skin before attaching.
How Chiggers Infest and Spread
Chiggers undergo a life cycle that includes egg, larva, nymph, and adult stages. The parasitic six-legged larval stage is the one that seeks out hosts. After hatching, chigger larvae climb onto low-lying vegetation like grass blades, weeds, or shrubs, where they wait for a suitable host to pass by.
Humans become infested when they come into contact with chigger-infested vegetation. The larvae quickly attach to clothing or skin, often migrating to areas where clothing fits tightly or where the skin is thin or wrinkled, such as around the ankles, waist, armpits, or behind the knees. They can remain on a host for several hours before choosing a feeding site.
Addressing Chigger Bites
Chigger bites typically manifest as intensely itchy red welts, bumps, or pimple-like eruptions, often appearing in clusters. The itching can begin within a few hours after exposure and may become severe, lasting for several days or even up to two weeks. Blisters or a hive-like rash can also develop around the bite sites.
To alleviate the discomfort, washing the affected skin with soap and water immediately after potential exposure can help remove any unattached chiggers. Applying topical anti-itch creams or lotions, such as calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream, can help reduce itching. Oral antihistamines or cold compresses may also provide relief. Avoid scratching the bites, as this can break the skin and increase the risk of secondary bacterial infections.
Prevention involves avoiding areas known to harbor chiggers, such as tall grass, thick brush, and wooded areas, especially during warm, humid months. When entering such environments, wearing protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks or boots, can help create a barrier. Applying insect repellents containing DEET to exposed skin or treating clothing with permethrin can also deter chiggers. Washing clothes in hot water immediately after outdoor activity can kill any chiggers that may have attached.