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Chiggers

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Definition:

Chiggers are tiny, six-legged wingless organisms (larvae) that grow up to become a type of insect called a mite. Chiggers are found in tall grass and weeds. Their bite causes severe itching.

Alternative Names:

Harvest mite; Red mite

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Chiggers are found in the southern part of the United States and in other countries. They are usually restricted to certain areas such as berry patches, tall grass and weeds, and woodland edges. The chiggers bite humans around the waist, ankles, or in warm skin folds.

The itching usually occurs several hours after the chiggers attach to the skin. The chigger can sometimes be seen in the center of a red, pimple-like bump that has not been scratched.

• Review Date: 10/17/2006
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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