invisible insect infestation

[nonymous]

My problem started about a year ago, when I brought an indoor palm into my apartment from a garden center. A few weeks later I noticed the palm was covered in a fine webbing and leaves were turning yellow. I threw the plant in the dumpster and about a week later my boyfriend who was sitting on the sofa near where the plant had been, complained of being bitten by something repeatedly. We both searched his skin and could find nothing.
A few days later I also started to be bitten, painful bites a little worse than a flea bite; but it leaves no welts or bumps most of the time. There is no rash associated. My cat who wears a flea collar is also being bitten. I have sprayed my apartment repaetedly to no avail and now the bugs have spread to my friends apartment across town as well. He has sprayed and seen relief that lasts a week or so then they come back. We are both plagued by these insects all the time no matter where we are. I've now noticed co-workers sitting nearby are also being bitten.
I have tried skin-so-soft and commercial insect repellants (a practice I don't want to do); and I get releif from the bites till it's effectiveness wears away. Then the insects begin to bite voraciously. They are all over my body but tend to avoid my hair unless I'm in a very cold room or the weather turns cold.
I don't know if the palm tree had anything to do with the infestation but thats when it started. Any thing you could offer would be great because I am in a traing class for a new position with my company and unable to take any time during the week to go to my doctor. I'm going buggy from this, I've done the standard treatment for mite or lice infestations to no avail. I'm about ready to chuck all my furniture and move but I fear thet won't solve the problem as the little hitchhikers would just go with ME.
I borrowed a friends' 50x power handheld microsope to see what they were but have never been able to see any creature. I'm at my wits' end. HELP!

[blackspecks]

Your case sounds very familiar to me. We have been researching strange and unusual skin invasions by fungi and parasites as well as parasitic fungi and we've recently made some great discoveries in the field. I think your friend should contact us so we could present a few symptomatic questions to her to see if we may be able to help her. If anyone else suffers from strange skin conditions like tiny black specks coming from the skin pores, white granules coming from skin, strange fibers protruding from skin, or other conditions such as Lyme disease, they, also should get in touch with us.
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[stevebbb]

We have the exact same thing - bites from insects you can't see. And we are sure they are bites, you can almost feel the biting. Did you get this resolved?

[hididntknow]

A related discussion, Dr. Rockoff- You can see bugs- WHAT? was started.

[Trudy771]

A related discussion, biters with clicking? was started.

[Star2000dancer]

A related discussion, invisible bugs was started.

[invisiblebiten]

A related discussion, invisible bites was started.

[bobby38]

A related discussion, invisible biting bugs was started.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I am doubtful about your diagnosis of bugs.  You can see bugs.  You may have an itchy rash that makes your flesh crawl as though you have bugs, but you can't diagnose bugs of they can't be seen (insects are not microscopic.)  This does not sound like mites or fleas either.  I cannot think of a relationship with your plant.

I suggest you treat the itch (Saran lotion, oral Benadryl, both OTC) and see a skin doctor.  If you do find any bugs, put them in a baggie and bring them in.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff