The itching beings three to six hours after the chigger begins biting. Then, redness and slight swelling occur around the bite. Itching continues and intensifies for up to a day and a half. Much of the itching is caused by histamines released from dissolved skin cells. Some authorities attribute prolonged itching to the presence of the stylosome even after the chigger drops off or is removed.
People can react in varying degrees.
On most people, reactions to flea bites and chigger bites are similar and so is the distribution of bites on anatomical sites. Diagnosis relies on circumstances of exposure. Somewhat similar eruptions may occur from the bites of straw itch mites, rat mites and fowl mites but the distribution on the victim's body is usually different. Regardless of the cause, the same principles apply in treating the bites to relieve itching. However, avoiding future exposure or controlling the infestation requires identification of the cause.