Two years of mystery itch for Brighton man

5:11pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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A man says his life has been made hellish by a two-year itch which has puzzled doctors.

Gary Middleton believes his body has been infested with avian mites, which he contracted while clearing up pigeon excrement from his balcony two years ago.

The writer, from Springfield Road, in Brighton, has thrown away his three-piece suite, mattress and rugs because he fears they are hosting the tiny pests.

He is now at his wits' end because the condition, which has defeated doctors, does not seem to have a cure.

Mr Middleton said: "The last 20 months have been complete hell. The way I see it either I kill myself, which I can't do, or dose myself up forever and keep them sedated. But that doesn't stop them from breeding. Hopefully, there's another answer out there."

When the scratching began Mr Middleton went to his doctor, who diagnosed his itchy problem as eczema.

He was prescribed soothing creams but the itching persisted and a year later he returned to his GP to be told he had a bacterial infection.

Further treatments had no effect and the itching continued.

He returned again and this time his GP suggested he could be suffering from scabies.

Mr Middleton was not convinced and took a skin scraping to an entomologist at Brighton's Booth Museum, who suggested he could have avian mites. He said: "I can feel them walking over my body and drinking my blood. I'm at the end of my tether."

"Altogether, I'm taking about six different treatments. I shower every day using tea tree oil and bathe every night in eucalyptus oil.

"I had to throw all my furniture away because they can lie dormant for up to six months.

"The treatments keep them sedated but don't get rid of them. I'm convinced it's mites but no one can diagnose it.

"I think it's beyond the comprehension of some doctors - it's so unusual.

"Now I'm playing a waiting game with doctors as every night I'm awoken as new mites hatch and spread throughout my body before they drop below the surface of my skin to live and feed.

"All I want to do is get them out of my system. If there's a professional out there who knows about avian mites, I would love to hear from them."

Mr Middleton has undergone tests with a dermatologist and is awaiting the results.

He plans to write a book about his experience.