Sea lice bites leave Tauranga boy covered in itchy rash

Sea Lice stings left 12-year-old Oliver Hilliam covered in a red, lumpy, itchy rash. Photo/Supplied.

The mother of a Tauranga child left covered in red itchy lumpy rash after surfing at Omanu Beach on Sunday wants to warn other parents of the risk from sea lice bites.

Tania Hilliam said the rash broke out soon after her 12-year-old son Oliver returned home after spending a couple hours going in and out of the surf.

Despite her son wearing a rash vest and togs with his underwear underneath, his front torso from his neck to the top of his thighs was covered in a nasty rash, she said.

Hilliam, who lives in Welcome Bay, said she and five others in their group also went into the water but none of them were stung or bitten.

The GP who treated her son told them Oliver had probably disturbed a jellyfish larvae (also known as sea lice) nest.

"I tried to soothe Oliver by wiping him down with cold flannels and tea tree oil which helped a bit but the need to scratch almost drove him crazy," she said.

"He was scratching himself raw. It was gross and he couldn't sleep."

Sea lice bites have been described as being like the world's worst mosquito bites.

Sea Lice larvae are almost impossible to see because they are transparent and about the size of a grain of pepper.

Hilliam said her son was given a cocktail of medications to use for up to 10 days, which included antibiotics, steroid creams and antihistamine tablets.

Olly went to school on Monday but within two hours was feeling too unwell to stay, and another child at the school with similar rash was also sent home, Hilliam said.

A spokeswoman from the Girven Rd Medical Centre confirmed a patient swimming locally had also recently been treated for sea lice bites.

Sea lice are the larvae of jellyfish. Photo / File

Tauranga Medical Officer of Health Dr Jim Miller said bites and stings were not reported to the medical officer of health.

However, these type of incidents would be more common in the summer, in part due to more people being out and about on the beaches, he said.

"There are many causes of rashes, bites and stings in the summer. Mosquitoes, jellyfish and their larvae and some types of seaweed can all cause discomfort," Dr Miller said.

Tips to reduce the risk of stings from jellyfish larvae (often called sea lice)

Insect repellent can be helpful in avoiding insect bites, particularly in the evening. Changing out of swimwear and shower after swimming or surfing, rather than wearing swimwear for long periods of time.

Wash swimwear after use in the sea to remove any jellyfish larvae that may be there.