A small mite that can cause reddish welts and intense itching. Chiggers are not sexually transmitted. People confuse them with scabies, which tend to be sexually transmitted. However, if a chigger bites a dude on his penis, he could get a condition known as “summer penile syndrome.” It causes swelling, itching, and trouble peeing. This can last for a few days to a few weeks. Unlike scabies, chiggers don’t burrow into the skin and they don’t drink blood. Their saliva causes a small wound in the skin, which becomes a welt. The chigger then drinks the body fluids which are in the welt. They usually drop off the skin in a couple of days. Under a microscope, they look like a small spider as opposed to scabies which look like small June bugs or sand crabs. They are not as much of a medical problem as scabies. You usually get chiggers from walking through infested areas rather than from sex. Chigger bites are usually treated with soap and water (to remove the chiggers), and then with an over-the-counter anti-itch cream or ointment, like menthol, calamine lotion, hydrocortisone or antihistamines. Chigger bites can itch like hell for 24 to 48 hours, and then take weeks to heal. If you are concerned the bite area might be infected, be sure to check in with a healthcare provider.