Mosquito bites causes an itchy bumps after puncturing the skin and feed on the blood. It usually heals on its own in a few days. Sometimes the bites cause soreness, swelling and redness of the affected area. This type of reaction is called skeeter syndrome and usually common in children.
Mosquito bites carry virus or parasites that result in severe illness. Infected mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to humans. Other illness includes malaria, yellow fever and encephalitis which is a type of brain infection. Bites are usually caused by female mosquitoes feeding on the blood. The male mosquito do not have this ability to suck blood because they do not produce eggs. The biting mosquito injects saliva into the skin and cause a mild reaction that cause itchiness and bump. They select their victims by the exhaled carbon dioxide and chemicals present in the sweat of a person.
Symptoms of mosquito bites
- A hard, reddish-brown bump, itchy that appears after the bite or bites.
- A puffy, white and reddish bump after the bite.
- Tiny blisters
- Dark spots that looks like bruises
A hard, reddish-brown bump, itchy that appears after the bite or bites. - Severe symptoms includes hives; a large area of redness and swelling; swelling lymph nodes and a low-grade fever
- Body aches, headache, fever and signs of infections needs to be treated immediately.
Treatment
- Wash the affected area using soap and water to remove saliva still present on the skin and for fast healing without developing infections.
- Apply ice on the bite. Place a few ice cubes or crushed ice in a plastic bag. Wrap it in towel before placing to the area to lessen the swelling and the pain.
- Apply the prescribed over-the-counter medication for insect bites such as calamine lotion to lessen the itching and the pain.
- Fill a bathtub with warm water; add baking soda, colloidal oatmeal or Epsom salt. Mix them until totally dissolved. Soak the affected area in the solution to lessen the itchiness. Take an Epsom salt bath.
- Make an Epsom salt compress. Mix enough Epsom salt to water. Mix them until it becomes a thin paste. Apply the paste on the affected area and then cover it with a hot wash cloth as hot that can be tolerated. Keep the washcloth in the area for at least 10 minutes to lessen the pain and the itchiness.
- Make a paste by mixing soda and a few drops of water. Mix them well until it becomes the consistency of a paste. Apply the paste directly on the bitten area to lessen the swelling and the itchiness. Another alternative is crushing an aspirin until it becomes a powder. Add a few drops of water and mix them until it becomes a paste. Apply it directly on the bitten area to lessen the pain.