What is Good for Mosquito Bite?
Mosquitoes are a member of the fly family in the order Dioptera. These creatures, which are large enough for most people to see with the naked eye, have hairier antennae in males than females. The life cycle of male mosquitoes is completed in about a week. Female mosquitoes can survive for several months.
What is a Mosquito Bite?
Mosquito bites are itchy and red blisters that develop after these winged creatures pierce human skin using their mouthparts and feed on the blood in this area. The small lumps that form usually tend to regress spontaneously within a few days. Some mosquito bites may cause a larger lump to form, resulting in the development of complaints such as pain and redness. This type of reaction is more common in childhood and is also called skeeter syndrome.
Another feature to consider about mosquito bites is that they can cause the transmission of various diseases. Diseases such as West Nile virus, yellow fever, malaria and encephalitis (inflammation of brain tissue) may occur after mosquitoes that carry parasites and viruses that cause serious illness bite people.
There are three different mosquito species that are clinically important to humans. Anopheles, kulex and aedes mosquitoes are the species responsible for mosquito bites on humans. These mosquito species generally live in areas around water to complete their life cycle. Only female mosquitoes suck blood and thus can produce eggs.
What are the symptoms of mosquito bites?
The symptoms of a mosquito bite appear shortly after the bite occurs. The first symptoms that occur are the development of a small round and red swelling and the accompanying itching complaint in addition to this mosquito bite swelling.
There are some mosquito bite symptoms other than swelling and redness:
- Red discoloration of the skin around the bite
- Mosquito bite bruising
- Developing water-filled fly bite swellings instead of small hard bumps
In children and people with weakened immune systems, other symptoms such as rash, swollen lymph nodes, or mild fever may also be among the symptoms of mosquito bites. In general, despite the number of bites, symptoms rarely have a serious course. Some experts state that although it is extremely rare, anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition, can occur after a mosquito bite. It is recommended to be careful as people may experience complaints such as throat fullness, skin rash, change of consciousness or wheezing with the development of anaphylaxis.
What is Skeeter Syndrome (Mosquito Allergy)?
Each individual’s body reacts in its own way to a mosquito bite. However, in people with severe allergic conditions, the symptoms associated with mosquito bites may become more annoying. Mosquito bites usually occur at sunrise or sunset. Male mosquitoes are generally considered harmless because they feed on nectar and water. Female mosquitoes survive by sucking blood.
The carbon dioxide gas a person exhales or various chemicals in their sweat can be a guide for female mosquitoes in determining their targets. It then lands on an open area of skin and begins sucking blood by sinking its small pointed tube-shaped protrusion into the skin of its victim. These protrusions are in the form of a flexible tube coming from the head of the fly, and because they are sharp, they can easily pierce the skin. The body’s excessive reaction to the proteins in the saliva of some flies can cause poisonous mosquito bites, called skeeter syndrome (mosquito bite allergy).
In this syndrome, which occurs especially with mosquito bites larger than a coin, the itching sensation is in a larger area, and dangerous situations such as bruising around the bite, excessive swelling of the mosquito bite, inflammation of the lymph nodes or anaphylaxis may occur.
What are the diseases that can be transmitted by mosquitoes?
There are many infectious diseases that can be transmitted through mosquito bites. Diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever are among the diseases that can be carried by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes absorb these viruses or parasites after feeding on the blood of a sick individual or animal. Later, when these flies feed on healthy individuals, the microbes in the fly’s salivary glands can pass into the blood of healthy individuals and cause disease.
West Nile Virus
Most people infected with West Nile virus may not develop any symptoms. Approximately 1 in 5 people develop fever and flu-like complaints due to this virus. It may take months for the fatigue to subside. Although rare, West Nile virus can have a severe course in some people, with cerebral edema or inflammation of the meninges.
Zika Virus
This virus, which was first detected in Africa at the beginning of the 1940s, later affected the South and Central American region. Many people are not even aware that they have this virus. The symptoms that occur are quite mild and may disappear in less than a week. Some individuals may experience symptoms such as fever, muscle and joint pain, eye redness and skin rash. The main problems of this virus in terms of human health are its association with congenital abnormalities such as Gullian Barre Syndrome and microcephaly.
Gullian Barre syndrome is a nervous system disease that can cause conditions such as weakness and paralysis in individuals. Microcephaly is the term that indicates that the baby’s skull is smaller than normal and the brain development is not fully developed.
There is currently no preventive vaccine developed against the Zika virus. Therefore, the US Center for Epidemic Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women do not travel to areas at risk for Zika infection.
Chikungunya Virus
Found in the Caribbean and South American region, this virus can cause joint pain that lasts for several weeks. Headache, skin rash, and fever are among other symptoms that may occur due to chikungunya. Individuals suffering from this disease are recommended to rest and increase fluid consumption.
Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a disease that usually occurs in tropical regions. During the course of this disease, complaints such as high fever, skin rash, muscle and joint pain may occur. In extreme cases, dengue fever can have a fatal course, including heavy bleeding and shock. In this condition, called dengue hemorrhagic fever, fluid leakage from small blood vessels may occur in the lungs and abdomen.
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a disease that causes inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.
Malaria
Malaria is a fatal disease caused by parasites that causes damage to red blood cells. Early diagnosis is very important in controlling this disease.
What is Good for Mosquito Bites and Itching?
Although swelling and itching due to mosquito bites are conditions that can go away on their own, we can relieve the area by applying our suggestions.
- Preventing the spread of infection by resisting the urge to scratch
- Washing gently with soap and water without irritating the blisters
- Applying cold to the bite area to relieve swelling and pain
Some individuals may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, antihistamines or anti-itch creams applied to the skin to control the complaints caused by fly bites.
