You may not find much comfort in the fact that, rather than actually "biting" into
your skin with teeth or fangs, the lady mosquito stabs through your skin with
her needle-like hollow proboscis. First, she uses that anatomical feature as
a hypodermic syringe to inject you with anticoagulants and digestive enzymes,
which will set you to itching. Next, she uses it as a straw to suck up your blood
for her eggs.
Reactions to the Bite
Most likely, you will experience no more than a coin-size puffy red welt
with intense itching that subsides within a few hours to a day. You may, however,
Most likely, you will experience no more than a coin-size
puffy red welt with intense itching that subsides within a few hours to a day.
experience a grapefruit-size welt with itching that lasts for several days if
you have a particular sensitivity to the bites, according to a Mayo Clinic article
in the revolutionhealth Internet site. In rare instances, you might even have "swelling
in the throat, hives and wheezing," a life-threatening condition called "anaphylaxis." That
requires immediate medical attention. You could even experience the high fever,
tremors, convulsion, vision loss, numbness, paralysis, and neurological effects
associated with West Nile Virus (WNV) should you be so unfortunate as to contract
that disease from a mosquito bite.
Remedies, Remedies, Remedies
You can soon discover a host of folk remedies for treating itching welts,
for instance:
- Rub or dab the welt with a wet soap bar, a hot tea bag, an ice cube, honey,
vinegar, mouthwash or nail polish.
- Apply a paste of crushed salt and water, meat tenderizer and water, aspirin
and rubbing alcohol or a banana's flesh.
Some of the folk remedies may actually provide relief in some instances. Doctors
suggest, however, that "the mainstays of treatment are cool compresses,
antihistamines, anti-itching compounds, and anti-inflammatory medicines," according
to the DrGreene Internet site. Following these suggestions, you would:
- Apply to the welt an ice pack wrapped in a towel or a wash cloth soaked
in cold water.
- Consider (after conferring with your pharmacist,
especially in the case of children) an antihistamine such as Zyrtec, Benadryl
or an antihistamine cream such as Antisan.
- Apply an anti-itching topical cream or paste such as Calamine lotion,
Caladryl or even a baking soda and water mix.
- Consider (after conferring with your pharmacist, especially in the case
of children) anti-inflammatory medications such as the ibuprofens or naproxens
or, possibly, a natural anti-inflammatory remedy such as oral evening primrose
oil.
Medical Care
Mosquito
bites have variable and unpredictable effects on many people.
You may find that mosquito bites have variable and unpredictable effects,
according to Dr. Greene. For instance, some people, especially children, seem
to hold special attractions for mosquitoes. Some individuals, bitten repeatedly,
seem to become largely insensitive, as if they had received allergy shots. Others,
bitten repeatedly, become highly sensitive. Most importantly, you should be alert
for severe reactions, which call for prompt medical attention. (See Avoiding
Mosquito Bites and Mosquitos in the Southwest for
more information.)
