Mosquito Bite

There are many different kinds of mosquitoes. They can carry viruses, parasites, and other things that can cause diseases in people and animals. It's only the female mosquito that bites and sucks blood. They need the protein in the blood to mature their eggs. Blood is not a food for mosquitoes. They eat plant nectar.

When a mosquito bites you, it pushes a needle-like mouth part into your skin. This mouth part has two tubes. Through one tube, it injects saliva that has an enzyme that stops blood from clotting. Through the other tube, it sucks your blood. It's the saliva that causes the local allergic reaction that you get from a mosquito bite.

A mosquito bite may cause redness, swelling, and itching. Some people are more sensitive to mosquito bites than others. They may feel dizzy and weak.

These are things you can do if you have a mosquito bite:

• Wash the area with soap and water once a day. Watch for any signs of infection.
• To help prevent infection, don't scratch the bite. If itching is a problem, you may use an over-the-counter anti-itch spray or cream such as any medicine with benzocaine in it. You may also put an ice pack on the bite area as needed to ease pain, itching, or swelling. Use it for 20 minutes every few hours. To make an ice pack, put ice cubes in a plastic bag that seals at the top. Wrap the bag in a clean, thin towel. Never put ice or an ice pack directly on the skin. If the itching is severe, you may put topical 1% hydrocortisone on the bites twice a day. Don't use this for more than 3 to 5 days. Don't put it on your face or genital area.
• Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine available at pharmacies and grocery stores. You can take it to reduce itching if you have multiple bites, unless your doctor prescribed an antihistamine. Use lower doses during the daytime and higher doses at bedtime since the medicine may make you sleepy. Don't use diphenhydramine if you have glaucoma or if you have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate. Loratadine is an antihistamine that may make you less sleepy. It may be a good choice for daytime use.
• You can take an over-the-counter pain medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), unless your doctor prescribed a pain medicine. Talk with your doctor before using these medicines if you have chronic liver or kidney disease, or if you've ever had a stomach ulcer or digestive tract bleeding.

These are things you can do to prevent mosquito bites:

• Don't go outside when mosquitoes are most active. This is in the early morning, late afternoon, and early evening.
• If you are outdoors when mosquitoes are active, wear socks, long sleeves, and long pants, and use insect repellent. The most effective insect repellent is DEET (10% to 50%), registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Children older than 2 months of age should not use more than 30% strength of DEET. It is safe to use when following instructions on the label. Don't put DEET on children's hands because it's toxic. Young children tend to put their hands in their mouths.
• Don't use DEET on infants younger than 2 months of age. Instead, cover their crib, stroller, or carrier with mosquito netting.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, DEET is safe to use when following instructions on the label.
• You can spray your clothing with a repellent containing DEET or permethrin. If you do this, you don't need to put repellent on the skin that's under the clothing.
• The CDC advises that these alternate mosquito repellents are effective when used as directed: picaridin, IR3535, para-methane-diol (PMD), 2-undecanone, and the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Use air conditioning or window and door screens to keep mosquitoes from getting into your home. If you can't stop mosquitoes from getting inside, sleep under a mosquito bed net.
• Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Get rid of things around your home that may collect water like cans, containers, and tires. Clear your roof gutters and be sure they drain correctly. Keep window and door screens in good repair.
• If you are traveling, find out if there are risks for mosquito-carried diseases where you are going. Learn what you can do to protect yourself. There are vaccines for two of the viruses carried by mosquitoes, Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever. Find out if you need to take medicine to prevent malaria.
• The CDC advises seeing your doctor right away if you've been traveling and have symptoms such as a fever, a headache, muscle and joint pain, and a rash. Tell your doctor about your travel history.

Follow up with your doctor, or as advised.

Call 911, or seek immediate emergency care, if you have:

• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
• Dizziness, weakness, or fainting.

Contact your doctor right away if you have:

• Headache, confusion, fever, chills, muscle or joint aches, or vomiting.
• New rash.
• Signs of infection such as:
  • Spreading redness.
  • Pain or swelling.
  • Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your doctor.
  • Pus or fluid draining from the wound.