What Causes Mosquito Bites?

As a mosquito bites, he is sucking your blood. Female mosquitoes need blood as a nourishing factor to their eggs, as the male mosquitoes just feed on nectar. Biting actually takes place when the mosquito inserts its needle-like mouthpart, called a proboscis, into the skin. In the process of feeding, the mosquito inoculates your skin with saliva that has proteins that ensure that your blood does not clot. The response of your immune system to such proteins results in an itchy red bump on the skin.


Surprisingly, not all mosquitoes bite. Female mosquitoes alone can, as a blood meal is required to lay eggs. Itchiness and swelling effects of a mosquito bite are a combination of your immune system reaction towards the saliva of the mosquito.


Common Symptoms of Mosquito Bites

In the majority of cases, most of the mosquito bites lead to temporary and mild symptoms. Common mosquito bite symptoms include:


  • Itchy red swellings: Itching from mosquito bites would have a raise and an inflamed bite area.
  • Swelling: It can develop an allergic reaction to the bite area resulting in a red, swollen skin in that area.
  • Pain: This is not typical but with the mosquito bites, there may be a little pain or stinging sensation.
  • Rash: In another case, especially where there are a lot of bites, the rash or hives can almost certainly appear.

These effects differ in terms of severity depending on the extent of attachment of the saliva of the mosquito to your immune system. In some cases, the bites may take a number of hours before they appear and in other cases it may be almost instantaneous.


Diseases Transmitted through Mosquito Bites

Although the bite of a mosquito is unpleasant enough, there are several harmful diseases that are carried by mosquitoes, such as:


  • Malaria: Malaria is a serious disease that is caused by the Anopheles mosquitoes that can cause fever, chills and death.
  • Dengue fever: Dengue is an infection caused by Aedes mosquitoes which may result in serious headaches, high fever, pains and rash of the joints.
  • Zika virus: The Aedes mosquitoes also carry the Zika virus that may lead to birth defects in pregnant women.
  • West Nile virus: West Nile virus is caused by the mosquito and it may cause neurological problems and may even result in the death of an individual especially those who are older in age.
  • Chikungunya: It is another Aedes-mosquito virus which causes joint pain, and swelling.
  • Yellow fever: It is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes and which can result in liver damage and jaundice.

In most cases, mosquito bites do not pose serious problems but in areas where the diseases are more likely to be experienced on the ground, one ought to be more concerned about the mosquito bites. Precautions against millions of mosquito bites in these regions should be considered.


How to Prevent Mosquito Bites?

Although avoiding the mosquitoes is not easy, there are various measures to prevent mosquito bites


1. Use mosquito repellents

The DEET insect repellent, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus can help in repelling the mosquitoes. Use the best mosquito repellents on bare body parts and clothing when out in the open especially during dawn and evening as this is when there is most activity of mosquitoes.


2. Wear protective clothing

Wear long trousers, long sleeves and long socks--cover as much of the body as possible, particularly in those places where there are more mosquitoes. Another cost safeguard is a set of permethrin or insect repelling treated clothes.


3. Avoid peak mosquito activity times

Mosquitoes are most effective in the morning and evening; hence as well do not engage in outdoor activities at that time especially in mosquito infested environments that are known to harbor the insects.


4. Eliminate standing water

Mosquito breeding takes place in stagnant water. Containers such as flower pots, bird baths and buckets which hold water should be emptied to minimize the mosquito populations in and around your home. Cover swimming pools when not in use and do not have clogged gutters.


🧪 Book Your WBC Count Test at Lab One – Get 25% OFF!


5. Put up screens and mosquito nets

Have your windows and doors equipped with snug screens in place to make the orifices of your house inaccessible to the mosquitoes in your house. To keep the mosquitoes away, mosquito nets must be used to cover your bed when you sleep out or in areas where there are lots of mosquitoes.


6. apply natural mosquito repellent

Other plants like citronella, lavender and marigolds are known to have been a natural spray of mosquitoes when they are natural. The protection can be provided by planting them in and around your home or essential oils of these plants.


What to do if you've been bitten by a mosquito?

The main way of relieving the discomfort caused by a mosquito bite is to treat the bite as soon as it has been bitten. These are some of the mosquito bite treatment:


  • Clean the bitten area with soap and water: You can clean the area bitten to minimize the chances of infection.
  • Application of cold compress: Swelling can be alleviated by placing cold cloth or ice pack, to damp the itch.
  • Use Over-the-counter creams: hormone-containing anti-itch creams with hydrocortisone, calamine lotion or antihistamine can be applied as a way of alleviating the itch and reducing skin inflammation.
  • Use an antihistamine: An oral antihistamine can be used in case you experience a severe asthma attack.
  • Do not scratch: Tempting as that may be, scratching may worsen the bite by opening up the skin and putting one at risk of infection.

When the bite is followed by prolonged symptoms such as fever, headache or swelling, especially in the regions where the diseases spread by mosquitoes are common, get medical attention immediately.


Final thoughts

Although it is undeniable that Mosquito bites are a typical part of summer to most people, being aware of how you can avoid them and treat them can help you make the difference between being incredibly comfortable yourself. It would be worthwhile making the necessary effort to eliminate it so as to reduce the risks associated with mosquito bites especially in those regions where they cause diseases. Now with the appropriate means of prevention and treatment options, you can now enjoy your outdoor activities without the need of worrying much about mosquito bites.


Please book an appointment with the best Internal Medicine Specialist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through Instacare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.