What does it look like when your allergic to mosquitoes

Female mosquitoes bite people and animals to get a blood meal. Most female mosquitoes cannot produce eggs without a blood meal. Male mosquitoes do not bite people and animals.

What Happens When a Mosquito Bites You

What does it look like when your allergic to mosquitoes

Mosquito bite on the back of a boy’s neck. Credit: Getty Images.

When a mosquito bites you, it pierces the skin using a special mouthpart (proboscis) to suck up blood. As the mosquito is feeding, it injects saliva into your skin. Your body reacts to the saliva resulting in a bump and itching.

Some people have only a mild reaction to a bite or bites. Other people react more strongly, and a large area of swelling, soreness, and redness can occur.

Symptoms

Mosquito bite signs include:

  • A puffy and reddish bump appearing a few minutes after the bite
  • A hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, or multiple bumps appearing a day or so after the bite or bites
  • Small blisters instead of hard bumps
  • Dark spots that look like bruises

More severe reactions can occur in:

  • Children
  • Adults bitten by a mosquito species they haven’t been exposed to previously
  • People with immune system disorders

What does it look like when your allergic to mosquitoes

Mosquito bite on the inside of a person’s forearm. Credit: Getty Images.

People experiencing more severe reactions may have the following signs:

  • A large area of swelling and redness
  • Low-grade fever
  • Hives
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Treatment

  • Wash the area with soap and water.
  • Apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce swelling and itching. Reapply ice pack as needed.
  • Apply a mixture of baking soda and water, which can help reduce the itch response.

    What does it look like when your allergic to mosquitoes

    Anti-itch cream for a mosquito bite. Credit: Getty Images.

    • Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to create a paste.
    • Apply the paste to the mosquito bite.
    • Wait 10 minutes.
    • Wash off the paste.
  • Use an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to help relieve itching. Follow the product label directions.

Complications

Infected bite

  • Do not scratch bites. They can become infected.
  • An infected bite may appear red, feel warm, or a red streak will spread outward from the bite.
  • See a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen.

Mosquito-borne diseases

  • Mosquitoes spread germs through bites. Viruses like West Nile and dengue and parasites like malaria can make you sick.
  • A mosquito gets infected with a virus or parasite when it bites a person or animal that is infected. The infected mosquito can spread germs to other people or animals through bites.
  • Not everyone infected with a mosquito-borne germ gets sick.

Prevent Mosquito Bites

You can protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.

  • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellentsexternal icon.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
  • Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.
  • Control mosquitoes inside and outside.
  • Prevent mosquito bites when traveling overseas.

Resources

Activity Book for Kids – Mosquito Bites are Bad!

  • English pdf icon[PDF – 16 pages]
  • Spanish pdf icon[PDF – 16 pages]

At Mosquito Squad of Southeastern Massachusetts, some of our clients have come to us for help because they or their children are allergic to mosquitoes. Nearly everyone reacts to mosquito bites in some way, shape or form. The familiar red itchy bump is rather annoying, but not alarming. But some are allergic to mosquito bites and can suffer a more severe reaction known as Skeeter Syndrome.

Are you allergic to mosquitoes?

The typical reaction to a mosquito bite is caused by our immune system’s reaction to the protein a mosquito injects into us when they bite. Histamine is released to trigger white blood cells to move to the area to defend against this foreign protein. The histamine is what causes the customary red, itchy, swelled bite.

When someone is allergic to that protein, Skeeter Syndrome can occur. If you are unfamiliar with the symptoms of Skeeter Syndrome, it might not be clear if you are allergic to mosquitoes or if something else is going on. You might be having a regular reaction, or you might have an infected mosquito bite. Check out the symptoms so you can determine the difference.

If you are allergic to mosquitoes, you may experience some of the following symptoms:

  • A significantly larger bite (especially if bigger than a quarter)
  • A large area of itching
  • Lesions
  • Bruising near the bite
  • Hives around the bite
  • Inflammation of the lymph system
  • Anaphylaxis (swelling of the throat and problems breathing)

In some cases, a very severe reaction can occur, and if so, you should seek immediate medical attention. Those alarming symptoms can include fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, fatigue, light sensitivity, confusion, or neurological symptoms.

Note: Mosquito bites can easily become infected due to scratching. If one rips open, be sure to keep it clean and use an antibacterial ointment to avoid infection. An infected mosquito bite can swell bigger and turn red too.

Treatment for a Mosquito Bite Allergy

If you are allergic to mosquito bites, the typically recommended hydrocortisone cream probably won’t provide enough relief. The use of oral antihistamines, topical anti-itch cream, or a cool bath with no soap can provide some relief. In cases of Anaphylaxis, the use of an epinephrine auto-injector may be necessary.

Mosquito Control for your Southeastern Massachusetts Home

If you have a strong reaction, are sensitive to mosquito bites or suffer from Skeeter Syndrome, we highly recommend mosquito control services for your backyard. Our product can reduce mosquitoes by as much as 90% and comes with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Get started by calling today for a FREE quote.

We are pleased to provide award-winning mosquito services to Fall River, Taunton, New Bedford, Lakeville, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Scituate, and most of the South Coast.

How do I know if Im allergic to mosquito bites?

These symptoms can include:.
large area of itching..
lesions..
bruises near the site of the bite..
lymphangitis, or inflammation of the lymph system..
hives at or around the bite..
anaphylaxis, a rare, life-threatening condition that results in swelling in the throat and wheezing; it requires immediate medical attention..

What happens if you are allergic to mosquito bites?

What is skeeter syndrome? Skeeter syndrome is a large local allergic reaction to mosquito bites marked by significant inflammation. If you have it, you're allergic to substances in the mosquito's saliva. Some people have so much swelling that they have trouble moving.

What does skeeter syndrome look like?

Skeeter syndrome, or an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite, is characterized by large red welts. With or without skeeter syndrome, scratching a mosquito bite until it bleeds can lead to bacterial infections.

How common is it to be allergic to mosquito bites?

Most, if not all, people are sensitized to mosquito bites in childhood. Cutaneous symptoms include immediate wheal-and-flare reactions and delayed bite papules, which tend to be more severe at the onset of the mosquito season. Systemic reactions to mosquito bites are, however, very rare.