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More about Mosquito Bites > About the Bite > Bite Treatment
Mosquito Bites - About the Bite
Red, itchy, bumpy, uncomfortable…
At some point
in time, everyone has experienced the itchy discomfort of a mosquito bite.
It is common for many people to experience significant allergic reactions
to mosquito bites whereby the bump grows to an alarming size and burns
or itches excessively.
Ever wonder why skin reacts to mosquito bites in that way?
Well, the female mosquito is to blame as the male mosquito does not
bite. As she lands on your skin and sticks her proboscis (mouth
part) into you, some of her saliva enters your skin. It contains proteins
that prevent your blood from clotting thereby allowing her to suck blood
with ease until her abdomen is full.
After she has bitten you, some saliva remains in the wound. Proteins from her saliva evoke an immune response from your body causing the injured area to swell. Hence, it is the mosquito’s saliva that causes the itch. The swelling goes away in about two days but the itch stays until your immune cells break down the saliva protein.
The first time a child is bitten, there is usually no reaction in the skin. It is with the second and third bites that itchy, red bumps begin to appear. It has also been found that with repeated mosquito bites, many people become insensitive to them, similar to the non-effect or mild effect of allergens on someone who has had allergy shots.
- Studies indicate that mosquitoes will choose children as their victims rather than adults. An explanation for this phenomenon is yet to be found.
Learn some tricks about treating your itchy or painful mosquito bites.
More about Mosquito Bites > About the Bite > Bite Treatment
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