What is the most dangerous animal to humans on the planet? Mosquitos. They kill, on average, 700,000 people per year through the transmission of diseases and infections that can be severe, even if they’re not deadly. That is why proactive protection and speedy treatment are required when living near mosquito areas.
If you’re bitten by one, it is important to know what treatments are available, when you can apply home treatments, or when you might need to seek medical attention.
In this article, we’ll be providing information about when to worry about a mosquito bite, when to seek medical attention, and how to prevent it in the first place.
Common Symptoms of Mosquito Bites
There are several common symptoms of mosquito bites you will notice first. The first is itching of a particular area on your body, often on the hands, arms, or legs which are exposed during the night, which is when the female mosquito hunts for victims. The itchy area usually develops into a red bump within minutes of the bite.
After about a day, the bump can become reddish-brown and hard. It will remain itchy.
Sometimes, for those who have itched the area too much, small blisters might appear instead of the hard bumps.
Some people experience dark spots on their bodies that look like bruises, or perhaps a painful spot that looks like a hive will appear a day after the initial bite.
Another issue might be swelling in the area of the bite. The more you scratch or itch the bite, the worse the swelling can get. The swelling might also be worse after waking every morning.
Typical recovery time is between three and four days, depending on what home treatments you provide. The redness tends to also disappear about this time. Those who experience swelling might have symptoms for up to seven days.
Signs of a Bad or Infected Mosquito Bite
There are several signs to watch out for when it comes to mosquito bites. For one, you might see that the bite area becomes very red and swollen, getting larger instead of staying the same or getting smaller. You might notice that the bite feels warm to the touch or that there are red streaks that spread out from the bite.
Another issue is when there is pus around the bite. This is a sign of white blood cells attempting to fight a local infection.
If you’ve got bitten near a lymph node, these can be swollen. Or you might get lots of pain around the bite area which you need painkillers for.
Finally, one last symptom that can cause concern is when you have other symptoms and then display flu-like symptoms such as nausea, headache, fatigue, difficulty staying awake, etc. This is usually when there is more than one bite, but for some, it can happen with just a small bite.
However, these symptoms don’t necessarily mean that you’ve got a bad infection. Many people experience these and can treat their infection at home with over-the-counter medication.
When to Worry About Mosquito Bite Swelling
However, there are going to be times when you might need to be concerned about the bite from a mosquito. For example, those who are experiencing excessive swelling that is beyond the bite area, those who have hot, red, and swollen skin around the bite, and when the pain gets worse instead of improving.
Can Mosquito Bites Get Infected?
Only about one in three hundred mosquito bites can become infected, and these are generally not because of the mosquito bite, but because bacteria from your hands or another source enters the bite or broken skin caused by scratch.
It is fairly easy for the skin to be broken, especially for those who have longer or sharp nails. Excessive scratching can increase the chances that you break the skin.
Symptoms that infection has taken hold in a mosquito bite are when you feel warmth around the bite or there is a spreading redness. You will often experience an increased amount of pain, both when touching the area and generally. You might also have pus from the bite.
There are several ways that you can treat an infection at home, that you might want to try at the first sign of infection. You can start by cleaning the bite with warm water and soap. You can then apply an antibiotic ointment, or you can get over-the-counter ointments like Polysporin. Ensure that you follow the instructions on the label.
You can also reduce the swelling by either using an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or a calamine lotion. Another option is to reduce the swelling by applying an ice pack.
Cover the bite area with a bandage, this prevents additional scratching. You can also take oral antihistamines to prevent additional itchiness.
If you’re suffering from any pain, take pain relievers.
How Do You Know When a Mosquito Bite Is Bad
While some people don’t experience problems with mosquito bites, it is possible to have the bite turn bad. However, knowing when the mosquito bite is serious enough to seek medical attention.
This could be because the mosquito bite has become infected. Or it could be because you’ve had an allergic reaction to the bite.
Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction to a Mosquito Bite
There are numerous symptoms of an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite. These include a large swollen area around the bite or you might notice hives or other skin reactions.
You might also struggle with your breathing, this happens in the most severe allergic reactions.
When Should You Be Worried About a Mosquito Bite?
Most mosquito bites are harmless and require no other treatment than what you can get over the counter if you take any treatment at all. However, mosquito bites can become infected, or you can catch a disease or you might have an allergic reaction.
There are a few symptoms that you might want to watch out for. These include high fever, fatigue, and nausea, which are symptoms of a potential mosquito-borne illness.
Or you might experience swollen lymph nodes or persistent flu-like symptoms.
Mosquito-Borne Illnesses to Be Aware Of
There are numerous mosquito-borne illnesses that you need to be wary of. These include:
- Dengue Fever - The virus is caused by a single positive-stranded RNA virus. Four serotypes of this virus have been confirmed, and a fifth is being studied at the moment. The virus is dramatically increasing, often found in the tropics and there could be as many as 390 million infections every year, many of which go undiagnosed. There are numerous symptoms which include headache, muscle pain, rashes, and bleeding.
- Malaria - There are numerous symptoms of this common mosquito-borne disease that can include fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches. Some severe cases can see jaundice, seizures, coma, and perhaps death. These symptoms can appear about 10 to 15 days after the bite. Malaria is most common in Africa and South America, though there are some cases worldwide, with Asia another particular area that has common infections.
- Zika - Very similar to Dengue Fever, often found in the tropics of Africa and Asia. It has very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
- West Nile Virus - About 80% of people who have West Nile fever never experience symptoms. Those that do, often have a headache, rash, fever, or vomit. Recovery can take months. The disease can be found worldwide, in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. However, there is little transmission in South America or North Asia.
What to Do if a Mosquito Bite Becomes Serious
If you do become concerned about a mosquito bite then there are certain actions that you can take. For instance, you can try at-home treatments such as over-the-counter medications and itch relievers such as a cold press or the itch relief pad.
If you suffer from increased pain, vomiting, fever, or flu-like symptoms, then you might need to seek medical attention. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Of course, it is always better to prevent bites in the first place. EnviroBug has some environmentally friendly solutions that can help you prevent mosquito bites both in Australia and if you’re travelling.
You might want to use an insect sticky trap that attracts flying insects and then traps them on a stick sheet. Or you could use a mobile mosquito zapper that kills them with a small electric charge.
And to prevent them from accessing you when you’re asleep, why not use a mosquito net or a screen for open doors/windows? These can reduce the chances of your family and pets being bitten by mosquitoes and can reduce the chances of disease being spread.
It is also a good idea not to walk near any water features in the evening and to keep yourself covered. Some people are more prone to being bitten, especially if they’ve been exercising or are of a certain blood group.
Conclusion
Mosquito bites are rarely an issue. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take action should you be bitten by a mosquito. The first action should always be protection. Be sure to protect your home from access and also to take steps to kill any of the flying insects should they gain access to your property.
Then you should always seek medical attention if you have any worrying symptoms, or you have a concern. Medical attention can be with your local doctor or at your nearest hospital.
