How to Get Rid of Mosquito Bites

How to Get Rid of Mosquito Bites

How to Get Rid of Mosquito Bites
By Tanya De Los Santos

Why Mosquitoes "Bite"

Technically, mosquitoes do not really "bite." They suck blood from their prey using their proboscis. Mosquitoes do not primarily feed on blood from humans and animals - they also feed on nectar. They need blood for additional nutrients, especially for reproduction.

Mosquitoes are usually active at dawn and dusk. During these times, they "hunt" for their victims and feed. When a mosquito finds a target, it carefully lands on the skin of the human or animal. It initially applies its saliva to act as a painkiller, to mask its bloodsucking activity.

After the application of the painkiller, the mosquito will put out its proboscis, a hollow needle-like structure in its head, and stick it into the skin of the victim to suck blood. As it sucks blood, its abdomen will noticeably bulge as it fills with blood. It will continue to do so until it has its fill.

If you are bitten by a mosquito, you will only feel the itch and pain a few minutes after the bite took place. Pain and itch is then followed by swelling.

Though mosquitoes do not need blood to survive, they need it to provide additional nutrients like protein and iron for them to reproduce.

The Danger of Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes have been branded as the most dangerous and deadliest insect on the face of the planet because of the direct harm these creatures inflict. These insects act as carriers for a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria and viruses, without getting infected themselves.

They become carriers of diseases as they suck blood from people and animals. For example, if a person is suffering from a certain disease, it sucks the blood along with the bacteria or virus causing that disease. It now becomes a vessel of the disease. When it goes to another victim, it transfers the disease to that person. Among the many diseases they transmit are malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis, and yellow fever.

Getting Rid of Mosquito Bites

A mosquito bite does not always give you a disease, but it can become very uncomfortable and painful if you happen to scratch it a lot. The first thing you have to do when you are bitten by a mosquito is to get out of that place to prevent more bites from other mosquitoes.

If you only have a few bites, and you can bear the itch and pain, then you can just leave it alone. If you have received several bites or you are allergic to mosquito bites, then you must immediately treat them.

Mosquito bites may swell up into big welts, especially when scratched. To ease the discomfort, there are a wide variety of products and homemade solutions you can use. You can simply use antihistamine creams and apply them directly on the affected areas. If the bites bother you a lot, you can take painkillers like paracetamol or anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. A cold shower greatly helps relieve the itch, too.

One of the most effective home remedies you can use is banana peel. This can help you immediately ease the pain and itch. Get the peelings of a banana and rub the inside part to the affected area for a few seconds up to a minute. Swelling and itching almost always immediately disappears. Put the banana in the fridge or make a banana milkshake so that the fruit will not go to waste.

If you have aloe vera in your garden, you can also use that as a natural remedy for your insect bites. Peel it open and apply directly on the areas. It instantly provides relief from itch and pain. This remedy is ideal if your insect bites start to cause a burning sensation, especially when you have scratched the insect bite and welts have already formed.

Want to know more? You can read more tips on How to get rid of Mosquito Bites, plus information to get rid of practically anything else that ails you - from bad breath to telemarketers to cellulite - at http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com

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13.01.2010. 01:23

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