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When A Mosquito Bite Is Something More

When A Mosquito Bite Is Something More Most mosquito bites are harmless (if a bit itchy) and heal on their own. Sometimes though, a bite can cause allergic reactions, or even serious disease. What's Actually Happening When You Get A Mosquito Bite? A mosquito uses its proboscis to break through the epidermis and dig through the skin until it finds a blood vessel, or capillary. Mosquito saliva contains an anticoagulent that keeps the blood from clotting so they can Epidermis keep drinking. Dermis Proboscis Why the itch? Your body Subcut- aneous releases a chemical called tissue histamine to combat foreign substances -- in this case, mosquito saliva. Nerve Histamine causes the blood vessels around the bite to enlarge, making the bump you see on your skin after Sweat gland you get a bite. It also irritates the nerves around Capillaries Hair follicle the bite, causing an itch. In Rare Cases, Mosquitoes Can Carry Disease And Infect Humans 2015 cases, as of July 14 • Mosquito or animal infections reported • Human disease cases reported West Nile Virus Encephalitis (Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, and St. Louis Encephalitis) Mosquitoes can also spread malaria and Dengue fever, though these are typically acquired abroad, not in the U.S. A mosquito has to have come in contact with you for six seconds or longer for How Do You Know When It's More Than Just An Itch? any symptoms to appear. Symptoms occur within 48 hours, and If you have these symptoms, it's time to see a doctor. appear in the form of soft bumps on the skin that become small, pink and itchy. Severe Most bites heal on their own headaches without treatment. Fever Rash Itching can be eased with hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, aloe vera, honey, Preparation H ointment or basil. Nausea Fatigue Body aches Swelling of Bruises near Wheezing the throat Treatments for an allergic reaction the bite can include oral drugs like Bendryl Zyrtec or Claritin. Larger areas of itching Hives SIGNS OF POSSIBLE ALLERGIC REACTION How To Prevent Bites Cover up skin Wear insect repellant Avoid wearing dark colors (There's a theory that people who wear dark colors are more attractive to mosquitoes) O Avoid being outside at the high mosquito times of dusk and dawn THE HUFFINGTON POST Sources: CDC, University of Washington, Healthline.com, EverydayHealth.com, USGS SIGNS OF A NORM S OF POSSIBLE DISEASE

When A Mosquito Bite Is Something More

shared by alissascheller on Jul 27
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Although most mosquito bites just lead to a bump and few itchy days, mosquitos can cause severe allergic reactions and even carry disease. And how do you know if your mosquito bite is something more?

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The Huffington Post

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alissascheller

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Health
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