If you develop a fever, headaches, nausea or body aches after a mosquito bite, seek medical attention.
Hurtful mosquito bites result from the bites of female mosquitoes that need the protein in blood to produce eggs. Every new batch of eggs requires a new intake of blood. A female mosquito will stick her proboscis, which resembles and functions like a vacuum hose, beneath the skin and suck blood into her abdomen. The bite's symptoms, such as swelling and itching, are due to the human body's autoimmune reaction to the mosquito's saliva. Treat the bite with over-the-counter medication.
Instructions
1. Cleanse the bite area with soap and water.
2. Apply an ice pack, cold compress or ice cubes wrapped in a towel to the bite area for 15 to 20 minutes every hour for about six hours.
3. Elevate the bite area to avoid further swelling, and rest.
4. Use an antihistamine or pain-killing gel to soothe the bite area if the skin is red or irritated.
5. Apply hydrocortisone cream or any over-the-counter anti-itch medication over the next several days to stave off itching until the skin heals.
Tags: bite area